Atlanta Penitentiary Scandal: Bribery and Betrayal Unfolds

On a chilly February evening in 1925, the Atlanta federal penitentiary was abuzz with whispers of corruption and deceit. The highly anticipated bribe trial of A.E. Sartain, former warden, and L.J. Fletcher, his deputy, was heating up, with the prosecution wrapping up its case after weeks of dramatic testimony. District Attorney Clint W. Hager announced the government’s rested case, paving the way for the defense to present its side of the story.