Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-28
CLAIM ARMED MEN
COWED WITNESS
IN TABERT CASE

AH& AA3Ekk OH0A
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, April 26.
Representatives ]. S. Kennerly and
J. Clay Smith,, members of the joint
legislative committee investigating
the death of Martin Tabert, of North
Dakota, in a. convict camp, today
were expected to ask that some ac-
ton be taken regarding what they
termed an attempt to brighten wit
ness when several residents of Clara,
Fla, yesterday approached them as
they went out to find Tabert' S
grave. The villagers were armed.
Investigation of other alleged
brutalities in private and state con-
Wet camps was expected also to get
under way while the committee
awaits a dental chart from North
Dakota before going further towards
exhuming Taberts body.
Keen resentent was expressed at
the state capital today when it be-
came known that an armed recep-
ton committee met the committee on
it's arrival in Clara, ignored the Of
fetal party and openly threatened
Johnson. There was seen the posi-
bility in the resentent that the mat
ter would reach the house or senate
before the committee itself could act
on it.
Representative Kennerly regarded
the reception accorded the party as
an outrage" In addressing the
men he declared he intended to see
that a full investigation would be
made and that charges of intimida-
ton would be preferred.
Representative Smith did not ad-
dress the citizens except to invite
them to remain away from the au-
tomobile in which the committee
and Johnson rode. He later de-
clared that the action of the citi-
zens, who, he said, seemed to have
been led by William Fisher, super
intendent of the lumber company,
was "a big bluff to scare the COM
mittee into not making thorough
investigation"
Fisher is the lumber company's
official who made the contract with
the Leon county commissioners to
lease all able bodied convicts and
afterwards entered into an agree
ment with Sheriff J. r, Jones, of
Tallahassee, to pay him $40 for each
prisoner he delivered to the lumber
companys camp. The sheriffs dis
missal has been recommended by
the governor and it is now being
considered by the senate.
AWAIT DENTAL CHART
BEFORE EXAMINING BODY
CLARA, Fla, April 26.-Excava-
ton of the grave of Martin Tabeft,
of North Dakota, alleged to have
camp of the Putnam Lumber COM
pany here, will await the arrival of
dental chart from Tabert's home
for purposes of Identification. The
mound in the little cemetery today
stands with fresh dirt plainly show
ing the first attempt of the legis-
latiVe committee to examine the
body. The special committee on
yesterday had the box uncovered,
but at the, request of Assistant At
torney General Crison, of North
Dakota, the body was not uncov-
cred.
Meanwhile the committee has re-
turned to Tallahassee and the viii
lage is quiet after the excitement of
yesterday caused by group of
armed men meeting the committee
and directing a. warning to Arthur
Johnson, negro ex-convict, who was
to show the committee where he
had helpel bury Tabert
The armed men, headed by cap
tain Bill" Fisher, superintendent of
the lumber company's plant, met the
committee and Fisher, addressing
Johnson, said: you tell them where
you buried Tabert if you know
what's good for you
Committee members said they
would take up the alleged threat
with the chairman at Tallahassee.
Johnson was frightened so that he
carried the committee about two
miles beyond the spot where he had
intended to convey them. They
later returned, and while the arm
ed body looked on, Johnson made
an unsuccessful attempt to locate
the grave. The committee then
went to the cemetery.