The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-18

was questioned as to the leasinr of Ned Thompson, a 60-year-old negro who was sent to the Putnam camp after peace warrant had been taken out against him by white man. The negro was under no sentence, accord Ing to court records
 Witnesses have been summoned who will testify, it is declared, that .he negro was whipped so severely at the camp that he was returned to Sheriff Jones of Leon county. Three days after he returned to Tallahas- see he died Sheriff Paid For Convicts,
 Sheriff Jones admitted today that ne had entered into a contract with the Putnam company whereby he was to receive s20 for each man he delivered to the camp. He further admitted that after adding various fees and deducting the cost of trans porta f 'lon 1l or prisoners under guard from Tallahassee to the camp, a distance of 65 miles, he would aver age profit Of approximately s23 on each prisoner.
 The sheriff was closely examined as to Tabert He said he remem- pered having had in custody man by that name and that he entered plea of guilty to riding a freight train through Tallahassee. After being sentenced to pay a fine of S25 or three months at hard labor. Sheriff Jones said he did not recall whether Tabert made any effort to pay the fine.
 The officer declared two days after Tabert was sentenced, he was taken to the lease camp and that he re- ceived s20 for his delivery.
 About eight days after Tabert left, l was notified by the post office that registered letter had come for him addressed in my care. did not see the letter. but I told the post office clerk to send it back: that the party had gone to Clara" declared Sheriff Jones'
 Didn't you know that the letter contained money to pay Tabert's fine, or did you not have an idea that 1t contained such," Senator John P. Stokes. chairman of the committee, asked the sheriff.
 T did not" was the reply.
 You said the Putnam company paid you SEQ a man. If man paid his fine after he was delivered by you to the camp would there be any reduction in the fee paid you by the company" Senator Stokes asked. Got HI. RexaGdles.'o O
 No" the sheriff answered. T got mine whether he served one day or three months"
 After being questioned as to whether he gave orders to the Tall lahassee postal officials not to for ward any mail to prisoner confined at the Putnam camp to which he entered an emphatic denial, he was asked whether he had received a telegram from Tabert's parents. Sheriff Jones also denied this.
 He was then shown letter signed by him as sheriff of Leon county to Norris. H. Nelson, Munich, N. D.. in which he stated that there was some money wired to him (Ta- bert) after he was gone, but I could not get 1t. as it was sent in his name. I therefore returned it."
 Sheriff Jones identified the sig nature as his own, but said he could not recall having received a tele- gram and believed in writing the letter he became confusd regarding the registered letter.
 Before questioning Shivers as to the flogging and death of Tabert the committee interrogated him on the question of the Putnam com pany's camp and as to how the pris- oners, which he said, numbered at ore-time approximately 80 to 90. were treated This was done after counsel for the lumber company ap- peared before the committee and summoned be allowed to appear to- morrow morning.
 The request was granted.
 ShiverS said that the sanitary con-