The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-20
DAKOTA MEN TO
PRESS TABERT
CASE IN SOUTH
Judge Kneeshaw Volunteers
to Accompany Crimson TO
Southern State
FUND BEING RAISED
Several Hundred Dollars Sub
scribed to Pay Expenses
of Men on Trip

Langdon, N. d., Mar. 2O-Judge W.
J. Kneeshaw and States Attorney &.
Crimson of Cavalier county expect
to leave for Perry, Florida this week
to be present Mt the grand jury hear
ing scheduled to begin at that place
March 26 to investigate the circum-
stances Of the death of Martin Ia
bert, Munich lad who it is charged
came to his death in lumber camp
in Dixie county, Florida through
mistrcatmcnt when leased out as a
county prisoner to the Putnam Lum-
Der company. At least ten witnesses
who are residents Of Florida and four
from outside the state will give tes-
timony at the grand jury hearing. ac-
cordng to States Attorney Crimson.
Only possible delay in complct-
ing the details of securing a change
of venue from Dixie county to Tay-
lor county can delay the opening Of
the hearing, Mr. Crimson says.
1t is believed that Martin Tabert
died in Dixie county, and in response
to wire from Mr.. Crimson. States
ATTORNEY John B. Kelly of the Flor
ida district has replied that he is
taking steps to secure such change of
venue. Under the Florida system
thc state is divided into districts for
court purposes and one states attor-
ncy and one judge serve the entire
district consisting Of several coun-
ties. A change Of venue will there
fore not take the hearing from the
"A Al. Il s
ferent jurisdiction. Judge w. F.
Horne is the presiding judge in the
Florida district where the hearing
will take place.
Fund Being Raised
Judge Knceshaw' goes to Florida
merely as volunteer to see that
justice in procedure is secured. He
has made an offer to pay his own
expenses if necessary. 1t is not
thought however, that this will be
necessary, as an effort is being made
to secure 81 900 in Cavalier county
before Tuesday to pay the expenses
of Mr. Crimson and Judge Kneeshaw
and those incurred in transporting
witnesses. Over $500 had been sub
scribcd to the "Tabert fund" Satur-
day. Otto Tabert, brother of Martin
Tabert, may accompany Mr.. Grim
on and Judge Kneeshaw but this is
not certain.
Florida Sentiment Aroused
That sentiment against the con-
vict leasing system practiccd by
Florida counties is growing rapidly
since Mr.. Crimson began his invcsti-
cations of the Tabert case is evident
from the numerous letters that he
receives daily and the tons of cdi-
torial comment in Florida ncwspa-
pcrs, both dailies and weeklcs. Mr..
Gu mson is also in receipt today of
communications from four members
of the Florida houe Of representa-
tivcs dcploring the practice of leas-
ing county prisoners.
According to Associated Press dis
patches of March appearing in
Florida newspapers, Representative
j. Ed. Stokes Of Bay county, Florida
will introduce a measure i'm the com.
ing session of the Florida legisla.
ture to abolish the county-Convict
leasing system. Mr.. Stokes, who is 81
candidate for speaker Of the house,
makes the statement that he intro
duced Il similar measure in the ses-
sion of 1921 but that it was lost. He
then put through local bill abol-
ishing the system in his own coun.
ty, he declares.
Judges Oppose System
Tc fact that the judiciary Of Flor
ida is opposed to the practice Of con-
Wet leasing by the counties is indi-
Gated by resolutions passed ut the re-
cent convention of county judges of
Florida.
BY unanimous vote at the OPEN
ing session of the convention the
judges pledged their support to a
movement inaugurated by Commits
sioner Of Agriculture McRae to bring
about the speedy abolition Of the
convict lease system.
Is Common in State
That mistreatment of prisoners
under the convict-lease system is
common in Florida is the claim made
in numerous letters in the hands of
Mr.. Crimson. Perhaps the most pa
thetic letter received recently is one
addressed to Governor r. A. NestOs
by II. c. Cruise, 287 North Bellevue
avenue, Memphis, Tenn. The writer
OF the letter alleges that on January
3, 1909, when he was II years old,
he was enticed into poker game by
two men at Tallahassee, Fla, and
fleeced of all his money. The next
day, he asserts, he was arrested and
taken before a justice where he was
sentenced to 80 days at hard labor
while the two men VINO had won his
money from him were released.
Cruise, according to his story, was
sent to turpentine farm where he
worked under the worst possible con-
ditions, often times in foot or more
of water and in steady rain for
hours. He says that he was stripped
of his clothing and whipped with
five. pound leather strap while bent
over log with large negro hold
ing his head. II am in poor health
to this day. declares Mr.. Cruise,
from the effects of q blow from that
five pound strap across the kidneys.
Governor Hardee says that the state
of Florida must not be judged by
single instance of mistreatment to
prisoner, but want to say that if
man happens to fall victim to
one Of those lumber camps or tur-
pentine3 farms and is not good
strong man ne will never get over it.
They made Is year old boys do mems
CONTINUED On Psss Thrss)