The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-04-19
DARK AGE METHODS
PROBED in FLORIDA
DEATH OF WANDERING NORTH
DAKOTA YOUTH AROUSES
PUBLIC SENTIMENT

physically impossible for a man to
receive 100 lashes with a strap and
survive, DR.. T. Capers Jones, con-
vict camp physician employed by the
Putnam Lumber company at Clara,
Florida, Wednesday, told the joint
Legislative investigating committee
inquiring into the death of Martin
Tabert of North Dakota, and other
alleged brutalities in prison camps.
DR.. Jones attributed the primary
cause of Tabert's death to pneumonia
contracted after he had treated him
for a disease which caused gland en-
largements, ulcers and blotches on the
body. The physician said that he en-
tered upon the burial permit that the
death was caused by pneumonia and
complication of malaria but in re-
ality the complication was the dis
ease as outlined.
The camp doctor said he had been
employed by the lumber company for
three and half years and that the
convicts had been treated humanely,
were fed well and that he never
heard any general complaints.
How it felt to be lashed by a con-
vict whipping boss was related to the
joint legislative committee by John
Gardner, 18, who said he resided in
Altoona, Pa, prior to enlisting in
the army.
The committee continued to ques-
tion witnesses in connection with the
death of Tabert, who died while serv-
ing a sentence at the leased convict
camp at the Putnam lumber camp.
Tabert is alleged to have been fog
ged to death by Walter Higgenbotham
who witnesses say was the Camps
whipping boss"
Higgenbotham is under indictment
charging first degree murder, grow
ing out of the investigation conduct
ed by the Madison county grand jury
into Tabert's death
Gardner in answer to questions pro-
pounded by Senator John B. Stokes,
chairman. declared that he was whip
ped three times within a week, that
he received approximately so licks
each time and Higgenbotham was the
whipping boss.
'What offense did you commit?'
Chairman Stokes asked.
Nothing" replied the witness.
"The boss whipped all of the 18 tur-
pentine men after that He said
they complained about treatment re-
,eived in the last camp they were i'm
did the whipping you received
lraw any blood"
eyes, I was made unable to Law on
my back for month";" declared Gar
liner.
The witness said two days lapsed
between his first whipping and the
second and third. He said when he
was whipped the third time he had
oeen engaged in working in water
1ole with Martin Tabert.
What did Higgenbotham say to
you after he had beaten you?" Sem
ltor w. A. civilians, member
# the committee asked.
"He told me he would kill me the
lext time. He then called Tabert
rom the water hole and began whip
ling him." said Gardner.
''How frequently did you see whip
ing in the camp?" he was asked by
senator MacWilliams.
"Ten or twelve every day." was
he answer.
Tallahassee, Fla, April 17.-Sher-
f ]. R. Jones of Tallahassee hade a
ersonal profit of approximately s23
n each prisoner leased by this
Lion) county to the Putnam Lumber
he testified today before
ne legislative committee investigat-
lg prison conditions in this state as
le outgrowth of the death of Martin
abert of North Dakota.
Admits 103 Prisoners
Sheriff Jones was before the COM
ittee for more than an hour when
resumed its hearings today, and
stifed that between August 18th
}21, and December 81, 1922, he
ansferred to the Putnam Lumber
mp a total number of 103 prisoners
e declared that the lumber COM
lUY lldo ltldoC d COiitl dCG WiIli lCOu
unty commissioners to lease pris-
lers and that he had entered into
agreement with W. H. Fisher,
perintendent of the lumber COM
ny, to take all prisoners convicted
the county to the camp, for which
was to receive $40 head
Wanted More
Sheriff Jones said that Fisher first
'ered him SIS for each prisoner,
t he told him that "other sheriffs
the state were receiving that much
d that | thought I was entitled to
,re." Sheriff Jones said that from
e to nine prisoners were transfer
from here to the lumber camp at
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