The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-05
rHE PrNIrENrIARY.
In,s..,s...op y .hs oonn,..ss-TA.


Investigation by the Commitsee-The
New WArden-The Pussy Matter.
LANSING. Kas., Jan. 30-I'he commit
tee of the state legislature TO investigate
the state penitentisrY aud the defalca
ton and embezzIement of the late chief
clerk, j. Q. PuseY, are giving the instl-
tuition pretty thorough overhaullng to-
day. The committee consists OF Sena-
tors Barker, Green and Crane and Rep
resentatives Nc Bride, Bates, Brick and
Hargrayes. They found the external
workings of the institution in apple-pie
order. The coal shaft is turning ont to
be bonanza tor the state, and the CON-
mittee, after making thorough explor-
alton of the coal deposits, concluded
that the state haa here mine Of wealth
that can Let be too carefully guarded.
The committee will complain Of the sys-
tenn here in vogue. holding that il moves
too much in grooves. but as the present
management has made few changes
in system and methods, It is
proper that the systems and
the changes of policy should be
thoroughly and critically examined. the
committee find, contrary to general ex-
pectations, there is a check on the clerk
In his stubs of coal, in that, in his order
must correspond with welghmaster's
receipt, which must agree with the
clerks stuo and cash, all of which are
turned over to the warden and kept for
future exsminstion by legislative COM
mIttees and all other curiously disposed
persons.
EARNINGS.
The surplus earnings of the institu-
ton for the current year will be $685.
717.Oo. The output for the coal mine for
year ending June so last was ST.. S57
bushels The cash sales for the year
were SAG, 2SS.20; value of the coal ship
ped to state institutions at an average
of IL cents per bushel, SIS. 225.79. The
gross earnings Jor the year 1884 were
$147, 11S SO; the expenditures, 1921 ,401.-
90. Alexander Caldwell has the con-
tract for the convict labor for ten years
from the 4th day of June, 1884, at S4.7
cents each ten hours of labor reformed
be each convict.
THE PUsEY DEFAL.cATIoN.
The committee last night at 8 O'Clock
went into executive session, and at khls
writing are examining the warden of
the penitentisry, Col. Jones, his
books and accounts and mat
ters connected with the Pussy defalca-
ton. J. G. Pussy was the late chief
clerk OF the penitentiary. He was un-
doubleday "slick one" in politics. He
was an unctuous rascal. He had always
been q Republican, but 10 the tidal wave
two years ago he Joined the Click Re
publIcans, and was appointed by the di-
rectors of the institution its chief clerk.
Last fall, up to the time of his flight, he
was fiercely patriotic in the fambeau
business, shouting for the strange CON-
b,nation of Blaine and Click. His en-
bezzlement, 50 far as was discovered,
| amounts to little over 5000. He has
never been heard of or seen since his de-
parture last September, although War
den Jones has sent over 900 photo
graphs of Pusey with the proclamation
of reward. 1t is believed he is In South
America. He was g railway engineer
by profession and went to South Amer.
ics some years ago in charge of six loco
motives from the Baldwin Locomotive
| works. He came to Kansas about five
years ago and used to run an engine out
from Kansas City. He afterwards be-
came connected with the A., T. s. S. F
R. R., and at the time of his appoint
ment as chief clerk of the penitentiarV
or shortly previous, was chief clerk in
the Santa Fe shops at Topeka.
THE NEW WARDEN.
While the committee are engaged In
what at present appears to be some
what star court investigation in its at.
| tempted secrecy, it may be stated as an
| item of news 10 the anxious politicians
of Kansas that soon after the present in
vestigation closes Col. John Smith Of
Cherokee county will be appointed by
Gov. Martin warden of the penitenLiarY
He is at present auditor of Cherokee
county, and has been for some years
| chief deputy under United States Mar
shall Simpson. Col. Smiths appoint
ment will give general satisfaction. The
present warden, Col. Jones, was appoint
| ed by Gcv. Click. He was brave UnioI
soldier, and his honesty has never beer
| questioned. The committee now inves
| tlgating the institutions are all Republi
cans, but his vindicatIon by a commit
tee composed entirely of political oppo
nents will be all the more valuabi'
should he receive it. Kansas paopl'
hope the investigation will be thorough
and searching, even if it should be lrreg
ular in its methods,
The institution has been adopted b.
the United States military authorities a
the place for confinement of their prise
ners who are guilty of violation OF civi
laws, as also by the Territory of Ney
Mexico, from the fact of the human
treatment and care that the convicts her
receive. The United States mllitar
authorities, within the last six months
have pronounced the Kansas peniteI
tiary the finest institution of the kid i
the United States.