The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-24
END IF LASH IN FLORIDA PRISONS T0 BE DEMANDED
Committee Will Recommend AboIishment of Convict
 Lease System

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, April 23.- (By Associated Press. )-Recom- mendations will be made by the joint legislative committee Investigating reported abuses If convictS in this state to abolish the convict lease system. corporal punishment, im- mediate removal of Sheriff J. R. Jones of Leon county, and the estab- lishment of a merit system by which convicts VI uld be given time off for good behavior, it was stated by the committee members. These recom- mendations will be made as a result of the phase of its inquiry which dealt with the death in a private convict camp of Martin Tabert of North Dakota. The statement was made during a lapse in the hearing today. which concerned tn office of the sheriff and County Judge B. F. Willis of this, Leon county. The members discussed informally. in the light of the approaching end of the inquiry into Tabert's death, the amount of wo:k still before them. The committee has not yet decided on the recommendation it will make regarding Judge Willis, t was de- veloped. Judge Willis also charged with misconduct in office by the witnesses who testified Saturday.
 Charge BrutnIities.
 It was als) announced by the com mittee that charges of brutalities growing out of the alleged cruel treatment administered to Paul White of Washington, D. C., who lease camp of State Senator J. J. Knabb at MacClenny, will be taken up next. John Roddenbury, whip ping boss al the Knabb camp Is now under indictment charging cruelty to prisoners. Jerry Poppell, former jailer, who claimed he was custo- dian of the Leon county prison for 2S years: being discharged recently by Sheriff Jones, has testified that Sher- if Jones. Judge Willis and the two deputies and himself were intoxicated on a nmber of occasions and had made arrests and tried prisoners in that state. Edward Houston, a con- stable, corroborated Poppel's testi- mony that Sheriff Jones gave instruc- tions not to allow him or any of his prisoners in the county jail. He magistrate. who would only sentence men found guilty of vagrancy or stealing rides on trains, to 30 days, while Judge Willis gave them three months. He said Sheriff Jones dis liked the action taken by the ma gi- strate.
 After Mrs. Rosa White. W. C. Moon and T. R. Minton corrobera ted Poppells accusation that the sheriff and judge had been intoxicated, there appeared before the committee negro named Mack Walker, wnv gave his age as 35 years.
 The negro testified he had been beaten by Deputies Barrineau and Gray. while he was drunk and ar rested for operating moonshine still.
 No record of any burial permit for Martin Tabert of North Dakota. who died in county least convict camp, can be located by the Florida state board of health. the joint legislative committee inquiring into the young ster's death and other reported prison brutalities was notified today by pr. Raymond C. Turck, state health off, cer. ..
 Immediately upon being informed by Dr. Turck the committee voted tL 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 the body. A disinterment permit has been granted the committee by the state health officers,