The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-17
AFTER TILLMAN AND EVANS.
scandal IN PRISON MINAGEMENT
WHILE EACH WAS GOVERNOR.

An Inquiry Reveals That Convicts We're
Used on Their Farms-Cifts to Tillman by
Prison OhicinI Who Owed Him Money
-Tillman Says It's n Petty Matter.
COLUMBIA. 3. c.. June 18.-The committee
appointed by the General Assembly to investi-
gate the management OF the peni:entiary by
Col. W. A. Neal is winding up its work prepara-
tory to a recess till August Col. Meals bonds
men have to mako good $4,000. acknowledged
to have. been misappropriated. and then II will
be a question wbather the bondsmen will be
hold responsible for $4,000 for convict hire
convcts worked on Col Meals farms. and
were not paid for.
Interest was added to the Investigations on
account OF the appearance OF the names OF
Senator Tillman and sx-Gov. John Gary Ev-
ans on the books OF the penitentiary for va
riousitems, from groceries to a carload OF
bricks. Witnesses testified that.each OF these.
when Governor. used convicts to work small
farms near Columbia. not paying for their
hire.
During tho recent recess OF the committee
W. +; Stevenson. the Chairman. wrote to Sen
tee would meet In Columbia on June IA. to re-
main In session for some time, and asking
him to explain che accounts against him on
the brick book and commissary book OF tho
pententiary. and tho charge by the officers
that you ran farm while Governor with CON
yicts. and the pententary got no benefit from
1t. and also that certain furniture was pre-
sented to you by the management"
. Senator Tillman has written In reply that
the matters are 100 trivial for him to appear
before the committee. He does not rsmem-
Dor having received any groceries that could
have been charged He says that he rented a
small farm near Coum bia. on which he raised
oats and hay for his horses. and used convicts.
for which Col. Neal would take no paw In re.
gard to the bricks. he SAYS Col. Neal had Of
fered him a carload and he had accented them.
but never dreamed they were not charged to
Col. Meals account. He had sold Col. Neal
500 cane mill and evaporation. for which he
had only received 800. so he thought IL moth
Ing wrong to accept things from the superin-
tendent
In second letter to Chairman Stevenson.
who Is conservative. as are the majority OF
the committee. Senator Tillman objects to the
prominence given these charges against pub
lie men, and says:
Tho committees report when made up and
published will disclose its attitude and show
whether there Is ANYTHING political in the In
vestigation."
An ltemized statement OF Senator Tillman's
account with the peuitentiary commissary is
being prepared. 1t ran all during hi, admin
istration.
A letter to ex-Gcv. Evans. requesting him to
explain an account OF $40 for Groceries on
the books OF the penitentiary commissary. and
also the charges that he used convict labor In
working farm near Coum bia, for which he
paid noih hing. has not been answered. 1t is I'M
derstood the ex. Governor intends TO take no
penitentiary testities further that n carload OF
cottonseed meal. valued at 5000. was sent 10
Senator Tillman from a, factory in Columbia
on the order of Col. Neal and that the same 10
charged to the penitentiary. Senator Till man
refusing to pay for IL.