Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-25
WARDEN LEIDICH STEPS OUT
Chief Officer Of the State Penitsntisry
Tenders His Resignation.
ALLEGED POOR HEALTH AS THE CAUSE
State House OnciaIs on the Anxious
Seat to Know whether the
First Regiment Has sailed
from Manila.
ALLEGED POOR HEALTH AS THE CAUSE

LINCOLN, June 24-tspecial)-Tt has
been quietly rumored at the state house for
several weeks that George w. Leidigh would
soon be replaced as warden OF the state penl-
tentlary by either Charles VI. Branson OF this
city or John Hopkins OF Holt county. While
the governor has made no attempt TO remove
him from Office 1t is pretty generally under
stood that he has not met with the approval
OF all members OF the State Prison Board
During the last year and a half Warden
Deidigh has introduced number OF prison
reform measures into the state institution,
but in nearly every instance he has been
opposed by the board. This slight unpleas-
antness has not acted as inducement to
Warden Leidigh to remain with the institu
tion and 1t is not at an surprising to see
his resignation come in at this time The
day before Governor Poynter left for Illi-
nois Warden Leidigh called at the state
house and informed the chief executive that
he intended TO resign. This decision OF the
wardens was kept secret for while, but
1t soon leaked out, and today a letter OF
resignation written by Mr.. Leidigh to the
governor was given out at the executive
office. The reason given by Warden Leidigh
for resigning is poor health. His letter to
the governor is as follows:
LINCOLN, June 16.-To His Excellency,
Governor w. A. Poynter: Owing TO poor
health l hereby tender my resignation as
warden Of the Nebraska State penitentiary
10 take effect September T. 1899, or not later
than October l. 1899. Thanking your excel
lency for the uniform, just and fair treat
ment accorded me in our official relations,
GEORGE w. LEIDIGH.
AS stated in the letter OF resignation, Mr..
Leidigh has not enjoyed good health for
year or more and for this reason he was
not at all reluctant about retiring He has
made an excellent record warden Of the
penitentiary and is we'll liked by all en-
ployes and inmates of the institution 1t
has often been said that the prisoners are
treated with more consideration than the
guards.
For his position there are three candi-
dates who will receive serious considera-
tion and quite a number OF others who will
not be looked upon quite favoraby.
Michael Harrington Of Holt county is work
- ing in the interests OF John i<Gpkins of
O'Neill and strong pressure will be brought
TO bear on the governor when he returns
from Illinois to appoint him as Leidigh's
successor The other two are Michael Welch
of Butler county and Charles 9. Branson OF
Lancaster county. Charles S. Jones OF
Omaha is also strongly indorsed and is
claimed to stand as good chance for the
appointment as any OF the three.
All state officials and especially those
connected with the military department of
the state are especially anxious to secure
some definite information regarding the date
of sailing of the First regiment from Ma
nila All sorts of theories have been ad-
anced, but noI , Of them seem to have any
ticuar amount of weight. Information
was given out at the adjutant generals Of
fee this afternoon that the reason the regi-
ment had not sailed on June % was that
certain commissioned officers who had been
on special duty were unable to get back to
their companies in time to sail on that
date Quite number Of the officers OF the
regiment have been detailed with other regi-
ments or on some of the various STATS. The
reliability Of this information Is not guar
snteed by the adjctant general, as 1t did
not come direct by cablegram from Manila.
However the fact that no word OF the sail
ing Of the troops has been received here
does not indicate that they have not sailed.
The War department several weeks ago
notified Adjutant General Barry that the
state military authorities would be advised
Immediately after the regiment started for
home. 1t is possible that the department
has overlooked this and that the regiment is
now on it's way home II the Nebraska SOL
diers sail on the Hancock the trip from Ma
nia to San Francisco should be made in
less than twenty-five days.
The citizens OF Lincoln who have under
taken the task OF arranging a reception for
the First regiment after 1t arrives home
are determined to carry out their plan. The
state officials have not taken any active
interest in the project and will not until 1t
is definitely decided whether the reception
Is going to be held in Lincoln or Omaha
A proclamation has been prepared in the
governors Office TO be issued as soon as the
regiment starts for home, urging the people
OF the state to cooperate in the reception
scheme. The proclamation does not refer
10 any OF the arrangements nor where the
reception will be held. A large proportion
OF the state officials would be in favor of
having the reception in Omaha.
Legal Controversy at Chadron.
CHADRON, Neb, June 24.-(Speciat)-