The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-10
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
pENITENTTARY FACTS THAT
WILL NOT DOWN.

| Hon. n. l4eaZar at Newton.
| "From 1893 to 1897 | was superin
| tendent of the State penitentiary.
| took the place with much reluctance.
| as it was hard to fill. We claim now
| that the Democratic management was
| wise. economical and successful. The
! institution fully supported itself. We
| made the money to run it by our own
| efforts. 1t was organized to work like
Il new machine. \ man could have
| sat in Newton and managed it. The
crowd that has it now should have
managed it successfully and with ease.
But they were not out to manage it for
the best interest of the State, but for
purposes of greed and gain. | say it
has been managed dishonesty by the
fusioniStS. | can. and will, prove it.
How do | know the facts? Well, il is
lawful to use spies in war. | am able
to establish facts. When the farm at
WadesbOro. Arson county, was turned
over by the Democratic party to the
fusioIiiStS 100 bales of cotton was
among the effects. That cotton We're
sold for S5,S3S and fraction. 1t was
paid for partly in checks and partly in
cash The checks are accounted for
and the cash is not. 1t has never been
accounted for. Where is it? One of
the Democratic officers on retiring
owed S11.57 to the penitentiary. He
paid the amount in check. He was
asked to pay it in money. So he did.
There is no record of the payment of
the debt on the books. An ex-offcer
paid debt of $37 and the books do not
show it. An officer collected debt
he nd ha iao nj
College of $3.50 and the book-leeper
of the penitcntiary tried to collect it
again. and the old clerk showed that
it had already been paid out. On being
asked about the matter by the book
keeper the officer said: Charge that
to me.
THE Roanoke farms were turned
over with 632 bales Of cotton on hand
in 1897. In a few days the superin-
tendent of the penitentiary sold the
cotton to Il friend and a near neigh
| Dor. for about 51s cents Il pound, when
cotton was bringing about IA cents
in Norfolk The fact of the sale and
the name of the purchaser both were
concealed. But / ascertained the facts
in the case. Why should he sell it To
his friend ut this reduced price? Later
he bought large quantities of fertilizer
from the same man ut 81 Il, ton more
than other dealers asked. Why all
this? What is behind it? The act of
the legislature of 1895 repealed the law
of 1893, giving the directors of the pen
itentiary power to lease new farms
But i'm 1897 the same law was re-en-
acted. With this change the Cover
nor of the State and the superntend-
ent of the penitentary were given the
power to lease the lands. etc. a CON
tract was made for the lease of the
Grimes lands, near Raleigh. Upon rep
resentaton Of the superintendent of the
penitentiary and certain members of
the board this contract was cancelled
at cost to the penitentiary, for the rea-
son given that there were no convicts
to operate this land. The Castle Hayne
farm was very soon purchased by Il
member of the board. and ut once
leased to the penitentiary. together
with certain rice farms on the Cape
Fear. generally known as the property
of the Governor, though leased from
one Mr.. Buffers of Wilmington. The
price paid for these rice lands is about
three times that paid for any other
lands held by the penitentiary. | do
not say that the Governor is getting
the rental. But l just give what facts
am certain Of The board of directors
know nothing of the contracts