The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-16
THE PENITENTIARY
INVESTIGATION


. chairman Cunningham ana Lessee
Fowler Tell About tho Hiring of
ConviCts.
The joint committee appointed just
at the close Of the General Assembly
to Investigate the management OF the
State penitentiary began its work at
noon on Wednesday, 9Th inst. Three
witnesses were examined the first day.
Mr.. John Taylor, the expert employed
to examine the books Of the pepiten-
tiary, was the first witncss, and his
testimony was unimportant. He simply
pointed out several insignificant errors
of clerical nature which, he said, did
not change the real result, so far as he
had been able to determine in the
two weeks he had been engaged in ex-
amiuing the account books Only up-
important errors wero discovered by
him, and he didn't think there was
anything wrong with the books.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD MAKES
A STATEMENT.
Mr.. II. j. Cunningham, chairman
OF the board Of directors Of the pcni-
ter tiary, was the second witness. At
first it looked as II his testimony would
be unimportant, but it soon made sur
prising revelations RS to tho hire Of con-
victs After a few Introductory ques-
penitentiary, Mr.. Stevenson said:
"I'll ask you as to the rules as to the
hiring Of convicts. How do you hire
them-for cash or on credit ?"
"Well, we hired them in various
ways"
What is your rule for the payment
OF tho money for convicts, say for the
last four years ?"
"Generally about November we take
up the contract matter. We first de-
eide as to about the surplus labor we
will have to hire and then the price
Of that labor and then we instruct the
superintendent to go to work and place
"When he places it what arrange
ments do you require about the pay
mont for the hire ?"
I'VE require q contract with sutfl-
cient bond to secure It,"
''Do you take notes for the labor ?''
1--WE have done it."
"What is your rule about notes with
regard to discounts? ?"
"Well, | remember q year ago last
November, in making contracts the
superintendent was instructed If he
made notes at all to make them that
could be discounte:, without the insti-
tuition endorsing ,hem."
"Mr. Cunningham, have any notes
been taken for labor in the last few
years which have not been paid ?"
ut has been reported from the Caro-
lima National bank that three notes
are part due by the institution"
What notes? Who gave the notes ?"
After some further questions and an
swers, Mr.. Cunningham read the fol-
lowing statement, which he said we're
the amounts for convict hire still un-
paid
o. G. Scarborough, due Nov. ii
tDalanCe) ........,..........S 4S.O0
G. w. Ragsdale, duo Dec. "a
anu interest," St.............. UUO.OO
w. w. Russell, due Jan. ! l and
and interest. t................ 600 90
Check, j. b. Watson. ......... 2 600 90
oVerdralI.. ................ 3,000.Ol
fn answer to the question, as to the
j. B. Watson check for 81 600 which
the Carolina National bank was now
holding the penitentiary responsible,
Mr.. Cunningham said it was given to
take up the B. B: Ragsdale note.
"That b. B. Ragsdalo note, You say,
was endorsed by the uperintcndent Of
the penitentiary
Eyes, sir. 1t is in the Office now"
well, then, how did the peniten-
tiary become liable for the check ?"
"Well, the b. b. Ragsdale notc ap-
peared with the endorsement ofothe
superintendent on it and Watson held
up the check"
"How did you get the noto?"
81 took the check to the bank and
got the nOtc."
"And then the check was held up?"
eyes 1t was five days check on the
Anderson bank"
GLOW .did that B. B. Ragsdale note
appear on the books of the peniten-
tiary ?"
ut didn't appear at ALL"
"What record, then, did you have
with regard to b. B. Ragsdale ?"
''We had none at ALL"
"Did the penitentiary get the mon
1--WE presume that these notes camo
from the Watson contract"
"Just tell us about that"
1--WE made q contract with j. b.
Watson in 1896 for three years. He
settled up at the end Of 1896. On the
first Of January the books showed q
settlement in cash in 1897 the same
way. We presume from the best in
formation we have that these notes
wcre given in settlement
"TO whom were these notes given ?'
"To the Carolina National bank"
."How did the peitentiary happen to
be liable on it?'
II suppose by the endorsement of the
superintendent"
"Was he authorized to endorse notes
to the bank ?"
GAS l understood our resolution it
was that he must take notes without
the institutions endorsement
"Did the directors know in having
their annual settlement with Mr.. Wat
son that the penitentiary was cndors
. ing the notes Of anyone TO settle up p
'It was not question at all; the
money just appeared. So far as tho
directors knew they were getting tho
cash."
"And you didn't know the peniten
tiary was assuming any liabilities in
assisting. him to raise that money ?"
- didn't know of these notes at al
until recently"
when did you first learn OF them p
81 think it was the day OF the elec
tion Of q superintendent, or the day be
fore" >. 49,.