Evening star., 1923-04-29
D. C, BOYS STORY
FEATURES INQUIRY
Paul White to Submit Dep0-
sition in Convict-Beat-
ing Probe.
STATE OFFICIALS CALLED
Charges of Brutality Against
Senator and Judge to
Be Aired.
STATE OFFICIALS CALLED
Pr the Associated Press.

Br the Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. April Is
Additional reported convict brutali
ties will be aired next week by the
joint legislative committee investi-
eating state and county prison camps.
State Senator #. J. Knabb, former
owner OF a private lease convict camp.
and John Roddenbury, his alleged
whipping boss, the latter now under
an indictment. will be the principals
in the coming inquiry.
The committee announced today it
was ready to take up the charges
against Senator Knabb and Rodden-
bury Tuesday morning, and added
that one OF the chief witnesses in
the case will be John f. Thomas.
state prison inspector, who reported
alleged brutalities at the knaoo
camp.
To Hear Judge.
The Investigating committee also
announced it would have TO reopen its
hearing of charges against Judge b.
nitting its recommendation TO the
lesislature Judge Willis figures
prominently in the investigation OF
the death of Martin Tabert OF North
Dakota.
Counsel for Paul Revere White OF
Washington, D. G.. alleged to have
received brutal treatment at the
Nnabb camp telegraphed the commit
Tee today that his client would be un-
able 10 leave his home in Nasnine
ION to appear before the committee
An affidavit made by White together
with the records of the Florida de-
partment of agriculture in regard to
his case will be introduced.
White nineteen years old. was ar
rested near White Springs, Fla. it is
alleged and after being arraigned In
Justice of the peace court was SEN
fenced to six months in Alachua
county jail.
He was charged with vagrancy.
He was later leased to State Senator
Enabb. who operated turpentine
camp near MacClenny. White CON
tends he was put to work scraping
could not do as much work as the
regro hands" his affidavit reads. I
Was whipped the third day after
arrived. was kicked. beaten and
whipped practically every day dur
ing the time I was there.
Youth Unable to Work.
The youth recited how he had con-
tracted swamp muck poison and be-
cause he was unable to perform
manual labor WAS mistreated by
Eoddenbury until he was finally res
cued by Prison Inspector Thomas.
Whites affidavit had been substan-
tiated by DR. Lamb of MacClenny.
The report of Prisoner Inspector
Thomas to Commissioner of Agrfcul-
1ure McRae, made shortly after he
Lad taken White from the Knabb
camp. states in part:
Il found the boy sleeping on
rot without sheet blanket or COW
ering of any description-the ther-
mnmeter was down as low as 18 de-
grcCs around MacClenny.
Call. Treatment Brutal.
Ia I,,-r
helng in the condition of this boy
. nd puts him to sleep without COW
erlng in such weather is very brutal
snd should not be allowed to handle
prisoners.
II went on the theory in taking the
boy away from Senator Knabb over
the personal protest Of the latter
that any 100 per cent American had
a perfect right to put stop to tor
ture and murder, and it meant muir
der to leave this man at this camp.
II am Of the opinion that Mr.. Knabb
IS running a human slaughter pen
at his convict camp, and I respectfully
lnquest that Roddenbury and Thomp-
son. both of whom are Knabb's war
dens. be placed op the black list.
L also recommend tnat ME-. hnaoD
camp be discontinued"
Upon this report, together with
other evidence. the Baker county
grand jury conducted an investigation
and indicted Roddenbury for cruelty
80 prisoners The trial has not been
set.
Following the inspectors report,
Senator Knabb was summoned before
the governor and commissioner of
Agriculture. Following lengthy con-
ference the statement was given out
that Mr.. Knabb had promised to dis
charge the guards responsible for
conditions. to remedy the evils and
that under these terms he would be
allowed to retain the convicts. The
officials action was subsequently the
subject of protest by Baker county
delegations.
Senator Knabb. on his arrival here
for the legislative session, issued a
statement that he was entirely in
nocent.