Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-10
TWO WOMEN SHOT
At KNABB'S CAMP,
WOMAN TEST|F|ES
Witness Also Tells Commit
tee Nine Convicts Died at
Senator's "Pens" in One
Year

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, May "
tBy the Associated Press.(-Nine con.
victs serving ut the pens" of State
Senator T. ]. Knabb, in Baker
county, met their deaths during last
year, six of these dying since last
September, the Joint legislative com
-mittee Investigating convict camp
brutalities, was told today by Mrs
Thclma Franklin, social worker of
Ellen st. Mary, in Baker county.
Mrs. Franklin declared she had
conducted a personal investigation
into the records, which showed that
q coroner's inquest had been held
over each and that death, according
to jury verdicts in each instance
was due to natural \causes." The
witness was on the stand for more
than two hours during the morning
session of the hearing, and was to
resume her testimony after the
noon recess.
Two members of the committee
Jumped to their feet and Senator
Knabb swerved around in his chair
when Mrs. Franklin related that
Mary Sheffield, a negro woman, and
her daughter, said to have been
about twenty years of age, were
shot and killed last Wednesday by
Warden Thompson at one of the
Knabb camps. The Sheffield woman
was to have been used as witness
before the committee. Thompson
is now in a hospital, having been
cut by the woman.
The witness was questioned close
ly as to the killing, but as she did
not witness it she was not permit
ted to give testimony in it's regard.
Mrs. Franklin went down list she
had before her and told of the vari-
GUS deaths, calling each by name,
and related how they were buried.
One man, whose relatives she had
been unable to locate, died and was
buried in a mud hole. She said the
body was later exhumed and buried
in family cemetery.
Another youth, she declared, was
given a whipping by one of the
wardens, and died two or more
hours later sitting upright. in
chair.
She gave in detail the alleged bru-
talities administered to Paul Revere
White. of Washington, D. c., and
said she was instrumental in bring
ing about the investigation and the
rescue of the youth from the resi-
dence of Senator Knabb, where he
had been taken after he was unable
to do any more work.
Mrs. Franklin told of writing to
the boys mother in Taunton, Mass,
and to his brother, Clarence, who is
employed in the Internal Revenue
bureau in Washington, D. c., and
how the brother came to the scene.
Looked Like Corpse"
She described the youth as "look-
ing like a corpse" and declared that
in her opinion if he had not been
removed from the camp he would
have died in two weeks.
Gentlemen, I can tell you more
declared Mrs. Franklin. But we
people of Baker county got so
aroused over the reported brutali-
ties at the Knabb camps that a
committee was named to make an
inspection. Jet each of these men
tell you what they saw. Don't de-
pend all on my word. Their report
will startle you"
She told of how ]. B. Thomas, a
prison inspector, and Senator Knabb
almost came to blows in front OF
her when Thomas took the youth
away from Knabb.
"At the time" Mrs. Franklin Sid,
"the two men were looking zach
other straight in the eyes and qtlar-
reling. White sat in the sheriffs au-
tomobile looking as if he were at
deaths door"
She declared Thomas told Knabb
ne could not be "bought," and that
it would be murder to keep the
Youth at the pen" She declared
that Thomas told her later that
some one had offered me $1,000 to
keep my mouth shut"
Indignant at Scales
The committee became indignant
said to have been made about mem
hers of the committee by Senator j.
H. Scales, of Perry, Fla, and sum
moned the senator to relate his al.
legged activities in the interest OF
Putnam Lumber company.
Senator Scales was expected to ap
pear before the committee later dur
ing the day. The investigation was
demanded by Representative c. H
Kennerly, a member of the com
mittee, and chairman of the sub
s committee which visited Clara, Fla.
a fortnight ago and met with an
armed party reception.
Representative Kennerly also
stated to the committee that a dele
cation of citizens of Dixie county
the home of the Putnam Lumber
company, had called upon him ant
Representative C. J. Smith, anothe:
member of the investigation com
nittee, and requested the office Of
Sheriff Chaveous, of Dixie county
be investigated. The delegation, Mr.
Kennerly said, offered apologies fol-
the reception tended subcommittee
in Clara.
Change of Venue Asked
The delegation, declared Mr.. Ken
nerly, also urged all efforts be made
oobta.n a change of venue for the
trial of Walter Higginbotham, for
mer waipping boss for the Putnam
Lumbe! company, and now under
an Indictment charged with first de
gree murder in connection with the
death ST Martin Tabert, of Nortt
Dakota.
1.-THE delegation was frank with
Mr.. Smith Ghe second member OF
the subcommittee and me-" said Mr.
Kennerly, "about the coming tria'
of Higginbotham. We were informed
IL Higginbotham went on trial al
Cross City, he would be turned
loose"
Senator John P Stokes, chairman
of the committee, said there was
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