The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-11
Mr.. MURDOCH INDICATED
HovEv's CHARGES NOT SUSTAINED.
Republicans Join in Report to Cisnr the
Warden OF the Northern Prison From
the False Accusation of the Man
With the 'Napoleonlc Soul"

in the house thursday, Mr.. Nolan,
chairman OF the committee on Prison
North, submitted the report OF the
committee which lately investigated
the charges preferred against Warden
Murdoch by Governor Hoyey, in mes
sage to the legislature. The report is
signed 10y every member of the commit
tee. Mr. Erwin was the sole democrat on
the committee that examined the ac-
counts OF the warden. The report was
unanimously adopted by the house and
it exonerates Mr.. Murdoch completely. 1t
is as follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER-In pursuance to the instruo-
tions of the house, your committee on the NJ
fairs OF the state prison north proceeded on
Wednesday. Jan. IS, to the location OF the
prison north at Michigan City for the purpose
of investigating the charges made BY the gov
ernor against the management OF that lnstitu-
ton.
Previous to our visit to the prison. and in
accordance with our instructions, we called
upon the governor and the secretary OF the
hoard of state charities for such information as
they might have concerning the management
of the institution. We submit herewith copies
OF tie correspondence had with the governor,
from which ii will be seen that he referred
your committee 10 the charges made in his
special message OF Jan. Il, and also transmitted
the names OF numerous eX-dIrectors OF the
prison, as well es those of several e1-convicts,
suggesting that their testimony should be
taken. Ii will be further observed that when
called upon for the specific charges sought to
bs sustained by the testimony OF the witnesses
indicated, the governor Jailed TO submit such
information as in the opinion of your commit
tee would justly the considerable expenditure
of money which the summOning OF wit
nesses pOuld involve and the great loss
of time to your committee that the eXamins-
ton would entail. For these reasons and
believing that we could thoroughly accomplish
our work without calling these witnesses, your
without them.
On Thursday morning, Jan. %, your commit.
tee convened in conjunction with the senate
committee on prison Affairs In the directors
room of tbe prison north at Michigan City.
We at once proceeded upon the investigation
of the books and accounts of the prison.
The Hon. Bruce Carr, late auditor of state.
and Walter Vail. president of the First national
bank Of Michigan City, were appointed as eK.
perts to examine the books and accounts OF
the prison and were, after being duly sworn TO
conduct fair examination, directed 70 render
an exhibit of the financial status of the prison,
including the receipts and expenditures IN
volved in its management since the last inves-
tigation OF It's affairs by Legislative committee
together with O statement of the amount now
due the state from the warden.
Senator Harland of the senate committee
and Representative Erwin of the house COM
mttee were delegated by their respective COM
mttees 10 assist in this examination.
The exhibit rendered by the expert examin-
ers accompanies and is made q part of this re-
port and is marked Exhibit A" The receipts
OF the prison result chiefly from e5hiring out
of convicts to contractors from the sale of hides
etc. by the warden for the account of the
state and from the sole of prison slops under
contract to the warden.
The expenditures were shown TO have been
for the maintenance of the convicts, and for
necessary improvements. These expendl-
lures, in the opinion OF your committee, were
honestly and judiciously made.
The exhibit develops the fact that upon the
date Of our visit to the prison there was due
the state from the warden the sum of SlS.-
2S999. This sum was found TO be deposited in
two banks at Michigan City, viz: the Citizens
state bank and the First national bank, whose
officers stated to your committee, under oath,
that the banks held sums sggregsting the
amount shown to be due the state, and that
said sums on deposit were subject to the check
OF James Mnroock, warden. The warden has
not complied with the strict letter OF the law
in failing at the time he made quarterly set.
Elements with the treasurer of state to turn
over the balance on hand, quarterly, to the
treasurer, as is provided that he should do in
zee. 614l, revised statutes. The fact is that
prison, and which policy was established be-
fore the present warden assumed its manage
ment aud strictly followed by him up to the
present time, has been in direct vocation of
this section (6,l4ll Such transgressions
OF the law, continuing under various
administrations of the offices of governor,
auditor and treasurer of state almost If not, in
deed, since the establishment of the prison. and
while il is claimed by the warden and directors
that the ignoring of the statute is necessary to
the success of the management and has Injured
to the benefit of the state, we recommend that
the statute should either be strictly complied
with or that it should be repealed. The prison
north has since the inception into Office of the
present warden, not only sustained itself and
added many valuable Improvements without
drawing upon the state treasury, but has sctu-
siIy paid into the treasury $1,000 in cash and
nov holds over $4,000 to the credit of the
state, This condition of affairs reflects great
credit upon the business sagacity of Warden
Murdoch.
Concerning the charge that the warden is ap-
proprlatng the Stops and Oiisl OF the prison to
his own use, your committee begs leave to re-
port that they have examined into the charge
and find that contract exists between the dl-
rectors of the prison and the warden by which
the latter in consideration OF the payment by
him annually of 500 TO the state, receives all
the slops grease and other offsl of the prison.
This disposition of the Stops and ofal has al
WAYS been the custom of the prison aud ante
dates the advent into Office of the present
warden. The records of the prison show that
periodically from March IL, 1869, to
June %, 1859, these contracts for Stops,
grease and offal have been made between direct
ors and warden.
On page 146, record No. 2, Feb. 16. 1882, we
find supplemented to the minutes of the meet
ing of the board of directors the following
note:
During the present meeting of the board
his excellency, Governor Albert O.. Porter. was
present and made q complete and exhaustive
examination of the accounts of the warden. his
receipts and disbursements, and of his per-
quisites as such officer, and expressed himself
as satisfied with his integrity and Of the honest
management of the officers OF the prison.
(Signed.) A. c. BEEsON.
LEOPOLD LEVY,
w. I. HORNE"
Yet during the meeting referred 10 in the
above, the usual slop contract was made with
the warden. Such contracts while, in our opin-
ion, they have always been made in good faith
and honestly complied with are certainly
against the spirit if not the letter of g. lao,
r. g., and are impolitio and unwise for the rea-
son that their execution calls for the criticisms
aud suspicion of wrong doing. And although
your committee is not prepared to say that the
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