Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-02
FLORIDA INFORMS
NORTH DAKOTA Of
CONVICT REFORMS

TALLAHASSEE Fla, June Il
CBy the Associated Press.)-The
Florida legislature, in obedience to
the wishes of the people, of this
state, has enacted appropriate leg
islation to render impossible a repe-
tition of the circumstances attend
ing the death of Martin Tabert," OF
Munich, N. D., according to a joint
resolution drawn up as an answer to
the North Dakota assembly's rs"
quest several months ago that the
youngsters death be investigated.
The resolution has not yet been
adopted by either house, this for
nlality being held up in the senate
by a filibuster on another subject.
Governor Hardee, in his communi-
cation to Governor NestOs, of North
Dakota, March 2, in which he re-
scented the action of the North Dako.
ia assembly as serving no useful
purpose" but giving the state .un-
due and harmful publicity, ably
and accurately stated the views Of
the people of Florida" in the mat
ter, the resolution says. Governor
Hardee wrote that he had directed
an investigation by the judicial -au-
thorities as soon as the report of
Tahert's de2tk reached him and that
the curt was at the time function
ing to this end.
The resolution says that the Flor
da Legislature had acceded to The re-
quest of the North Dakota assem-
bly,, however, and that an inquiry
had been male ny a joint commit
tee comprised of Senators Stokes
and MacWilliams and Representa-
tives Kennerly, Smith and Van
Roy.
Dakota Officials Satisfied
Pointing out that Assistant Attor-
ney Generals Crimson and Knee
shaw, of North Dakota, who repre-
scented that state in the invesuga-
ton, had "by written communica-
ton addressed to the joint commit
tee, expressed their satisfaction
with the thorougEness and impair
TALLY of the investigation conduct
eel by the joint committee and have
congratulated the joint comrt' &c
and the people of Florida and . e.
whereas, the person charged with re-
sponsibility for the death Of Martin
Tabert is now under indictment in an
appropriate judicial tribunal of this
state and will be brought to trial
in the near future" the resolution
says that further comment in this
connection would be beyond the
legitimate scope of the resolution"
Laws Passed, Officials Punished
1t points out that legislation has
been enacted to abolish the county
convict lease syst m and corporal
punishment, two practices under
which Tdbert died, and that officials
connected with his arrest and con-
viction and found to be recreant had
been removed from Office. These in
cluded the local county judge who
sentenced him and the sheriff who
leased him to the Putnam Lumber
company, at Clara, Fla, where he
died in February, 1922. Higginboth-
am, the whipping boss for the Put.
nam company, is scheduled to go on
trial at Lake City June 5.
The people of Florida while dis
claiming responsibility for the death
of Martin Tabert, deplore his un,
fortunate death and regret the cir
cumstances attending it, and, through
their legislature, tender their sincere
coincidence to his relatives the res
olutiOn concludes.
The resolution says that the
Florida legislature "sends its greet
ing from the state of perpetual sun
shine and incompatible opportuni-
ties to the splendid citizenship of
the great state of North Dakota"