The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-02-22


picion of any corrupt or wrong doing on his
part, and that the object was to obtain
such information with view of
correcting the evils and turning
the moneys realized by such contracts
into the Treasury He had doue just what
any other official would. and If the contract
was absurd, il was the Boards mistake AND
not his.
THOSE VOUCHERS
The most damaging disclosure of the
whole investigation aad one wherein the
Governor thought he had struck bonanza,
was that Thomas Bowers. the cattle pur-
chaser had returned vouchers recei pied in
blank and permitted the Clerk to til in the
amount paid. This had a crooked look on
its face but was easily explained, and think
10 the utmost satisfaction of the Governor.
Bowers would purchase q beef and take
a receipt in iuii in memorandum book
for that purpose. He thought 1t was more
ship-shape 10 have the clerk make cut the
vouchers FROM the receipts.
The Warden admitted that this was not
exactly business ike, but as the buyer and
CLERK were Democrats there was not the
slightest reason for suSpecting that any OF
these vouchers had been changed in amount
from the original receipt, nor did a COM
parisOn of the books and vouchers show
anr discrepancy. The Governor hat almost
exhausted himself,O ,On this subject when q
brilliant idea struck him. He imagined
3 lew vouchers had been withheld 50 as 10
reduce the number of beeyes purchased,
and, accordingly, the earnings of the Warden
on hides bur wien reminded by Judge
Cohroth that the Warden was too smart TO
pay for beef for the sake of the hide, he
dropped the subject abruptly, reprimanded
the cattle purchaser and turned his atten-
| ton tO other points.
LOST EY THE OPERATION
Another important discovery was in the
sale OF cabbage raised on the Prison farm.
Two thousand heads were sold 10 Uhlman
Il Co., Lafayette, and a large NUNS
Der To Murdock K Co., eff the
same city. In the latter house the Warden
| is the senior partner The Governor was so
persistent in his inquiry that he developed
The fact that Murdock charged his own
house two ceSts more per head for cabbage
than he could have purchased 1t elsewhere.
Other evidence adduced showed that Dep
utv Warden Baker had. with the consent
of the Directors operated what is called the
Prison boarding house. Here about fifteen
guards are boarded, and Sheriffs and others
/ having business at the Prison were cared
/ for at the rate OF 81 per week. The Deputy's
income ;berefrom is estimated at 81, 500, but
that gentleman can only figure it at $500,
which is probably the proper figure.
1 After some other testimony the Governor
abruptly closed the case. and the Directors
retired 20 prepare their report. which an
NUS the contract with Warden MurdOck
and provides that the profits from hides,
greese. bones and tallow shall go into the
: ate Exchequer, and gives TO the Warden
| the refuse Of the table. The Board also de-
termined TO operate the boardins-hOus for
I the benefit of the State. These changes will
be inaugurated at once. The resignation of
Mr.. Baker as Deputy Warden was consid-
cred and accepted, and that official will re-
tire April l.
THE RESULT.
The investigation was a complete vindica-
ton for Warden MurdOck. In fact there
were no charges against him, except that he
| had mSde little money out of contract
with the Board Of Directors, for which they
are alone responsible. The Board made the
contract because there was precedent for it,
and possibly because other Wardens have
| lost money by similar agreements.
! The question of Mr, MuFdock's integrity
did not figure in the cAse,a as some paPers, fer
\ political effect. would have the public be-
/ lieye, nor does the resembling of the con-
tract reflect upon him. The Board had
could make money by using the prison oifal,
and if it neglected to do its duty that is
/ where the blame attaches.
THE PRISON.
From the testimony elected by Governor
/ Porter it was shown that the management
! had been unusually efficient and the prison
ers lad Jared far better than in years past.
They have plenty of good, wholesome food.
and particular attention has been given to
furnishing fresh meat no doubts an uncom-
mon thing in some Prisons One thing Is
certain, the conviets are not suffering for
want of food and are not likely to as long
as under the Wardenship of Mr.. Mur5Ock.
The records show that the expenses have
i been greatly reduced and the earnings pro-
portionately ircreased, The price paid for
+ convict labor has been advaEeed, and one
OF the last official acts of the BOARD was TO
raise the price of one class of labor, max
ing an increase offs 600 per year in the reve-
nue. Of the. State for this department alone.
COMPARATIVE srATEMENT.
Warden Murdoch has reduced the cost OF
provisions for each convict to II LII cents
per day. The following statement will show
the expenses of the Institution compared
with other large Prisons of the country:
Indian Prison No-th-AverGge number of con
vicis, 5I2. Total cost per day, including repair
ana all expenses. SSc. Cost Of provisions only per
per day convict, Il lille.
| Fort Madison. Iowa. PrisoE-Average number
SsI. Cost per day per convict 2sl l4c.
Iowa Additional Penitentiary- general sup
port exclusive OF salaries and repairs cost per day
per convict. 25szc.
Connecticut State Prison-Cost per convict pei
day, 371<c. Cost al provision l3 7-l0c per day;
| ratiOns OF fresh beef only twice q week.
Rhode Island State Pyison-Cost OF provisions
per day per convict, l135c.
Wisconsin State Prison Total cost, 40c; for pro
visions, 13c per convict per day
| Kansas State Penitentiary-Cost per prisoner
! per day, exclusive OF Improvements and repairs
Al S7-lo9c; Tor provisions, II 5SlJce per day pei
man.
Pennsylvania State Prison Average, 749% men
Cost per day for provisions, i6isc per man.
Boston House OF C0rrteIiOn-Nunlber of prison
erS. s6l. Cost, IS &c per day.
Detroit House Of Correcticfl-Provisicns per das
cost . 9l0c.
California Prison-Number Of cnnvicss, l.5OO
Total cost per dag per man, 445c. For provision:
per day per man, IS 4-iee.
BIG INCREASE.
! The following shows the increase in the
prices paid for convict labor during the
term of Warden MurdOci1 and present Board
Of Directors, making an increase in the earn
ings Of $50 6i7. 10:
i >. r. a. J. Winterbotham misunderstanding Coop
! ersge)-Date Of Change OF contrrct, July 10, 1854
! numberof men, l25; price per man changed from
- cents 70 90 cents per day; amount OF increase
per day, $3.50
Ford, johnson & Co, Contractors (Chairs
Cradles aud Furniturel-Dafe OF change Of con.
tract, October Y. lSSl. Number OF men en-