The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-02
SERIOUS CHARGES.
A Scandal in the States Prison.
r. L. Burnett Said to Have Robbed
the Convicts Sham efully,
To Have Stolen Money From the
Letters Directed to Them,
To Have Extorted Sums From Them
by Promise of Pardons,
And to Have Boosted OF an Intimacy
with tho Governor Which Gave
Him Great Influence "A Pitiable
Case From Dresden.

Special Dispatch to The Appeal
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 1.-The
Herald this afternoon publishes the fol-
lowing:
There is intense excitement nj the State
pentcntiary today, and a shameful scandal
has como 10 the surface. A Herald re-
porter succeeded in unearthing enough
facts, not only TO implicate the honor, but
TO damn tho reputation Of n man who has
heretofore been trusted officer at the
State prison. In order TO understand the
situation precisely, II must iirst be stated
that r. l.. Burnett, whose homo Is in Nor
ristown, is the official TO whom reference
is made. Burnett Is one Of the guards
who figured in the shooting and killing Of
certain prisoners who attempted an out
break from the prison roof one night last
fall. The outside public looked upon tho
affair as n brutal bulchcry, but upon Off
cial investigation Burnett was exonerated
and highly praised for his efficiency. At
that time Burnett was guard on night
duty in wing No. 3. Since the shooting
the authorities changed tho time OF
Burnott's duty, and placed him ON day
watch in the prison Office. The eNonera-
ton Of Burnett, II seems, gave him addi-
tional license. and he is known TO have
boosted, not only TO prisoners. but 10 other
| prison officials, that he WIS ON the most
| intimate terms with Gov. Taylor, and had
~ much influence over him IN any man
In the State. Burnctts position In tho
office gave him the privilege OF receipung
for letters aud packages sent TO prisoners,
aud this opportunity seems Ia have been
the cause OF his downfall. II appears that
Frank fireman. n prisoner sent up from
Memphis some time ago, completed his
term aud was discharged, and obtained
work IN one of the loundrcs In the city.
shortly after his release lreman received a
letter from u woman In -. Louis, stating
that while he was in prison she had sent
him poslolucc order for SIC, and received
"A receipt signed Ly r. 1. Burnett, and
wanted To know u lrcman ever got tho
amount. lie replied, saying lac had not.
She then sent him the postal receipt, which
ho took to Warden pcafcy at the
prison. Mr.. rcafcy confronted Burnett
with the receipt. and said the am0unt
must bc made good ut once. Burnett said
that he had paid Il to some other prisoner,
|
would nny II again. which hc did Shortly
after thi. Burnett signed for another postal
order for 81 undor the same circumstance
and with like result. just why burnett
was not discharged, or why his cmbczlo-
mcnt was not made a matter OF official
ycsligaton, docs not appear The fact n,
continued 10 hold his position and Jail,
mingled with the prisoners, giving them
| pointers as 30 his influence with the Gov
crnor, and inumaling that u ccriNuI r.
oncfs would raise certain amounts oi
money he (Burnctt) could secure for them
executive clemcncy. A prisoner named
Arnold who hal been sent from Dresden,
Wcnklcy County, for eleven years, for
house burning aud perjury, aud who hal
served about two years oi hs term, was
approached by Burnett aud was told that
n ho would raise 500 his release could bo
secured. Burnett, Il is said. told Ar
mold that $3.50 oi this amount was
inr Gov. Taylor aud the other $50
for himself. Arnold succeeded In getting
$3.50 from his mother, which sum was
handed 10 Burnett, aud for weeks the prs
oncr heard no tidings Of the hard-carnod
moncy lac had invested In promised par
don.
liy some manner or means Il also APP
pears that Burnett obtained money from
other prisoners, all Of which was 10 DO
used in the direction Of obtaining pardons
or communications lie received frUm Meyer
Mo-koyiu SO. from Cicero Poe sl5, from
Webster g aud from Allen Beavers $3.50.
lie also received considerable sum from
Joe Foutc, bul just how much could no, DO
nsccrtaincd. ~ foutc refused To "squcal."
There " no telling how long Bumctts
informal fucality has been ig0ing
on. The pcniicnliary officials arc
dumb as oysters 10 outsiders though tUrri-
bly, wrought up over this most disgraceiul
state Of nilain. Burnett was not suspect
cd, or surely lac would not have been al
lowed 10 have accompanied the legislative
boiy On their tour OF inspection 10 Coal
Greek, lnman and other prisons. II has
been generally known around tho
prisons, however. that Burnct had been
borrowing or receiving money IN
some way from certain prisoners, aud u ~
now believed that he had been cNtorting
thcsu sums from these poor dcludcd dew
H.. because ho was believed 10 b. an init
mate friend Of the Governor This mat
ter calls for the most rigid examination,
aud the Hfrlh will siit the matter 10 the
bottom.