Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
MAKE FEW CHANGES.
MIR. HELMS SAYS HE DOES NOT
WANT TO USE THE GUU.LoTINE.
HAS OFFERED ONLY TWO PLACES.
These Are First Assistant md SUI
perantendeut of the Farm-Hc Has
Heard MIR. Donald Would Not Ac-
ccpf-Hns Not Found His Money.

There will be few changes made in the
force at the penitentiary.
This statement Is made on the authority
of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Helms. who or
rived in the city yesterday. Mr.. Helms
was accompanied from Franklin county
by DR.. c. C. Price. formerly of that coun-
ty, but now Of Arkansas, and a graduate
OF the Medical College of Virginia.
Mr.. Helms was seen in his room at
Murphy's by a Dispatch reporter. and
he talked quite freely of his plans.
WILL QUALIFY TO-DAY.
He complained Of being very tired, and
was lying on the bed during the inter-
view. Il haven't many plans" he said.
II am going TO take the oath before the
Secretary OF the Commonwealth to-mor-
row and file with him my bond Of s3O,O 900.
The Baltimore Guarantee Company is my
surety.
CAS- to appointments, / tell you there
are going to be precious few. Sam. Dom
aid, Of Augusta county, can have the
place of first assistant If he will accept
it, but l understand. as the Dispatch
has stated, that he will decline. Mr.
Finch, of Botetourt, will be offered the
place Of superintendent Of the State
Farm, and 1 think there is no doubt
about his accepting.
THERE WILL BE FEW CHANGES.
Further than these, do not know OF
any changes 1 will make / understand
from everybody informed on the subject
with whom L have talked that the force
out there is n good one, and l do not
see any reason for changing it, simply
because there is a change of superin-
tendents. All this talk about heads
having to go off because certain Of the
guards supported Major Lynn for re-
election is nonsense. l want to say that
If they are faithful men they will be re-
tanned, and if / find that the men who
supported me are not efficient 1 will not
hesitate to supersede them with men who
will do their duty.
'As matter of fact, I prefer having
experienced men under me, for awhile,
at least, for l am unacquainted with the
details of the management, of course.
and ii would be a great help to have the
assistance of. trained men.
Are you going TO pile up money for
the State, Mr.. Hems?" asked the re-
porter.
WILL TRY TO MAKE MONEY.
I'm going to do my best" said Mr..
Helms Il intend TO make every edge
cut, and if there is such a thing possible,
l will turn in a considerable sum to rep
resent net profits. 1 don't want to op-
press anybody; 1 shall be fair and
straightforward to the men, but 1 ex-
pect them to do the work required Of |
them, and l shall always remember that |
men are not condemned to the peniten- |
tiary to have a good time
applications for places? Well. should |
think l had. Look yonder," and Mr.. |
Helms pointed to an immense pile of let
ters on the opposite side Of the room.
Il do not know how many are there, |
but first and last, probably a thousand |
persons have asked me for places. L |
have tried to reply, but am sure a great |
many have failed TO hear from me. The
job was too big"
Mrs. Helms will probably join her hus-
band Monday. He says he ran away TO
escape the packing. He has a daughter
about IS years Of age, who is a pupil at
Hollins Institute and will graduate next
year. He has no other children.
HAS NOT FOUND HIS MONEY.
Mr.. Helms has never found any trace
Of the Sl35 and valuable papers stolen
from his room at Murphy's several weeks
ago.
Though Mr.. Helms will take the oath
Of office to-day, he will not assume
charge Of the penitentiary till next week,
probably Tuesday. Superintendent Lynn
will continue his reign until that time, |
and will then take up his residence at
1881 west Grace street. Later, he will
visit his brother at Los Angeles, Cal,
where he will spend some time studying
the culture of sugar-beets and the manu-
facture Of sugar from them. The Major
ntimates that he may engage either in
growing the beets or in sugar manufac-
ture.