The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-21
Mr.. DOCKERY'S SIDE OF IT
HE REPLIES TO Mr.. LEDBETTER'S DE-
TENSE OF Mr.. LEAZAR.
Repeats that the Republicans Took Hold Of the
Penitentiary With Only Two
Weeks Rations.

To the Editor: / see in this morn
ing's issue of the News and Observer
a communication from Mr.. William
Ledbetter, in which he takes me to task
for some statements made by ME to your
reporter on yesterday relative to the
operations of the State prison author-
ties. | do not like newspaper controver-
sizes and do not propose to engage in
one with Mr.. Ledbetter. / ask, however,
a small space in your columns to set
out clearly to your readers the position
of the present Board Of Directors as to
the statements L made on yesterday.
This statement seems to have enrag-
ed Mr.. Iedbetter very much.
He tries to convey the impression that
we are making a systematic effort to dis
credit Mr.. Leazar and his administra-
ton. This is not true. Mr.. Leazar is a
gentleman, and he made a competent
and faithful superintendent / take
this opportunity to say publicly, and
say it gladly, that believe he did as
well as any one could have done under
the circumstances that surrounded his
efforts in the performance of his du-
ties. He could not control the rains or
regulate the drouths. In despite of him
havoc with his crops. This is what cut
his receipts short of his expenditures.
We do not blame him for that; we
simply say that it is a fact and are
willing to charge it up to the elements.
| have the highest respect for Mr.. Lea
Ear and his abilities and / do not be-
lieve that he needs in defense of his
administration the efforts of any one.
IT,, e+n av,4 rf I ssFo fflI
that 1--WE took hold of the penitentiary
without two weeks rations ahead"
repeat this statement in defiance of Mr.
Ledbetter's denial. In denial of this
Mr.. Ledbetter refers us to so much cot
ton, so many collectible bills, so many
brick and so many other things turned
over to the present authorities, he claims
to the amount of 63,34767.
Well, we admit all this as correct. We
will give him credit for more than he
claims.
To show the fairness of our position,
the report of Mr.. Evans, the accountant,
(and he is DemocraD, whom we en-
gagged to find our leayings at the time
we begun to steer the ship, says that
Mr.. Leazar turned over to us on the
18th day of March, 1907, assets, incud-
ing all the articles enumerated by Mr.
Ledbetter, amounting to S740f4 4S
This is giving the former administration
credit for more than Mr.. Ledbetter in
his widest desires has ever claimed was
turned over to us.
Now l sdr7SF -.> this amount
Beyond lbs, said yesterday. and
repeat it now. despite what Mr.. Led
better says, we took hold of the peni-
Tertiary without two weeks rations
ahead and in this claim | do not even
intimate to- the public a charge that has
been boldly made that Mr.. Ledbetter
and his administration sold most of the
corn they made in 1886 for about 80
cents a bushel, and made it necessary
for us during the present year TO buy
it back for about so cents per bushel.
1t cost the State this much for Mr.. led
better to even make the show he claims.
Now here, appropos Of another fact in
Mr.. Evans report, which / think Mr.
Ledbetter has never cared explained to
the public: We admit they turned over
to us S74,0144S worth of assets. This
is all the penitentiary owed at the time
Mr.. Ledbetter claims this as the profits
he made for Mr.. Leazar during the four
years of Mr.. Leazars administration.
But Mr.. Ledbetter says nothing of the
S104, 0O42S worth Of assets that the
penitentiarY owned when he took charge
of it for Mr. Leazar. and the additional
amount of S74,15S71 which the State
paid him during the four years, making
a total Of SITS, 1929 of the peoples
money that went into Mr.. Ledbetters
hands for Mr.. Leazar during the four
years he managed things. OF this
amount he turned over to us S74014.4S
when we took charge March 18th, 1897.
What has become Of the $104 14S.51
which makes the difference? This is
certainly the loss the State has sus-
tanned
If Mr.. Ledbetter made money, as he
claims, the people of North Carolina
want him to give up this amount which,
according to his own statement. he must
still have, to say nothing of the profits
he claims to have made out of it.
These are the figures shown by Mr..
Evans report. He needs no recon-
mendations at my hands. He can take
care OF himself, too, and is ready and
able to sustain his report in every par
ticular. If it is not correct, / challenge
Mr.. Ledbetter to show its incorrectness.
The report is on file in the clerks office
at the penitentiary. i take the liberty
of saying to Mr.. Ledbetter that our
clerk, Mr.. Hinsbach, will be glad to
show him this report at any time, and if
Mr.. Iedbetter has not the time to go
over to see it, Mr.. Evans will show i.
to him.
II it is not correct, he should show
wherein it is faulty. The people are
tired of general denials-they want