Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-25
NEAL is NOT WORRIED.
He Says He Desires a Thorough and Com
plete Investigation.

NEAL 10 NUI WUnhlEUs
He Says He Desires Thorough and Com
plete Investigation.
The State, Thursday.
Colonel w. A. Neal, superintendent
of the state penitentiary, returned tt
Columbia late Tuesday night, aftel
spending some time in Anderson OF
personal and state business combined
On account of the snow storm, Col
onel Neal was kept indoors for five
days at his sisters home and this de-
layed his return to this city. When
seen in regard to matters in which biz
official rectitude has been recently
questioned, Colonel Neal talked freely
in general way.
He began by saying the reports that
he was short in his accounts were al
rot and totally untrue. He said tha,
when the Office is turned over to his
successors everything will be found
to be correct and in perfect condition
so far as the accounts and management
are concerned. He invited full in
vesligation and was glad that legis
lative committee has been appointed
for that purpose and he would ait
them in any way possible. He statec
that he had nothing whatever tt
fear from an investigation. The com
mittee, he said, has only one man or
it who voted for him, but the mem
bers are all fair, square men and woulo
do what was right.
Colonel Neal said he had had pleas
ant talk yesterday morning with hi:
successor, Captain Griffith, and it hac
been arranged that Colonel Neal shoult
give up the office right after the mex
directors meeting, which takes place
March s.
Colonel Neal says he would tak'
great pleasure in giving Captain Grif
fifth all possible information about th'
institution and its workings and inten
ded to go with Captain Griffith to tb'
state farms and explain everything
He said that the only thing which wa
not in perfect order was one or two
dams on the DeSaussure and Reet
farms, which had been injured by th'
recent high water in the Wateree
The outstanding contracts, he said
were all excellent, and Captain Grif
fth's administration ought to be very
successful. Colonel Neal expressed hi'
friendly feelings towards Captain Grif
fifth several times.
Colonel Neal remarked that he hat
held the Office for six years, which wa:
about as long as any man ever held it
and he was not at all disgruntled a.
his defeat nor has he any feelings o
resentment towards those who op
posed him. He expects to 60 back tt
his farm near Easley, retire from poll
tics and endeavor to regain his health
His family will leave for their home
near Easley, on Saturday. Colone
Neal will 20 with them and return IN
few days.
The joint legislative investigating
committee met yesterday morning a
the penitentiary. The members are
Senators Livingstone and Hay anc
Representatives Stevenson, Patton anc
Mellow. Mr.. Stevenson is chairman
by the vote Of the committee. The
committee heard statement from MIR
T. ]. Cunningham, chairman of the
board of directors, and elected Mr.
John Taylor, formerly of the state
treasurer's Office, as their expert to ex
anime the books of the penitentiary.
Mr.. Taylor was authorized to begin
at once and will investigate everything
from the beginning to the end of Col
opel Meals administration as superin
tendent.
The committee will meet next or
March s, at - o'clock, when the ex
pert is expected to make at least par
tial report upon the condition of affairs
The meetings will be open and the rep
resentatives of the press and all Others
are at liberty to be present during the
sessions. 1t is possible that the work
of taking testimony will begin at thi:
time.
Mr.. Stevenson, the chairman, stated
that the committee had merely started
the work yesterday and no action Wa:
taken nor was anything brought before
them except the statement of MIR
Cunningham, which it is not deemed
prudent to make public at this time.