Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-10
BOOMERANG REACTS
STATE BOARD REPORTS ON
PRISON INVESTIGATION.
SUIT AGAINST ELLSWORTH
Warden Roberts and His Assistants
Found to Be Innocent of Charges
Brought Against Them by Mrs.
Waterman-Governor Writes
Letter Complimenting Board.
Madison. March Z

The boomerang thrown by Mrs.
Eva Waterman, wife Of a former
sheriff Of Barron county, at the
management Of the state penitentiary,
has reacted and involved not only
the plaintiff but also her attorney,
H. G. Ellsworth, who is also of Bar
ron county. Attorney Ellsworth
formerly lived at Oregon, Dane coun-
ty, and in greenback times ran for
sheriff on the democratic ticket.
Gov. Scofeld said Saturday that Els
worth first asked to be ap-
pointed an auxiliary member of
the board of control When informed
that the place was already filled he
requested that he be named as
special attorney of the state. This
was done. He sent in a large bill
Ior expenses and services, however.
which has not yet been fully allowed.
His claim for expenses was allowed.
but his charges for services are still
under consideration. The governor
thinks that about Sc per day for the
30 days $3.50 in alb is sufficient. but
Ellsworth's claim is much in excess
of this amount and the governor will
not allow it. The state board of con-
troll has engaged District Attorney
hamilton Of Dodge county to bring
a criminal action against Ellsworth
Tor violation of the statutes regulat-
ing the admission of mail into the
state prison.
The report of the state board Of
control on the prison Investigation
WAS made public by the governor Sat
urday, and as expected, exonerates
Warden Roberts and the other Of
f1clals, but it goes a great deal farther
in scoring the parties bringing the
charges. The report was written by
Judge w. P. Lyon, ex-chief Justice
OF the supreme court. 1t declares
that the charges against the private
character of the officials were entire
~ unfounded. The suggestion is made
that IN the future some provision
should be made by which people who
desire to have Investigations made Of
the public institutions should be re-
CURED to furnish the state with Sc
curity against the expenses which such
an investigation involves. The mem
hers of the board, according to the re-
port, believe from the testimony that
Convict Camp was the instigator of the
whole investigation and that Mrs. Wa
terman and Attorney Ellsworth were
his uyil1in0 iy L; =
designs against the officers of the
institution. The letters from Mrs
Waterman ard Attorney Ellsworth to
Camp are referred to as proof of the
guidance eXerted over them by the
convict. The report also refers to a
number of other letters found, written
by Camp to women outside the prison
which were not suitable to be placed
on the record of the Investigation. The
letters of Attorney Ellsworth OF Camp
the report says, were gotten into the
prison and to him without passing
through the hands of the chaplain, and
that Mr.. Ellsworth refused to divulge
by what means they were SO passed in.
The following letter was sent by Gov.
Scofeld to the board:
Hon. J. e. Heg, president of the
board Of control, Madison, Wis.-My
dear sir: l have received from the
hands of w. P. Lyon copy Of the
proceedings Of the board of control
in the matter of the investigation of
certain charges filed with me against
the management of the state prison at
Waupun together with a copy Of the
findings of the board in the case. I
have had time so far to read only the
findings but the manner in which they
are prepared indica, es the investigation
was conducted and with what deter
mination to reach the facts each charge
was probed.
1t is very gratifying to me and |
know that it must be to the members
of the board, that the charges made are
shown to have had no foundation in
fact. 1 note with pleasure what is said
concerning the righteousness of base
less charges like those made in this
case against the personal character of
people occupying public positions, and
desire to thank the board for sug-
gesting the desirability Of requiring
hereafter an indemnifying bond from
parties making charges for the pur-
pose of bringing about an investiga-
ton, in order that the state may not
be needlessly subjected to heavy ex-
pense. Respectfully yours,
Edward Scofeld, Governor"