The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-05-02
WAS A RANK FRAUD.
TlO PGnitentiary Contract Is Denounced
by the Committee.
State Officials Do Not Deny That
They Were in the
Job.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, April 27.-The
committee that has been investigating
the penitenuary scandal reported to-
day, sustaining mort of the charges.
The committee says it has found both
fraud and corruption. In the Frank.
lin county farm transaction, which
was disapproved by Governor Turney,
ex Commissioner Mcdowell would
have shared the profits.
The committee then reports on the
matter of Adjutant General Fite and
Railroad Tax Assessor Estill receiving
$500 each for assisting in the sale OF
the Cockelill farm. The facts are
fully set forth. The new penitentiary
matter is then taken up, and it is
shown that Architect w. @. Smith tes-
titled two years ago that 800 cell
prison could be built for $420000,
while the estimate on his plans was
5000 600 and the contract was let for
$95l 900, and Smith now states that
100000 more will be necessary to
complete it.
The law required that in no event
should the aggregate expenditures ex.
ceed 81 100000.
The letting of the contract was as
fraudulent and corrupt transaction
ns ever took place in the State. The
commissioners were wholly incompe-
tent and unfaithful in the discharge
OF their duties. The contractors wase
aware that the selection OF the State
architect was the key to the situation.
]. P. Fulcher & Co. succeeded in
having Ed Lawrent appointed. VIC.
Smith refused the position because it
paid only $4,000, but Smith would have
made $4,000 out OF the carrying out
IT his plans. Lawrent has drawn 1874
and Smith $4,000 and all the State has
FOR it is hole in the ground and few
hundred yards of sewer pipe. laurent
owed Goldberg, member of the firm
Of successful bidders, $1,000, which he
has not paid. On Lawrent's recon-.
mendation, Smith 3 plans were accept
ed. Both the letter and the spiritof
the law were violated.
Architect Lawrent, although en-
ployed by the State, was paid by w.
G. Bush & Co. $3.50 to make their esti-
mates and was to have received $4,000
if they had secured the contract. The
story of the alleged juggling with the
bids is then told. A pencil memoran.
dunn in w. G. Smiths handwriting
was found 1t directs Lawrent how
to report on j. P. Fulcher & Co.'s bid
50 as to mislead the commissioners
In the six groups of bids, Fulcher'i
was in every case little below those
OF Bush, for whom Lawrent estimated
the total difference being only $4,000
By alterations and interlineationi
made in the specifications in Smith,
hand writing, the contractors woul(
have saved many thousand dollars
Lawrent did not object to these altera
: tions.
Smiths plans were even changed
after being accepted, and the contrac
tors themselves swear that change
I. were made after the contract was lei
s. An immense opportunity for rob
berry through dishonesty and collusiol
g was afforded. The committee think
that the amounts paid to Smith an
Lawrent should be covered back int
the treasury. The letting OF the cor
tract is declared upjustifiable.
y Both the commissioners and Alto
ney General Pickle should have know
the contract was void and unjustiti'
: BILE in the eyes of the law. The con
missioners reported that that part I
Y. the prison contracted for was con
IN plete in itself, when the fact was ths
it was without heat, light or ventil
ton.
= A minority report signed by tv
members coneurs in all except rehe
tions on Attorney General Pickle ar
70. Commissioner Morgan. Recomme
dations as TO what should be done w
be presented later.