The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-14
THE pENIrEarIARY IMBRoGLIo. |
n I N T II D a Y +.
TESTIMONY FOR TIE Defence
THE MAJOR IS CONSIDERED AN
ORIGINAL CHARACTER.
Matters and Things In General.

The Board met Yesterday ut the usual hour,
and the following evidence was heard:
George w. Smith, sworn, testified that he
was president of the Board of Directors Of the
penitentiary. The bills in the name Of A. I
Burr were ordered 10 be paid. Understood or
presumed that the articles were furnished by
Wardwel. Witness passed the bills under the
belief that the articles had been furnished by
Mr.. WaTdwell. II has been the practice Of
Superin tendents TO purchase articles for the
penitentiary during the interim OF the meet
inGS of the Board The law allowed the SUI
perntendent TO do so. Knew of 4 bill of lea
ther furnished by Mr.. Wardwel The leather
furnished by Mr.. Lee was often of IN inferior
qnality and higher price than that purchased
by Wardwell. The Board passed Mr.. Lees bill
notwithstanding they considered ii very high.
There is 4 garden OF several acres attached 10
the penitentiary. portion of it Is used to
cultivate vegetables for the prisoners; and an
other part is set aside for the Superin tendents
private use. The Governor is required 10 issue
orders for the government of the institution !;
Governor Peirpolnt ordered that no articles
should be supplied by the Superintendent I;
witness favored the passage OF the bills be-
cause he was not certain the articles had been
furnished by Mr.. Wardwell. II was witness 5
own opinion that the articles were furnished
by the Superin tendent; the Superintendent
often made purchases without the authorize
ton Of the Board was under the impression
that the Superintendent, under the law, cOuli
make purchases for the institution while the
Board was not in session. The General Agent
| is authorized to purchase without reTuici-
ton approved by the Board. Witness had Of
| fered 4 resolution 1T one meeting OF the Board
authorizing the Superint tendeut 10 exchange
manufactured articles for any article that
| might be needed at the institution.
| The witness further examined, but
nothing new was elected.
John +. Meanly, sworn, testified that he
was connected with the penitentiary rs super.
| intendent OF the weaving department. Had
been connected with the institution for thirty
one years. The boiler spoken of belonged tC
his ward. 1t has been used for boiling food
| for hogs. Had seen the refuse Of vegetables
| boiling in the caldron for the hogs. Had
made 4 requsition upon Mr.. Lee for one hun
| dred pounds of copperas He charged sin
cents per pound when the price shoum have
| been three cents. Informed the Superin tend
ent of the fact. He told witness to send i
| back After this MIR. Lee furnished the cop
peras at three cents per pound. 1t was
| customary for the Superintendent 10 EN-
ploy convictS outside of the pcnitentiary
| had seen the iron wheel (alluded 10 befOre) i
| was purchased, witness belived, in 1853 die
| not know for what purpose; thought it woult
/ be of value rs old iron. The discipline anu
| condition of the penitentiary is better nov
than it has ever been it has been so since tht
| administration OF Mr.. Wardwel. The disc
pline of the institution is confinement TO soil
| tary cells and Curtailment Of ratiouS; the ct
| feet OF the rules and regulations instituted b.
| T.
| been favorable 10 some of the Conyicts; th'
| Superintendent has been I'm ntiring in his effort
| TO inculcate good morals among the prisoners
| whipping and shaving the heads were intro
| duced during witness's connection with the in
| Stituton this, however, has since been abOl
| ished believed that the religions exercises Il
| the institution had some good effect no diSor
| der was permitted during religious services
| Jeremiah Willis (Friend) testified that h
| has been, and was, 4 member of the prcscn
rNli ,i.,iH
| was now n permanent resident Of this city
| had purchased property here; had letter
| from Governors Of various States TO visit tn
| prisoners. Witness gave n most elaborat
| sLatcment OF his experience 1T different pri
| sons of several States in the Union. He ha
| visited the States prison here before the war
| at the evacuation, during the administrator
| of Colonel Pendleton, and since Mr.. ward
| well had taken charge OF the institution. IL
| said that shortly after the evacuation, an
| during the superintendency of Colonel Pen
deton, the moral condition OF the convict
| was in bad state; they would use profan
| language, and were in Il great measure unma
| nageable. He and others had established re
lgious exercises, which had produced mos
happy effect. He had written Il statement /
| Governor Wells respecting the improved con
dition of the ccnYictS. He thought that til
| present Superin tendent WAS an original cht
racter, peculiIrly adapted for the position.
| Mr. George w. Smith, the first witness eX
| amned, at this point of the investigation
| asked To be- allowed TO make Il correction il
his testimony. He said that since he had ties
| titled he had sent for 4 copy of the resolution
| referred to by him, and found that he wa
mistaken it was the Geasrul Agtnt, and 10
| the Superintendent, who was authorized 10 eX
change manufactured articles on hand 70
such articles rs were needed in the penlten
| tiary. By the resolution the Agent was re
quired TO report TO the Board weekly such &c
ton as he might have taken. He stated tha
the Superintendent had made purchases sine
| the adoption of the resolution by the Board
and did not think that the Superin tenden
was disposed to comply with any action O
| Board.
Some other unimportant testimony wa
| heard, and the Board nd iourned.