Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-04-28
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS ACTION
AGAINST, SHERIFF.

Tallahassee. Fla, April 23-Gover-
nor Hardee in special message to
the Florida 3enate late this afternoon
the removal from Office
Of Sheriff ]. II. Jones of Leon County.
nj which Tallahassee is the county
seat.
This action grew out OF the investl-
gat:on into the death of Martin Tabe"t
Il North Dakota boy, who is alleged I"
have been whipped to death in a con-
vict camp.
Under the Florida law the Cover
nor can suspend an officer only when
the Legislature is not in session.
When it is in session he can only rec
ommend to the Senate permanent re
moval from Office. The Senate, there
fore, must act to impeach Jones.
NO REFERENCE TO OTHERS.
The Governor made no reference to
County Judge Willis or the sheriff's
deputies all of whom, with the sheriff,
have been accused by witnesses before
the joint Legislative investigating com
mit,ee of public and private drunken
ness the drinking of liquor seized in
bootleg raids, fee grabbing and other
Irregularities.
Iutality to prisoners has been al
legged against the sher:ff's officers in
addition to other offenses.
The Governor said in his message
Il have examined the record as sub
mitted to me and am of the OpialJi.
that ut fully justifies a charge of NAL.
feaSance in office against the said }.
r. Jones, sheriff of Leon CoLnty ana
I. therefore, recommend his removal
from Office.
ANOTHER CASE OF BRUTALITY.
member of the committee brought to
the committees ttention today an all
ditional case of brutality in Florida
convict camps.
A number OF MeXicans he said ha
been taken from train at Mariana
and sent to the West Florida Lumber
Company's camp near there after be-
ing sentenced as hoboes. A guard
named Cooley. he said was prosecuted
for killing one OF the Mexicans. When
Cooley's trial came up he declared,
other prisoners were threatened by
officers ut the camp if they testified
unfavorably to Cooley.
Later. he, said the prosecuting at
torney. investigated and the truth was
deve loped when the convicts were as
sured they could testify freely and
would not be returned to the camp.
TIE West Florida Lumber Company's
lease contract has since been suspend
eh by Commissioner of Agriculture Nc
Crae.
ADMIT THEY OFTEN DRANK '
Deputy Sheriffs Gray and Barri-
w re examined last week, were recall
cd today for further questioning.
Both admitted frequently drinking
with Sheriff Jones and Judge Willis
and OF seeing them under the influ-
ence OF liquor at other times. Gray ad
mitted some of the liquor drunk was
from confiscated stock.
Both made repeated deni2ls of pris
oners being whipped or otherwise be-
ing mistreated by the Sheriff or his
deputies either IN or out Of jail.
When a man don't remember ana
don't know, he don't remember and
don't know was the way Gray SUNNI
cd UP the situation.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE DE-
CIDES TO EXHUME BODY
Tallahassee. Fla, April 23-No
record of any burial permit for Mar
tin Tabert CT North Dakota who dieG
in county lease convict camp can be
located by the Florida State Board OF
Heath the joint Legislative committee
tee inquiring into the boys death an"
Other reported prison brutalities was
notified today by DR.. Raymond c.
Turrk State Health Officer.
Immediately upon being Informed
By DR.. Turck the committee voted to
appoint a subcommittee to go to the
Mingo cemetery and other places near
Clara. Fla, where Tabert is said TO
have been buried and exhume tire
granted the committee by the State
body. A disinterment permit has been
Health officer
NEWSPAPERS REVEALED CASE
Late today the committee virtually
concluded hearing evidence in the
Tabert case with the exception OF
awaiting report from it's subcommit
tee. which will leave here Wednesday
for Clara. The subcommittee will take
along Arthur Johnson q former CON
wet who declared he and three other
men buried Tabert in a spot other
than the place designated by witness
G. appearing for the Putnam Lumber
Conf any. at whose lease camp Tab.
ert met his death.
Dr. Turck informed the committee
that the state board of health had
no knowledge that Martin Tabert dier
I'm Florida until the information was
revealed through the newspapers. In
vest!gation is now pending to find
who was responsible for filing the
death certificate and reporting the