The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-29
That Is What the Penitentiary
Investigation Proves TO Be.
SOME HIGH OFFICIALS IN 1T.
It Seems That Perquisites Play
ed a Prominent Part in the
Management Of the States
Big Prison.

desired to make a statement He did
so to explain card appearing in The
State of the 18th inst, alleging that he
had got carload OF brick from the
penitentiary for which he had never
paid.
Mr.. Garris took the stand and said:
L wish to present for your consider
alton the correspondence and editorial
appearing in The State Of March IS. |
ask this investigation in justice to my
self, to the board Of directors and to the
public.
Il would state that in SO that the
penitentiary and Col. Lipscomb were
making brick. During that year we
were called to visit the brickyard to in
spect its workings. In looking around
l saw quite pile Of brick and bats
which seemed to be rejected. That is
what | taken them to be: brick that
were ruined by the burning. | asked
Col. Neal what they did with them and
he SAID they were worthless said to
him should like to get 5000 Of them
if they were worth nothing to the State.
He said I could get them by paying the
freight; that | had better take 5000,
as the rate would be cheaper on that
number, which would pass as carload
lot. l told him would take 5000 If
they didn't cost over $l,60 per thous-
and for the freight.
II went down home on the evening
train. When reached Branchyille the
agent had left the depot and did not
get to see him about the freight. got
Capt. Westield to find out how much
the freight would be. If it was not
over $3.50 he was to ship me 5000. He
was not to send me any brick that the
State could sell.
In March received notice from the
agent that | had carload Of brick and
there was $3.50 due for freight. Well,
it covered more than | expected to pay
by a good deal. | went ovel, paid the
freight and unloaded the brick. |
never bought any brick from the penl-
tentiary. / didn't consider these worth
anything, and if had known anything
had been wanted for them wouldn't
have had them shipped.
Mr.. Garris then offered IN evidence
afidavits from several reputable citi-
zens of his neighborhood, who had seen
the brick, saying they were broken bats
and were worthless for building pur-
poses. One or two Of the afidavits set
forth that Mr. Garris had offered them
the brickf for the freight charges, but the
offer was declined, as they did not con-
slider the brick worth even that.
AS Mr.. .Garris was Oh the stand the
committee decided to get from him in
formation about the sale of oats from
the State farms last year. The penl-
tentiary report shows discrepancy and
toward this the questioning was direct
ed Mr.. Stevenson asked:
II see in the report of 1898 you have
as sales so many thousand bushels Of
oats. From whom did you get that in
formation?"
From the bills Of lading Of the man
ayers Of the farms"
''The only source, then, the directors
could get this information from is from
the statement Of the managers Of these
farms?"
Eyes; that's the only source know
Of"
II wish to invite your attention to
this fact: In the report of the directors
of that year (1S9S) there are SO many
bushels of oats reported sold, those
sales aggregatingS4, 1910, while the
superintendent reports sales amounting
to 81, 1885. What about the dis
crepancy of S2,995.05 in these re-
ports?"
II think tn. bookkeeper had better
make statement about that.
''You See by this on the face Of 1t
that there are S2,995.05 which Col.
Neal hasn't turned in as cash; isu that
true?"
''Yes; by your figures"
Mr.. Patton-''These reports Of sales
of oats are obtained from the farm
books?"
''Yes, sir.
''The reports as taken from the farm
books and Incorporated in your report
to the general assembly show that 81,
1910 was. received in cash for oats
sold. Is that correct?
es, sir; as far as [ can see.
That report you made to Legislature
also shows that only 81, 499, ,65 was ac-
knowledged to have been received on
the penitentiary books Now, if the
first amount as to the oats sold is cor
rect and if the smaller amount charged
by Col. Neal is correct, then the differ
ence, amounting te nearly $4,000,
should be put down as assets in your
report, should it not"
les; suppose so.
Then if this amount does not so ap-
pear, and if these two statements are
both correct, Col. Neal or somebody is
responsible for about 50, 900 received
for oats?"
Yes; would so understand it.
Mr.. BurrisS was put on the stand to
answer some questions about the oats.
After examining the report for 1898,
he said the assets, oats sold but still
unpaid for, amounted to S96229. At
Ter OeOucllng IulS 95O-.-9 from the ap-
parent shortage Of 81, ,995.05 there is
left 50, 032.76 from the sale Of oats yet
unaccounted for.
Capt. Westield Of the penitentiary
guards was called to the stand at the
afternoon session to testify about the
brickbats shipped Mr.. Garris. He said
that Mr.. Garris statement was correct,
and added that he perhaps sent him
more than 5000 brickbats, as it was
easier to get rid Of them by loading into
car than to haul off from the yard and
throw away as would otherwise had to
have been done.
As an employe Of the penitentiary for
the past 10 years and captain Of the
2 !, s.....,.---,,.- -. W.