Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-22
WARpEN MccQ NIB.
The Board of State Prison Directors Exon
crate him, and Declare Zone OF the
Hharpes PrnYan

IRe BoarQ OF HtaIe fIlSOn O4ASSbOAS
crate him, and Declare Zone Of the
Charges Proven,
The Board Of S5ats Prison Directors met
at San Quentin yesterday morning, President
Boggs presiding. The principal matter pre-
seuted at the meeting was the decision OF the |
Directors relative 10 the charges against Cen |
eral John McComb, Warden of the State
Prison at Folsom, concerning which they |
took testimony on the Il n and l5.h instants
This was rendered in writing, was unanimous
and to the following effect:
Ia regard to the first specification
In said charges, the Board finds that during
the political campaign of 1882 a subscription
book was passed among the employees OF the
Folsom Prison for the purpose of raising
funds for political purposes that the Warden
headed the let, and that the same was sub
scribed by nearly all of the employees, they
indicating the amount int they wished to
contribute. Tue Board find that these coz
tributions were entirely voluntary, ana that
the employees were 30 Informed at the time
that the Warden 10 no instance directed or
rsoussted any one to sign the same; that
there was no assessment whatever, but
merely
A voLUHTABY CONTRIBUTION.
The Board find, in reference to speci6cs-
ton two OF said chsrges, that the War
den has upon divers times employed oonvicts
upon the prison grounds outside the guard
line but in all those cases they were prison
ers who by good behavior and meritorious
conduct had secured the confidence of the
Warden, and were entitled to trust. The
I
sary, and to have had the same done by free
men would have entailed great expense to
the State. In no case were cOnvicts allowed
to 90 beyond the prison grounds. excepting
two or three trusties III charge of an officer.
The Board further fnd that all such prison
ers were compelled to and did wear prison
clothes.
The Board tind that there is no evidence
that a railroad car was burglarizsd By tbs
convicts or a convict Of the prison but the
evidence was such as to satisfy the mind of
the Board that the burglary referred to IL
that specification was done by other parties;
and that there Is not even room for a sus-
picion that it WAS done by any inmate of the
prison.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
Whatever showing that the Warden paid the
sum of S2S to conceal the burglary referred
to. hut, on the contrary, the evidence Is con-
culsive that nothing of the kind was done.
The Board find that the Warden did not
pay one T. c.. Grace, or any other person,
800 in coin, or that he gave him his note for
$500, or any other sum. for damage done to
cattle on the prison grounds by shooting or
otherwise; that certain cattle belonging to
Grace were continually and repeatedly breaS-
ing the fence and trespassing on the prison
farm that one of the Warden's men, and
not under the Wardens orders, after repeated
- l.. 6 Z.
using small bird shot for that purpose that
the COW was not seriously injured but the
Warden, upon the fact being made known to
him, paid tine owner the full value of the
COW, the sum of $50, and received Grsce's
receipt in full therefor; that the money so
paid TO Grace was from the private moneys
of the Warden, and not from the public
funds.
There have been some escapes from the
prison, but such occurrences are rare and
have not been caused by any carelessness Of
those in charge of the prison, and in nearly
every instance the offender has been re-
captured and returned to the prison.
The Board tind that the Warden has dur
ing a period of little over two years caused
to be expended the sum of 1886 for travelling
expenses, while
TRAVELLING UPON OFFICIAL DUTIES,
For advertisements, newspaper subscriptions,
ETC., bat all such bills have been audited by
the Board OF Directors, aud were proper and
necessary expenses, ana are reasonable when
the amount Of advertising and necessary
travelling expenses are Onsidered.
The Board ud that an inmate OF the prison
by the name of Barber became insane, was
properly examined as to his sanity, but he
Immediately became better and before he
was taken to the asylum he became suddenly
violent and set fire to the clothing in his cell,
from which he recsived injuries causing his
death but upon a full investigation we find
there was no carelessuess or negligence on the
part Of any Of the officers connected with the
prison but, on the contrary, he received the
most careful attention from all persons IN
authority.
The Board fad that the Warden has in all
cases given his attention to the duties of his
office as directed by law, and in no instance
delegated that authority to others. That he
has always given the condition of the prison
ers as to health, safety, ETC., his special stten-
ton, and has personally and frequently visited
the prison for that purpose.
The Board find that the personal expenses
OF the Warden for the maintenance Of him
self and family
ARE NOT UNREASONABLE
That his bills are kept in a manner that shows
every dollar that is expended for that pur-
pose, separate and distinct from the other
penses of the prison; and we further find
that all such expenses have been passed upon
and allowed by the Board Of Directors as
proper and lest that be has not absented
himself from the prison except on necessary
business for the State, with the exceptions of
two occasions, and then for a short period.
The Board fails to had any drunkenness or
iDcapacity among the employees of the pris IN,
and that in all cases dsreliction Of duty
among them has been properly punished as
the case demanded.
The Board Gud that in some cases opium
has been smuyglsd into the prison, but it was
rot due to csrelssen7ss or lack Of diligence on
the part Of the officers, and through their
diligence this evil is becoming less and less.
The Board fnd, after careful inquiry and
investigation, that
THE CAPTAIN or TIE GUARD,
BENJAMIN Chambers, is a man entitled to full
credit and respect, and that he ID faithful,
viyilant and intelligent officer, and that his
conduct is such as becomes an officer and a
gentleman that during the year 1882, In the
month Of October, while he was Lieutenant
Of the guard, he was absent about one month,
but at the tine he left he informed the
Warden that ne should not return, snd his
name was taken from the payroll Of the
prison. With what he did during that time
this Board deem 5hsy had nothing to do.
In conclusion. the Board after O careful
investigation, con lad 10 evidence to sustain
any Of the specifications set out ia the charges
preferred, AMI most therefore exouerate the
Warden from each specification therein, and
we do hereby sx nsTRts him from each sDeci-
ioatiOn 10 said charges aud from the whole
of said charges. ,ss.gnedl
JoHE BOGGs,
". c. HESDRICKs,
". c. VAN FLEET,
CUaS + RopRrSs