The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-29
CHANGE AT STATE PRISON
WARDEN JABEZ t. WOODBRIDGE
 FORGED TO RESIGN.
His Resignation Asked for by the Prison Directors-sequel to the Conviction of the Warden's Son for Dedication Young Man Arrived at Prison Yester- day-To Avoid Elm disbursements.

day--To Avoid Elm
 Hartford, Conn.,, Dec. 2S.-At spec ial meeting of the state prison directors held in this city this afternoon the res ignation of Warden Woodbridge was formally requested and upon receipt of communication from the board the warden rendered his resignation to go into effect at the option of the direc- tors. This action is the sequel of the recent conviction of H. Kirke Wood bridge, g son of the warden, who was recently sentenced to state prison for five years for defalcations committed while a clerk in the prison As stated in the ecommunication the board does not for a moment entertain the belief that Warden Woodbridge is in any manner personally implicated in the de- | falcations, but it was deemed for the l best interests of the state and to save l embarrassments both to the directors and the warden, now that his son is a convict there, that a change be made in 1 the wardenship. The decision, which was carried into execution to-day, was l formally reached at a special meeting of the board of directors held in this city Monday, December 19, the day on which Kirke Woodbridge was sentenc- ed to prison At the meeting this af- ternoon the board instructed the sec-S retary to transmit to Warden Wood- bridge the following communication: Hartford. Conn.,. Dec 2S. 1898. Jabez L. Woodbridge, Warden Connecticut 1 State Prison:
 the conditions which exist at the state | prison, as the result of a defalcation by a subordinate officer and after considering the embarrassment which those conditions l must cause to this board and to yourself, l the directors have come to the conclusion that the best interest of the state require that you hereby tender your resignation as warden, to take effect at the option of the board. The board takes pleasure in stating its belief that you are not in any way per- sonally implicated in the defalcation.
 @ Tn Thomas fs'j 5. Wells, I Secretary. The foregoing communication was de- 1ivered to Warden Woodbridge and ha later submitted his reply, as follows: Hartford, Conn, Dec. 28, 1S98 z ITO the Board of Directors of Connecticut V State Prison:
 | quest that resign my position as warden. I do not understand that any charges have been preferred aganst me, and l. know that no charges can be preferred against me. ' am conscious of having done all which my obligations required my resgnation must therefore be requested for other reasons. my resignation to take effect at such time as you may fix. Permit me to suggest, how ever, that under the circumstances l. should be given a proper time in which to inven- fnru fba r,rrr orfxy for yy6 ble. have my accounts audited and receive proper receipts. This will, of course, re- quire from two to three months. It Is not. connection with the prison but do desire to avoid any danger of any misunderstanding ing between the state of Connecticut and myself as to my indebtedness to 1t, and that when I turn over the position with it's du-l ties and responsibilities to my successor I may be assured that there is no ground for any further discussion. l am prepared in view of the fact that my original bondsman has satisfied his bonds to furnish new bond to cover such period as shall remain ' Yours respectfully.
 Jabez L. Woodbridge.
 The resignation was accepted, but the date at which it is to become operative was left to be determined at future meeting Warden Woodbridge was re- quested to secure new bond to cover such time as he may remain i'm the service of the state and he will do so at once. The full amount of the orig inal bond was deposited with the di- rectors. Colonel Woodbridge has been warden since August 1, 1893, succeeding General Samuel D. Chamberlain. Pre- vious to his appointment he was chief of police of Hartford. Young Wood bridge was taken to prison to-day with eleven other prisoners. Warden Wood- bridge received the prisoners. He did not bestow look of recognition on his son and treated him in the same way that he treated the other prisoners.