The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-09
His Days at the Penitentlary
Are Numbered.
INCOMPETENCE CHARGED
YIE MUST RESIGN OR BECOME A
FIGURE-HEAD.
WITH NO DUTY BUT TO DRAW SALARY

Orders Of the Directors Have Been Ignored by
Him--No Statement Could be OBJ
tained--Cotton Sold at Low
est Price.
Said Dan to John, "Git out er de PEN"
Sand John to Dan, ALRIGHT KEN
Said each to t'other, you're darned
old sinner"
Said t'other to him, 81 amt binner."
There is trouble a-brewing, and it's all
about the penitentiary.
Capt. John r. Smith, the superintend-
eat, has come to grief He has seen his
day and is now gazing on his last sun
set, il reports be true.
Either he must resign out-and-out and
let a new man take charge, or he must
abdicate all authority, become figure
head in the management of the institr'
ton, retaining only the name and salary
OF superintendent.
Governor Russell has said it, Chairman
Dockery has decreed it--or words to that
effect-and this it is that is now agitat-
ing the States prison. For two days
the Governor and Mr.. Dockery have
been in consultation about the situation
at the penitentiary and the best way out
of it. Dockery was summoned here by
Russell Thursday for this purpose.
Though no details have been arranged,
their decision has been about as above
indicated-either to force Smith to resign
or take all authority out of his hands.
Though this announcement will be
great surprise to many people, it will be
no news to Capt. Smith. He is already
preparing his home in Goldsboro for the
removal of his family back there at once.
More than a week ago he was Informed
by the Governor that his resignation as
superintendent would not be rejected,
and further he was advised to move his
family from within the penitentiary
walls at once.
The charge against Capt. Smith is
that Of incompetency, and wilful disre-
gard of orders of the directors.
1t is charged that under its present
management the penitentiary is not only
running way behind and threatening to
bankrupt the State, but, am told, the
directors have never been able to get a
statement of the condition of the in
stitution from Smith &a4a
Again it is charged, and by some Of
the directors, that all the cotton that
Smith has had ginned has been sold by
him at the lowest price cotton. has yet
reached. A large lot OF old cotton
that he had on hand last spring was
also sold at such figures as to cause
criticism Of its sale at that stime.gg sac
About one hundred and twenty-five
balesaof cotton on the Anson farm have
been sold Within the past d week scou.
trary teathey advice afGthe chairman Of
the Board Of Directors. sslieW ggssg79
Then4hef is the Rev DR.. fBs bb.i who
was employed by Smith at salary COT
$50 . month, a. chaplain on one Of the
Halifax FARMS. but was turned out Of
his Office rhy,, the directors-Dr. Babb, I
am told, Is still drawing his little $50,
IL NOT praying for the convicts. II. re-
ports lie true Smith has openly and bold
II disobeyed and disregarded the orders
OF the board in this matter. .s S. o.
On fop OF all this came the Dr. Kirby
Smith. scandal, and others somewhat of
the same nature that have never been
published. Then there were charges OF
drinking and laxity of discipline.
These, and many other things that
cannot be here enumerated, have at
last given the Governor and the
and they are ready for anything to rid
themselves Of the cause Of it.
Exactly what course will be pursued
Ia the matter is not known. 1t is prob
able, though, that the Governor Will
lay the whole matter before the directors
when they meet on Tuesday, October
10Th, and leave them to solve the prob
lem.
The Governor and Chairman Dockery
refused to talk yesterday, though both
acknowledge that there was foundation
for the rumors in regard to their strain
ed relations with Smith.
Chairman Dockery has been trying to
have the penitentiary put on business
basis, so far as that can be done after
he has turned out experienced men and
put in pie-hunters. He says that he
will continue to try to make the insti-
tuition self-sustaining as long as he is
connected with it, and failing he will
resign.
This action of the Governor's-if these
charges be true-will be applauded
But this is only one step in the right
direction. Now let him say to that
board of directors: "You get out, too
you are also absolutely incompetent"
Let them walk the plank, and there
ID some nope TOT the penltenUary ana
the state treasury. Until this is done,
no matter who is made superintendent,
the history of John Il. Smith will be
repeated.
Indeed Smiths friends say he has
been bedeviled to death by meddling
directors; that he has been loaded down
with all sorts of pie-hunting cattle,
dumped on him by directors in payne ut
of their political debts, and now he
is to be made the scape-goat of the d.
rectOrs' mismanagement. 1t is claimed
that with the incompetent and unscrupul-
GUS assistants Smith has had foisted
upon him by the directors, no man under
the sun could have made the peniten-
tiary pay.
BUCKLEN'S ARNICA SALVE.