Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-07-21
EVADES The LAW,
Lewelllng Refuses to Investigate
Warden Chase as the Law
Requires.
He Refers the Matter to the Board.
Which is Party to Corruption
and Mlsmanagement

On May 81, 1894, John w. Var
roll, late chief clerk of Warden
Chase Of the state penitentiary, filed
charges with Governor Lewelling
against Mr.. Chase as warden of the
penitentiary, accusing him with
gross neglect Of duty and miscon-
duct in Office, The charges were as
follows:
Charge and specification No. l.
That the Seth w. Chase did willful-
ly aud knowingly, in violation of
law, take from the appropriation
for boarding, moneys, and invested
the same in the following manner,
to wit; On or about June 3, 1898,
$50 for hogs; on or about June 26,
1893, 1922 for hogs; on or about
June 26, 1898, $22 for hogs; on or
about October %. 1893, $473.45 for
hogs; and that the said Seth w.
Chase has and does persistently re-
fuse to make any recounting for the
said hogs (see Gen. Stat. 1889, page
1894, par. 6427) on the monthly in
ventory as provided by law, so that
there may be proper record kept
of the said transaction in the Office
of the chief clerk of said peniten-
tiary,
Charge and specification No. q
That the said Seth w. Chase did, in
the month of November or Deem
Der. 1898, make settlement with
the Armour Packing company of
Kansas City, Kansas, of claim
against said packing company for a
rebate of one-half cent per pound
on ten thousand 100000 pounds of
bacon, claimed by the board of d.
rectors of said penitentiary, on a
basis of one-fourth % cent per
pound, and that the record of said
penitentiary does not show any set
Element of the above transaction, as
the said Seth w. Chase has at no
time made any statement of money
received or manner of settlement Of
the above claim to the chief clerk.
Charge and specification No g.
That the said Seth w. Chase did,
in the month of May, 1893, place
upon the pay roll of said peniten-
tiary and continues to carry the
name of his daughter, G. G.. Chase,
AS an assistant keeper" contrary to
the law and rules governing the
said penitentiary.
Charge and specification No. A.
That the Seth w. Chase knowingly
and willfully. in violation of law.
allowed certain officers employed at
the Kansas state penitentiary to take
their meals at the hospital kitchen,
and to obtain from the penitentiary
store and butcher shop, farm, and
COW barn, articles for the use OF
their families. lSee page 46, sec
ton 8, laws of Kansas, 1898.
Charge and specification No. %
That the Seth w. Chase did, on OF
about May s, 1893, appoint to the
position of assistant matron of SAID
penitentiary one Miss Lou Williams
a woman OF ill-repute, thereby caus
ing public scandal, to the detriment
of the discipline of said penitentiary
and the good name of Kansas.
Charge and specification No. O.
That the Seth w. Chase has b.
nsurpatioR of authority granted hin
as warden Of said penitentiary, a
divers times, BY threats and abnsiy,
language unbecoming a gentleman
and fellow officer, attempted t,
coerce the chief clerk of said peni
tertiary.
JOHN ". YARRoLL,
Chief Clerk.
Subscribed and sworn to befor
me, this 2lst day Of May, 1894.
r.. C. OSBORN,
Notary Public.
My commission expires 0ctobe
6. 1897.
Mr.. A. NJ. Bum. the mine super
intendenr, fled a number Of charge
and specifications against Mr.. Chase