Evening star., 1923-04-19
ANT|-WH|P BILL UP
lin FLORIDA SENATE
lsz
Passes House Yesterday.
Convict Camp Boss, Accus-
{ ed of Murder, to Testify.
ty tho Associated Press.

] TALLAHASSEE Fla. April 10
Walter Higginbotham, convict boss of
the Putnam Lumber Company at
Clara, Fla, and now under Indictment
charged with murder in connection
with the death of Martin Tabert Of
North Dakota, came here TODAY to
appear before the joint legislative
committee investigating Tabert's
death.
Il Working up to the first stage in
Abolishing the whip in the Florida
ccnvict camps. the senate today re:
eeived from the lower chamber OF
the Florida general assembly an
amendment proposed to the present
statute which would do away with
whipping. a means OF punishment
now legally employed.
Passed by House.
Over the opposition of fifty negative
voters, the bill passed the house late
yesterday with less debate and cross
fire than had been expected. The
on the inability to control negro con-
victs at times without the use Of the
lash
Meanwhile the special joint COM
mittee investigating the death OF
rabert continued to call witnesses
Tabert's death. alleged to have been
caused by the whip in a Dixie county
lumber camp, where he was under
lease, is mainly responsible for va
rious legislative inquiries into al
legged brutality. and resultant bllls
aimed at abolishing the whip and the
convict lease system within the state
The committee yesterday heard de-
tails OF the burial of Tabert. and
Lumber Company. in whose camp
Tabert died. Two former convicts,
who had served with Tabert. the
physician who attended the dying
youth, and a former guard at tne
camp also gave testimony. relating to
events preceding the youths death.
Given Christian Burial
Mrs. Mayte Mills and Mrs. Ollie
Rhodes of Clara, Fla. told the COM
ntttee that Tabert had been given a
Christian burial. with hymns and
preaching by an itinerant minister.
refuted previous, testimony, that
Tabert's coffin had cost but $40, and
offered a receipt TO show 1t had cost
$50.
Or. T. Capers Jones, camp physician.
testified that he had attended Tabert
prior to his death; that Taoert said
nothing TO him OF having been
beaten: that Taberts body showed
no evidence of such. and that ne haa
made out the death certlficate 70
and a complication of malaria.
saws Disease Caused Denth.
nr Jones said this was not correct.
hn, that Tabert had really died from
= disease which manifested ulcers
and running sores. later oeVeioplnS
into pneumonia. He said that was
done to relieve the youths relatives
or any embarrassment. Later on
CROSS Questioning, DR.. Jones admitted
that he did not know whether Iaoert
had any relatives.
&On being questioned by the COM
rittee as to what effect beating
such as had been testified to by otner
witnesses had been administered 70
rabert would have on g man In
Tabert's condition, the physician re-
piied: ,-,,os ,,,,, >.
Others Charge Cruelty.
SJohn Gardner Of Fort Sam Houston
Tex, testified that he had been whip
ned by Eigginbo than and had wit
messed the beating of Tabert. in which
more than a hundred lashes had been
given. Fred Williams. also a former
convict a the camp, told the commit
tee he had been whipped by Higgin-
nathan and had been forced to work
In water to his knees and hips in the
winter season.
Ernest Priest, An empioye of the
Putnam Company, testified that he
had found the whip used by Higgin,
botham in 1.-The woods" that 1t scaled
two pounds in weight, and denied he
took it to Tampa for repairs follow
ing Taberts death. Priest admitted
that he had called on a man in a
nearby town. after that man had
tfon in the Tabert case. and had ieft
word, when he failed to find the party
that he would pay this mans railroad
tire to Clara II he would come.