The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-02-05

generation within Its walls. DurinS
the whole of the period referred to,
which includes the administrations OF
Stolbrand and Dennis, as Supcrinten-
dents, the Commission is unable to find
a single account or bill rendered, or
voucher of any kind for the disburse'
ment of the immense sums OF public
money which were spent on account OF
the Penilentiary; and for great part
of that period there were no books or
other permanent records of the instltu-
tion.
The report gives, in detail, a number
Of questionable transactions during the
term of Gen. S,olbrand, which may be
summarized as follows: ls!. In 1872
Gen. Stolbrand borrowed from Governor
r. X. Scott for the use of the Peniten-
tiary $4,000, for which he hypothc-
Gated $4,000 in Treasury warrants.
allowing u discount on the loan of s7O5
with an express understanding that the
loan was not to be enforced until the in
stitution was in funls. Scott, however
sold half the warrants ut hall their face
value, to the Treasurer of Richland
county, paid over $4,000 to Mr.. Hardy
Solomon to the credit of the Peniten-
tiary, and retained the remainder as so
much clear profit The Commission
recommend that Governor Scott be
made to disgorgc. Cd. In 1871 Gen.
Stolbranl bought from Mr. Hardy SOL
omon batch Of worthless machinery at
a cost of s2,903 35, which he charged
to the Penitenliary at SG,4SO The
machinery was never used. 3d. From
the books Of Mr.. Hardy Solomon it ap-
pears that the total charges made by
him against the Penitentiary during
Gen. Stolbrand's administration were
! S42 2,049.55; while on the hooks of the
Penitentiary the institution is charged.
aud Gen. Sto!brand credited on Hardy
Solomon's account, with s75,l7O 10.
4th. General Stolbrand deposited with
Hardy Solomon both his personal funds
and those Of the institution over which
he presided, alike to his personal ac-
count, and on Solomon's books there are
numerous entries to the credit of Joint
profits" which Solomon explains a COM
mission to Stolbrand for the use of the
funds.
Having thus shown up the doughty
Stolbrapd, the Commission next pay
their attention to the noble Dennis, and
begin with the astounding assertion that
they find his administration "marked
by frauds and irrcg ulari,ies not sur.
passed in any other department Of the
public service" This seemingly bold
declaration is fully substahiated by the
details which are given. Three pre-.
cious scamps, Neagle, Nash and IIaync
were the directors with whom Denni:
had TO deal, and this worthy quartette
soon proved themselves superior in fraud
to any of tile villains whom tney had
in their care. They ,ignalized theil
entry into Office by scheme for swind
ling the State by furnishing bricks
worth 80 thousand and charging sl2
thousand for them. But this being
rather slow, was improved on by sup
plying only small quantity of brick:
and charging for them two or three
times. 1t appears from the evidence
that not more than five hundred thou
sand bricks were furnished, for which
Ncaglc wos paid $4,000, Nash s4,962
GO, and both parties, at different times
in orders on Solomon, 81 ,627.7G-- max
ing in all sl6,590.3G, or something
over s35 per thousand. Nash was pre-
vi1ed for in addition by orders on Sol
omon to the amount Of $500 per month
for four months. For Hayne bogus
contract for wood was made with an
imaginary "Wm. Sneider," and llayne
paid some 81 800, which was charged
to the Penitentiary on this wood con
tract. When Dennis first went into
Office he found Hardy Solomon in pos,
sesaon Of $4,000 In treasury war
rants signed by Governor Scot, which
had been paid him on accouu! by Gen.
Stolbrand in 1872, but which he could
not use on account Of an act Of the
Legislature passed about that time re-
quirng warrant. 10 be executed by the
Comptroller General. Dennis issued to
Solomon regularly executed warrants in
lieu of the old ones, but, instead Of the
old ones beiug destroyed, they were
lodged with Governor Moses, and he,
with the aid of d. II. Chamberlain,
then At,orncy-GencraI, negotiated. with
them as colaterals. loan of $4,000
from the Bank Of the State.
The report says that there is no rea-
son to doubt the iralh Of this transac>
tion, and that it was one Of the most
hagiious acts Of that corrupt period.
In 1873 quantity of unitel States
army clo,hnS was bought for the use
of the Pcnitcntiary, and this was used
by Nash for uniiorming his regiment
Of National Guards. Several petty acts
of theft arc also charged against Nash,
Singleton, an ex-member Of the L'sis-
laturc. and Barker. of Edscfeld, at the
timo chairman OF the House Penten,iary
Committe. Presents Of the work of
the convicts were made to officials Of
high aud low degree. lIaync, Secrc-
tary Of State, aud his brother, kept
high bred horses at the Penitentiary at
the public expense, the srooms, as well
as the feed, being pail for out of the