Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-18
ALL ANTA PEN PROBE
MAY EXTEND INTO
j. 6. PAROLE BOARD
Sartain Charges He's Been
Made Victim of Petty
Political Revenge

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. - Some
indication that the investigation of
the Atlanta federal prison, now un'
der way, may lead elsewhere and
possibly into the federal parole board,
was given today by Attorney General
Stone.
The attorney general would not
predict the extent to which the in
vestigation may develop.
He asserted, however, that he did
not believe it involved the other fed
eral prisons.
SARTAIN SAYS HE'S VICTIM
OF POLITICAL REVENGE
Announcement by A. +. Sartain
that he had been requested to re-
sign as warden of the Atlanta fed
eral penitentiary, and dispatches
from Washington to the effect that
a general house-cleanin9 is in
prospect at the Atlanta prison, were
Tuesday in the latest
federal prison sensation.
Other developments included:
l. Reports that a federal grand
iuiv was to begin investigation Of
the operations of the penitentiary.
2. Reports that w. j. Donovan,
an assistant attorney general, was
en- route to Atlanta from Washing
ton to take charge of the situation.
.. T. E. White, special representa-
tive of the bureau of investigation
of the department of justice, remain
ed in charge at the prison, under
authority vested in him by the at
torney general.
Reports that the grand jury was
investigating the prison situation
were neither affirmed nor denied
District Attorney Clint w Hager
could not be located Tuesday morn
ing. and attaches of his office de
clined to talk, 1t was stated, how
ever, that the grand jury met Mon
day ana would meet again Tuesday.
Donovan Reported En- Route
Attorney General Donovan WAS re-
ported to have left Washington Mon.
day night but whether he was com.
ing here to conduct grand jury in
VeStigation or to supervise the
launching of new prison admins
tration was not made known in news
dispatches.
Acting Warden White declined to
state whether the arrival of Attor-
ney General Donovan would affect
lis administration.
Details of charges made against
HIM are contained in the statement
made public Monday night by Mr..
Sartain, the deposed warden. Mr..
Sartain declared his resignation was
requested on the grounds that he
was too lenient with bootlegger in.
mates Of the prison, but emphat-
ically denied that the name of
George Remus. styled the boot
logger king of Cincinnati. Ohio.
had been mentioned
Mr.. Sartain, who was Il personal
appointee of former Attorney Gen
eral Harry M. Dausherty, also de,
clared the investigation which led
up to his resignation had not been
concerned with "the narcotic traf-
fic' but seemingly had been con-
Quoted for the purpose of paying off
individuals
Sartains Statement
His statement in full follows:
My resignation was requested by
the attorney general" he said ION
the ground that | was too lenient
with bootlegger inmates of the
prison. For about ten weeks past
investigators Of the department OF
justice at Washington have been con.
Quoting a So-called probe at this in
stltution. The men who conducted
this investigation are not trained for
prison investigators, but are unscru-
pulous bootlegger chasers, and they
have not so much as interviewed me.
Their methods of conducting the
investigation have greatly affected
the prison in every way, and the pub.
lie would be shocked at the discrim-
against a big public institution Of
this kind
over period of two months, my
mail was opened regularly before
received it. My telephone was
tapped and a prisoner informed me
that the investigators had checked
up on my private account in a local
bank without one time consulting me
regarding their activities at the
prison.
Employees of the prison have
worked under great hardship. and
the probe has completely destroyed
the prison routine and the morale
of its workers.
No information unearthed by the
so-called Investigators has been dis
closed TO us a the prison except as
prisoners have told US of the line Of
questioning presented to them. Nj
merous cases of intimidation OF pris.
oners have come to my attention.
approximately 80 prisoners were
questioned time after time by the in.
Vestlgators. and these prisoners have
informed me that they were threat
ened with indictment by federal
grand jury and with additional time
added TO their sentences unless they
told who they paid for the positions
TO which they were assigned at the
prison
Defends '"Trusty" Record
During the past year approx
mately $50 prisoners were made
TRUSTEES and assigned to various po-
sitions about the prison. About $50
OF these were bootIeg2ers, which
is approximately the same a :
that of other classes of prisoners.
We never make TRUSTEES of narcotic
prisoners, and the proportion of con-
victed bootleggers in the $50 TRUSTEES
was not high.
i have endeayored not to discrim-
mate for or against any prisoners or
class of prisoners. and have only
made assignments affecting privi-
leges according to my best judg-
ment.
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