Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-06
COFFiN'S CAUSE

He l. the FaN"riTe ct the Board Uf Man
ager- of the Pru, hut - Left by the DE,
camping OF Member -Pestrey Refuse
to Resign.
EN-Mayor Z. q. Coffin, Of this city, went
10 Columbus yesterday to look after hi
fences in the race for the wardrn>hip OF the
Ohio penitentiary. To-day he returned to
Springfield minus the office, to he sure.
but with the not unpleasant consciousness
that he was the favorite in the race. and
only missed being appointed 10y a concat-
enatlun ot somewhat ''rmlcntary clrcum-
stances given below
The members OF the prrlteutIarv board
werein session all day, tranNartlug the usual
routine business of monthly meeting. and
adjourned at supper time. After supper
they had conference at the Neil house.
1t was o'clock when they were called 10
order by Colonel Robinson. the president, At
the penitentiary. and it was some time be
fore the vouchers We're all approved and
other routine business got out of the way
for the more important matters To come
later
Shortly after 10 u'clork the managers de
cided Ia 20 into executive session, and even
their secretary. General Powell. was cNclud-
ed from the room. Colenel Robinson then
stated that he considered it the duty of the
board 10 request Warden Peetrey to resign.
In this he was seconded by Mr.. ROwnd.
The manner in which the Institution had
been managed during Mr.. Peetrey'S adj
fully ju<titied the board in
asking his resignation. Colonel Remprl
Joined the others in making the request.
Mr.. Goodman and Mr.. Fee We're opposed Ia
the action but were in the minority. After
fully cauNa>>ing the subject. Colonel Rob
im>On called Mr. Peetrry into the room and
told him nt tht. d,r'i>iom of the majority Of
the board.
Mr. Peetrey listened to the statement and
then answered that lac had al one time
thought seriously of reSiguing but there
had been 80 much talk about him and :"
much of an unfair pressure brought TO bear
on him that he could not do as the board re-
lue>ted in this case He would not be
forced out of the place. He might, how
ever. think differently at the end of two or
three weeks and suggested that the matter
hr left open for the shorter period. Mr..
Rempel felt disposed To give the warden
that time To consider the request, but Col
Omrl Robinson announced that he did not
rare to indulge in any childS play in po-
liticS and would himself resign unless the
warden did 80.
At tins point while the republican mem
ptr> We're out in an antt-r"om formulating
resolution demanding Pertrey's resignation
and appointing +. Il. Coffin a. warden. Mr..
Fee. democratic member. uncerr-
noniuuSly left for his home. at RaVenna.
Urging that labor complications demanded
his presence there. A. the question of re-
moving a warden can not, under the law.
De- discussed by the managers of the peu-
unless all i've of the members are
present. nothing more could be done last
night and the board adjourned until this
morning when routine business i being lin
shed.
Mr.. Coffin was seen this morning and
yave a reporter an uncoIurrd account of the
affair. agreeing in effect with the above.
which is obtained from another source.
He said he had no doubt that the rr-
publican members will resign if PeetTey
ioes not. Governor Foraker can appoint
new members. but there is no senate to
confirm them. owing 10 the Hamilton
'ounty muddle. Ii is 10 be profoundly re-
yretted that such an able official aS Mr..
CDfiin would have made should have been
by political trickrry.
1t must be understood. however that this
does not finally do up" Mr.. Coffin in the
race. But what has happened once is likely
to happen again in the ability of one mem
Der of the board to skip out.