The San Francisco call., 1896-10-10
POK|NG AMONG
THE JUTE BAGS
Governor Budd and the
Prison Board Make
Investigations.
Impending Shake Up in the
San Quentin Convict
Mill.
PROBABLE LOOPING OF HEADS.
The Directors Are Not Satisfied With
the Way the Factory Has
Been Running.

Governor Budd and the full board of
Prison Directors spent the entire day at
San Quentin prison yesterday, ostensiblY
investigating the case of the Cummings
BOYS. whom the Governor recently re-
spited until October 80, and some other
cases of parole and pardon. In reality,
however, his visit was to make an inspec-
ton and investigation of the affairs of the
jutemiIl, and as q result of this visit yes
day there will be looping off of heads ct
the next regular meeting of the board that
will bring CONSERVATION into the ranks OF
the higher officials of that prison indus
try as well as into the working forces who
are under salary.
The Governor also took ride over the
five miles of the completed portion of the
fourteen miles of the proposed boulevard
between San Rafael and Tiburon. Then
he acted as a sort OF host to party of
visitors from Los Angeles who accompa-
nj ed the Governor from San Francisco,
and who made tour OF the prison. Alto
gether it was busy day for the Governor,
but despite the onerousness of the duties
which he imposed upon himself yester-
day, he was modest withal about it and
did not permit his left hand to know what
his right was doing. In other words, the
proceedings of the special session of the
board was not intended to be made public.
In fact it was intended to be of an execu-
tive character, its business being not to
act on any proposition, but simply to lay
the groundwork for some very important
future action.
Last December with view to improv-
ing the system of operation in the jute-
mill and increasing its product thereby,
the Govern or appointed John Rutherford
as superintendent in place of the former
official who acted in that capacity, and
also replaced the old spinners with q new
corps. No Improvement was perceived
despite the sweeping changes that had
been made but the Govern or and the men,
bers of the board decided to abide in pa
tience for while and give the new force
every opportunity to make a showing.
But the passing of time only left matters
in a worse condition. Results only were
looked after and these were far from salts
factory. In fact the output of the iutemill
to-day is even less than it was under the
former regime.
Patience at last ceased to be a virtue,
and so yesterday the Governor took day
on to go through the mill and make per-
soual inspection of it. What he and the
directors saw crystalIized their purpose,
and when the board next meets in regu-
lar session, which will be on the second
Saturday in November, there will be a
complete turning out and over OF the sal
aried force in the iutemill with perhaps a
few exceptions.
Four cases OF commutations and par
dons were also discussed by the board.
The most important of these was the case
of the Cummings boys. who were con-
victed of the murder of an old man named
Narramore, near Riverside, and sentenced
to be hanged on September %. On Sep
tember "a, however. the doomed men were
respited until the Both inst.
Havinc mentally disposed of the jute-
mill matter, the Governor had a long
talk with Caesar and John W. Cum nings,
and was visibly impressed with their
story. 1t is the general impression that
the result of the Governors interview
with the boys will be another respite on
the Both and then Communication of the
death penalty to life Imprisonment.
Another case that was considered at
length was that of John Henley, con-
victed of murder in the second degree IN
Humboldt County. He was sentenced to
life imprisonment twenty-one years ago.
His conduct since has been of the most
exemplary character. He is pronounced
to be one of the best prisoners ever con-
fined within the walls of the San Quentin
prison. His sentence will probably be
reduced to thirty-three years and some
months, which with the credits deducted
will make him free man when the board
holds its next session.
The case of Thomas Sullivan, sentenced
to long term on conviction of robbery in
Kern County, was heard, but the prison.
er's defiant manner did not favorably i'm
press the board.
The fourth case that was considered was
that of Rajinski, convicted of arson in
San Francisco. He has become a hope
less cripple in jail. Great interest has
been shown in his case by the Jewish
people of San Francisco, where the con-
victed man left wife and two children.
A letter has been received by the board
from the brother of the prisoner, VINO is a
wealthy manufacturer in Pennsylvania,
in which the brother agrees to take care OF
his relative and his family, pay their ex-
penses to Pennsylvania, ana see that the
convicted man does not return to Cali
fornia. His case will in all proba ability re-
ceive favorable consideration, and his par
don be made out at the boards next meet
ing.
Among the party which accompanied the
Governor to San Quentin were: John w.
Mitchell and wife of Los Angeles, A. w.
Foster, president of the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railroad, and Labor
Commissioner E. L. Fitzgerald. After the
party had driven over the new boulevard