The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-13
TEE pENITENTIAgY IMBRoGLIo.
E I'G Il T II D AY.
SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE coNTRAcTs.
ALSO ABOUT THE ESCAPED coNy1CTs

The Board met at the usual hour yesterday,
and the following evidence was heard:
Leroy A. Crenshaw, sworn, testified that
he, had paid some money to the Superintendent t
for leather. Had n contract with him for the
hire of twenty-five conyicts. Mr.. Wardwell
furnished witness stock, for which sl00 was
paid. Made contract for shoemakers but
subsequently gave il up, there being but about
nail q dozen shoemakers in the lot. Kept
the prisoners at the penitentiary. Had no
difficulty in managing them. The purchase
OF the leather was not embraced in the
contract; these hands were said TO be shoe
makers; they Were selected by Mr.. Lee in
presence OF the Superintendent: paid Mr.
Lee TO act as superintendent of the shop /;
Threw up the contract because witness could
not get such work out Of the hands rs he had
anticipated; had no difficulty in procuring
money TO carry on the business; knew othng
OF lhe nands when selection was made; had
paid no hire for the convicts; had operated
there six weeks owed about 1850 to the State
for material and hire of hands
Mr.. Champlin. being recalled, testified that
the sloo for leather paid to Mr.. Wardwell by
Mr. Crenshaw had not been credited to the
state. WITNESS here introduced 4 book, and
stated that the amount due by the Superin-
tendent for hire of convicts was S3 500 This
was the amount rendered the General Agent
The 800 paid by Mr.. Crenshaw did not appear
on the gate-book; 1t was not the book on
which 1t should appear. Knew that Scho-
maker had made his escape, but did not know
how, nor where he went to. Whenever the Su-
perintendent took any money out of the fe,
he would make ticket for the same; tho
money was returned to the safe on settlement
day. .taG& .
Colonel G.. T. ESbert, sworn, esti1ed that
he had paid the Superintendent on or about
the llth of September $3.50 after that, in
December, paid him also about s2lO; these
sums were paid on account Of materials had
contract for twenty-five coopcrs for five
years; witness abandoned the contract be-
cause he did not get the coopers contracted
for. The last item of s2l0 was paid the Su-
perntendent in articles for the use of the in
stitution.
Mr.. Champlin recalled, stated that the
amount $3.50 paid by Colonel Egbert did not
appear on the gate book
Detective William +. Knox being sworn
testified that he was apprsed OF the escape OF
DunnaVant and Ford from the penitenttary.
He was sent for by the Superintendent. Went
over to the penitentiary and saw Mr.. Ward.
well, who, after giving him all the informa.
ton concerning the escape of the two conyicts,
offered reward of fifty dollars for their ap-
prehenson. He also gave with ess 4 descrip-
ton of the convicts. Mr.. Wardwell told wit
ness TO remain in the office until he re-
turned. Witness asked the Superintend-
ent where Fairbanks was. His reply was
that he was up stairs in bed. After wait
ing about twenty minutes for the return
Of Wardwcll, witness asked Il clerk in the
Office where the Superintendent had gone
The clerk replied that he had gone mp
stairs. Witness then asked where Fairbanks
could be seen. The gentleman said he had left
with DunnaTant and Ford. A few minutes
afterwards witness left the peniten tiary, and
did not see the Superintendent on the subject
any more. In the conversation witness had
with Wardwell, the latter said he thought
Fairbanks was a good man. Witness told him
ut the time Fairbanks was arrested he wit
ncssl had received 4 telegram from Baltimore
stating that Fairbanks was charged in that
city with forgery and burglary
Witness exhibited 4 piece of paper handed
him by Wardwell; it was an order from Dun
navant on u man named James Johnson, to
pay Fairbanks twenty dollars. This, said
Wardwcll TO witness, might lead TO the arrest
of Dunnavant. Knew of convcts being in the
employ of DR.. Laughlin did not know who
was in charge of them; had seen DR.. Laugh
lin give whiskey 10 covicts.
Mr. Champlin being recalled, stated that DR.
Laughlin was charged with the hire OF con-
yicts.
This closed the evidence for the prosecution.
The court adjourned until this morning in
order that the Superintendent might prepare
his defence.