The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
CHARGES hE RtfUTED
Statements Made By forqer Baird
Proved to BE Cntrue.
On THE SUBJECT
We're Made BY Charles Searles and John
}. Lansan and Exonerate Warden
Jay aud Keeper Green-COm.
muuieatiOu from Latter.

From affidayits printed below. it will
be seen that there Is no truth in the
charges preferred by Forger James
Baird against Warden Thomas Jay and
Keeper w. u. Green, of the Lackawan-
ma county Jail.
Sheriff r. H. Clemons is satisfied that
the charges are groundless and when ne
was interviewed on the subject, he eX-
pressed himself positively concerning
the falsity of the charges. Forger
Baird was one of the best witnesses
for the accused men, inasmuch. as ne
failed to come forward and substanti-
ate his charges.
Warden Jay was seen at the jail yes
terGay afternoon and he said no more
than what was printed a few days ago
in The Tribune. He was conscious OF
his innocence and thought that he could
prove il. lie felt pleased that he was
able to secure proof positive. Keeper
Green. when spoken to. said he would
make statement in writing.
The arfidavits are from Charles
Searles and John j. Langan, the two
men who were said by Baird to have
paid to Messrs. Jay and Green money
to secure their release from Jail,
Searles lives near Schultzville and
served term for chicken stealing. His
atIidavits were sworn to before Justice
of the Peace Gould Whitlock, of New
ton township. Langan lives in Blakely,
and his son. Michael, spent three months
IN Jail for betraylng girl. His affi-
davit was sworn to before Justice OF
the Peace S. W. Arnold, of Peckville.
The affidavits are as follows:
AFFIDAVIT OF SEARLES.
Lackawanna county, S.:
Personally appeared before me justice
Of the peace In and for said county Charie5
Searles. who, being duty sworn accordins
to law, doth depose and say: That W. -.
Green did never at any time or place wnile
I was In OF out of jail ask me or receive
from me any money or gift oil any KIN
whatever. | never told James Baird that
! had to put up a watch In order TO get
money to pay Illegal fees or to pay ices
of any kind. on or about Jan. 10. 1882, !
asked W. d. Green to lend me $40 to huy
clothes with and asked him TO take my
watch in security for the payment OF saia
money. | have not paid the money yet.
promised to pay him In two weeks. There
was nothing said about bonus or interest.
! never saw or knew of W. ID; Green ask,
ing or receiving Il Zee OF any klnu Whiie l
was in or out of jail.
| have read the article In Scranton san
day Free Press of May 10. 1876. nave
each and every statement made In the pa
| or saying anything whatever about W.. ID.
Green and 1t is false In every particular.
And further deponent saith not
Charles Searles.
Sworn and subscribed before me .he
eleventh day Of May, 1885
| Justice of the Peace.
Lackawanna county, ss.:
| Personally appeared before me justice
| OF the peace in and for said county Charles
Searles and being duly sworn says: tQues-
| tion) Did Thomas Jay. warden of l.acka-
wanna county jail ask OF receive any
money or gift of any kind to get you re-
| leased from the county Jail? tAnswer)
No.
| Did he tell you at any time that you
would have to raise money to get re-
leased? He did not.
Did you read the article in the Scranton
| Sunday Free Press OF May TO- 1886 In which
| Thomas Jay, warden. is accused of extort.
| ing money from Searles and others?
! did, and I'm regard to myself having any
| knowledge of any charge, they are false
| In every particular.
| Charles Searles.
sworn and subscribed before me the
eleventh day Of May. 1896
Justice of the Peace
! STATEMENT OF LANGAN.
I.ackawanna county, So.
! Personally appeared before me, a JUS
| tice of the peace, In and for said county,
| John j. Langan, who, being duly sworn
|
| The charge preferred against Warden
Jay In the Free Press of May TO- saying
that was compelled TO pay to said War
den Jay S. for my son. Michael l.anga a
before he would be released from the coun'
ty Jail. is absolutely false. / nor my son
was not compelled or asked To pay one
| cent and, furthermore. Mr.. Jay and the
other wardens or keepers treated my son
and all of my family that visited the Jail
| during the time my son was confined there
| with the utmost courtesy and respect and
never intimated In any manner that the y
wanted or expected any money.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
eleventh day Of Mes, 1896.
s. ". Arnold,
| Justice of the Pea -
| Mr.. Green has sent the following com
munication to this Office with reference
to the matter: "On May 10. 1895. the
Sunday Free Press contained charges
alleged to have been made by. one
James Baird. who lately served SEN
tence In the Jail Of this county for forg-
cry. that l extorted. asked for or re-
ceived money which he is alleged to
have stated he paid to Warden Jay
who paid me u part thereof, l desire Ia
say that this statement Is maliciously
false. as Is the charge with reference
to Charles Searl. I do not think that
anyone will believe Bairds statements
but have secured the sworn statement
| of Charles Searle in reference to the
watch falsehood, and this is now i'm the
sheriffs hands, and contains all the
facts with reference to the allegation
that the watch was given as security
for money extorted from him. The ten
dollars was loaned by me to him be-
cause his condition appealed to me. and
AS a kindness to him, for which asked
no compensation whatever nor did
receive anything whatever therefor as
compensation. The other allegations
are equally false. W. ID. Green.
Scranton, May IS, 1896.