Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-06
LElDlCn READY TO RESIGN
Warden Of the Psnitentiary Discouraged BY
Actions Of Other Officials.
HIS EFFORTS At REFORM THwARTED
Attempts to Pat Institution or - Pay
ing Basis Defeated Th rough PO-
litical MachinatiOns-POyntcr'1
Probable Private Secretary.

DcS' o'-tcpcCIdi'J- lucTt udS
been a storm brewing at the state p~eniten-
tiary for about q year. on account of the
differences between the warden and the
Board Of Public Lands and Buildings. They
have clashed on a number of subjects, and
especially on the letting OF the labor con-
tracts that are now in force. Leidlgh had
some progressive ideas about the employ
ment Of the prison labor, but the pull Of
some interested politicians prevented the
putting Of these plans In force, the board
always deciding against the warden's ideas.
The result OF this ruinous policy is that a
large number of the prisoners are now un-
employed and the institution falls very far
short of being self-sustaining. Some time
ago the warden became 80 disguised with
the course pushed by the governor and the
board that he decided to resign. The men
ton Of this intention caused the deputy. a
man named WEIGH from David City, to file
an application for the place. 1t is said
that one Hopkins from O'Neill also has
an application in and that he Is backed by
Mike Harrington, the political boss Of the
north Nebraska country.
why Leidigh Did Not Quit.
Just why Leidigh did not take the final
step in the matter of resignation Is not
known. but it is believed that he concluded
to stay until Poynter gets into office. allow
ing the new governor to make the selection
OF a warden, IL there is to be a vacancy.
In this Leidigh Is probably guided by a
wish to have matters run smoothly at the
penitentiary, avoiding the chance for the
Generalization that might ensue II Holcomb
named a man who would in a month or
two be displaced by Poynter. The presence
Of Poynter in town today has renewed the
speculation as to who Is to be his private
secretary. The opinion which vas at one
time almost unanimous that Calm would
be selected has almost entirely changed and
there are many who believe that Gafin Is
to be offered the place now occupied by
Edmisten as the head OF the oil inspection
bureau. 1t is said, however, that the senti-
ment against the retention Of this bureau is
so strong that Gafin will think several times
before he accepts a job that may be abol-
ished. Some believe that the private secre-
taryship is to go to Secretary Thompson
Of the populist committee, but 4 quiet tip
has been given out that the selection has
already been made and that a man from
north OF the Platte river will be given the
plum. The matter Is OF no small moment
as the job is considered to be worth more
money than some Of the state offices and
carries with 1t a political pull OF large d.
mansions. 1t is now certain that Benton
u 10 " J u thC hoNoi vi
the Poynter element and that he Is getting
ready to retire to his stock farm In Dawson
county ,'..
Preparing for Trial.
County Attorney Munger is preparing fo
the trial Of Mayor Graham on the charg'
Of bribery, which was returned as an in
dictment by the grand jury some time ago
The defendants attorneys have now ex
hausted every means Of delay authorizes
by the statutes and there is nothing LET
but to stand trial. There are several In
dictments, but Graham's attorneys are con
fident that he will be. acquitted on al
points.
The police oficers received word last nigh
that there wer, two dead bodies in an oil
building on East o street and upon goin
to investigate found in a box the badly de
composed body Of a man and the froze
body Of a woman on a table upstairs. TIL
fnd was removed to undertaking rooms. bu
the mystery was soon cleared up by commun
~icating with physicians of the Lincoln Med
ical college. The college authorities ha
recently engaged the building for dissectin
rooms and asserted that both bodies ha
been obtained legally.
At the regular meeting Of the Woman
club this afternoon the department Of chill
Gtuuy nau charge Ol Tue pTOBTdm. ME
Margaret Gallagher, Mrs. Mary Hart an
Miss Mary Foster all presented ~exceller
papers on the different phases of characts
building and several pretty songs and play
were given by the little ones from one
the city kindergarten rooms. The MOI
interesting number on the program was
talk on our battleships by Master Maso
Wheeler. who exhibited a model Of ii
Wisconsin, made by himself from models
the exposition.
Union Y. M. G. A. Meeting.
The different Young Mems Christian al
sociations of the city held a very interestir
union meeting at st. Paul's Methods
church yesterday afternoon. Five-minu
addresses weer made by G. A. Adams, Pro
Fordyce, DR.. Hindman, Superintendel
jackson and Prof. Condra. and excellel
music was furnished by a quartet Of your
men from the university. The meeting WI
in the nature Of a preliminary to the sta
convention Of the association, which will
held in Fremont next week. A large nun