The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-24
SHERIFF WHO
JAILED TABERT
SLATED TO GO
Legislature Expected to Act
Promptly on Governors
Recommendation
DOCTOR CONTRADICTED
No Record Of Burial Permit
Found to Back up Camp
Physicians Statement

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Tallahassee, Fla. April 24.--Witl
evidence in the investigation Of Mar
tin Tabert of North Dakota virtually
completed the joint legislative com
mittee which has been taking testi-
mony. awaited report of sub
committee appointed to visit Ia.
bcrt's grave.
Attention was turned today on tho
action Of house and senate on the
recommendation Of Governor Hardee
for removal Of Sheriff Jones of Leon
county for alleged irregularities in
Office as testified to by witnesses in
the Tabert hearing. Jones, witness
es said. and J. b. Willis. county
judge, together with other county
law enforcing officers, were habit
ually drunk. Jerry NJ. Poppell,
former jailor, told the committee
Jones treated prisoners cruelty
Jones admitted private arrange
ment with the Putnam Lumber com
pany by which he was to receive 500
for each vagrant delivered to the
private convict camp.
The hearing yesterday was mark
ed by the introduction Of the
strap-Black Anny--with which Wal
ter Higginb otham, it is alleged, beat
Tabert to death. Witnesses admit
ed that the whip had been altered
since the Tabert fogging. Another
factor was introduction of evidence
which was intended to show that
DR.. Caper Jones, who attended Ia
bert before and after his death, had
not filed death certificate as he
said when he testified before the
committee. The state board of
health said they had no record of
the certificate while DR.. Jones said
he could not account for the dis
crepancy inasmuch as he filed ii.
An invitation was extended to the
committee by the lumber company
to visit the camp and inspect Ia
bert's grave.
Tallahassee, Fla, April 24.--The
Florida senate acted promptly on the
first recommendation to grow out Of
the Legislative investigation of the
death of Martin Tabert of North Da-
kOta-the recommendation of Cover.
nor Hardee that Sheriff J. r. Jones
Of Leon county, be removed from Of
flee.
No record of any burial permit for
Martin Tabert, can be located by the
Florida state board of health, the
joint legislative committee inquir.
ing into the youngsters death and
other reported prison brutalities,
was notified today by DR.. Raymond
c. Turck, state health officer.
The committee then voted to an
point subcommittee to 20 to the
Mingo cemetery and other places
near Clara. Florida, where Tabert is
said to have been buried, and ex-
hume the body. A disinternment
permit has been granted the commit
tee by the state health officer.
Late yesterday the committee vir-
tually concluded hearing evidence in
the case with the exception of await
ing report from its subcommittee
which will leave here Wednesday for
Clara. The subcommittee will take
along Arthur Johnson, a former con.
vict. who declared he and three 9TH
er men buried Tabert in a spot other
than the place designated by wit
nesses appearing for the Putnam
Lumber Company, at whose lease
camp Tabert met his death.
Health Officer Testifies
DR.. Turck informed the committee
that the state board of health had
no knowledge that Tabert died in
Florida, until the information was
revealed through the newspapers. In
vestigation is pending to determine
who was responsible for filing the
death certificate and reporting the
casket sale.
DR.. T. Capers Jones, physician for
the Putnam Lumber Company. has
testified before the committee that
ne made out a burial permit, giving
the cause Of Tabert's death as
due primarily, to pneumonia with |
complication of malaria" This. |
the doctor said, was incorrect. /