Even Prisoners Have Their Rights In America
NEW YOPK, May 18. The TJnited States Circuit Court niled in Philadelphia today that the State of Georgia is not en'titled to the return of chain gang fugitives who suffer cruel and brutal treatment from their gaolers before they escape. The Court declared, in a procedent-shalter-ing deeision, that convicts are entitled to "decency and humanity,, while in prison. The deeision said that if convicts are ntistreated they are entitled to eontinue tlieir freedom after thev escape. Tlie deeision freed a chain gang fugitive who had heen conlined in gaol, Allegheny County, Peuiisylvania, foi six years awaiting the outcome of the Georgia authorities' attempt to get him baek to serve a life tenu for murder. The deeision was handed down in tlie case of Leon Johnson who was convicted of killing a woman. Ile was senteneed in 1913 to life imprisonment hut eseaped six inonths later from a chain gang and went to Pittslinrgh where he as arrested and held for extradition on a warrant issued hy the Georgia authorities.
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Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1949, Page 5
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176Even Prisoners Have Their Rights In America Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1949, Page 5
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