Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-14
LETTER OF REMOVAL.
TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO,
Office of the Executive, !
Santa Fe, N. NJ, Jan. ID, 1896. J

Santa Fe, N. NJ, Jan. ID, 1896.
Hon. Richard Hudson, Silver City, n NJ.
Dear Sir:-I have to inform you that l
have this day, in pursuance of the
authority in me vested, removed you
from the position of commissioners on
the board of penitentiary commissioners
for this territory. ! am constrained to
do this by reason of the following facts:
The law creating the board, provides that
the members shall receive a salary OF
5000 per year and their actual and nee
essary travelling expenses incurred in at
tending the meetings of the board.
find, upon examination at the audi
tors Office, that you have presented
vouchers, eight in number, for transpor-
tation, each in the sum Of $29.1O, dated
respectively, Marsh 5, April !, May 2,
july 8, September 3, October l, Novem-
Der 6, 1895, and January 3, 1896, no por-
ton of which, except your return trip in
1896, has been paid.
1t has been stated to me, and also to
others. among them Messrs. Loomis and
Moore, that you have been travelling upon
pass; by the presentation Of these false
vouchers you have obtained money from
the territory-money which it did not
owe you, and you are therefore indebted
to the territory, in the sum you have re-
ceived.
Another and further reason that lead 8
me to act at this time is the effort which
Won, in connection with others, have made
to remove the superintendent of the ter
ritorial penitentiary, it having come to
me that you have visited that institution
and talked with the convicts confined
there, asking them if they knew anything
detrimental to the character of the said
superintendent, and, in one instance, Of
fering to recommend man for pardon,
and to procure a petition for his pardon
from Silver City, if he would watch out
and get information against Supt. Berg
mann, and 60 before the board of peniten-
tiary commissioners at their next meet
ing and present such information, as will
more fully appear by the attached copy
of affidavit Of J. M. Reynolds, convict
who has served his full term.
do not believe it possible to maintain
order and discipline, and keep the terri
torial psnitentiary IT, its present excel
lent condition, if the commissioner
create the idea among the prisoners tina
they want information injurious to thu
reputation of the superintendent il
charge. Such conduct can only result il
destroying all discipline and tend to maxi
discord in the prison management.
Regretting exceedingly the necessit.
which causes me to take this step, am
Respectfully, W. 7. THORNTON,
Governor
THE AFFIDAVIT.
TERRITORY OF New MEXICO,
County of Santa Fe.
James N. Reynolds, being first dul
sworn, upon isoath says: My name
James N. Reynolds; at present | am
resident Of the city of Santa Fe, In tn
territory and county aforesaid. am :
years of age; heretofore from the I'd da
of April, A. D. 1892, and until January
A. D. 1896, I have been confined in tn
New Mexico territorial penitentiary as
prisoner therein; at said last mentione
date was discharged therefrom, havin
fully served out my term of imprisor
ment, less my time allowance for goo
behavior. On the 4th day of Januar.
1895, was restored to all my rights as a
American and New Mexican citizen by tn
governor of the said territory in the mar
ner therefor provided by law. On tt
7th day of November, 1895, and while
was confined as aforesaid in said penitel
tiary, received word that I WAS wante
in the Office of the superintendent of tt
said penitentiary. I went to the ofac
There l met Hon. Richard Hudson,
member of the board of penitential
commissioners. At this time the supe
intendent of the said penitentiary ",
absent. Mr.. Hudson invited me to .
down and thereupon asked me about IL