Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-10-25
THE PENITENTlARY LEASE AGAIN.
Important New Developments.

| Af'vNtoAt NEW OeteAVpufcA'S'
EDITORS CHRONICLE: We take it fol
granted that the speech and letter of Sena'
tor Gibson established the following facts
in reference to the penitentary lease: lst.
That the lease was secretly made; I'd.
That much larger:sum could have been
obtained for the lease. if due notice of the
lease had been given; and Sd. That Gov.
Brown is responsible for the loss the State
has sustained in making the lease without
notifying the public. But we have just
been shown letter written by Frank
Hyberger, Gov Senter's private Secretary,
which shows how the lease was made.
Capt. Hyberger writes as follows: "When
[ was in Nashville, last Spring, QS72) and
soon after the Legislature adjourned, 1 met
Hon. Sam. Jones, of Shelby, and in con-
versation with him he told me, in words
about as follows: I left Memphis to come
to Nashville, and just before leaving, Col.
Rob. Looney said to me, if you see any
thing when you get to Nashville that there
is any money in telegraph me and will
come to Nashville came to Nashville,
and after looking around L saw there
was money in the penitentiary. I
telepraphed to Colonel Looney to
come to Nashville at once; and,
in reply, he teleragphed me that he
would leave OH the next train. took
hack and met him at the depot, and told
him what was up and that all l wanted
him to do was to use his influence with
the Governor, and L would manage the
Legislature myself [ knew the influence
he had with the Governor. The prison
was leased to O'COnner and LoOney, my
name not appearing on the surface. A
few days after the lease was ratified certain
parties offered Looney and myself So, 900
cash for our interest in the lease. | want
ed to sell out, but LOOney was not willing
to sell. then proposed to Looney that
he pay me my part of the offer (S12, ,500),
and / would draw out. This he refused to
do. My business was such that [ had to
leave Nashville, and 1 just placed the mat
ter in the hands of Mr.. Caldwell, who
was q friend of mine and q good lawyer
and Cd d-n 'em, I have ilf my pocket
two notes for six thousand dollars each,
one payable in twelve months, and the
other payable in two years, and they are
good notes. That is what l made out of
the penitentiaryw
Capt. Hyberger adds "This conversation
was had in public place and it was not
told me as asecret. The ADORE 1 am UiL-
ling to make AFFIDAVIT to-"
No wonder the Brown party in Tennes-
see feel sore on the penitentia:y question.
No wonder they are so anxious to cover up
the transaction. No wonder the Governor,
himself, kicks and snorts when the subject
is mentioned, as though gadfiy had struck
him. When few men can thus set to
work, one to use ''his influence with the
GOUernOr," another to "nodndgc the LegiS-
lature," and thus make fifty thousand dol
lars out of the State in "a few days" surely
it is time tax payers were opening their
eyes. Col. Looney, we are told, was in
strumental in securing Browns first nom-
ination. Hence his "infuence with the
Governor" Now, Governor, write letter
to Col. Looney, and get Looney to say that
"Hyberger favored the leasen This will
be a squelcher. The force of such logic is
so obvious and so convincing.
Now, tax payers, will you vote for man
who, as this letter shows, is a mere cats
DatC ? A TAX PAYER.