The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-06
SAY THEY WILL AID IN II
CHAIRMAN DOCKERY MAKES A
STATEMENT.
CLERK WiM3USH SAYS re WILL SIT K
Superintendent Day Sa S if he Does h.. Wi
do 60 Without Pay. The Board Wi
Not Resign. It Meets
Again 70 day.

The penitentiary hoard of directors
met yesterday afternoon at four o'clock
The following members were present.:
Messrs. Claude Dockery. chairman; A.
r. Clark, A. Y. Sigmon. X. II. Gotten,
Henan Hughes and J. w. Denmark.
pose of receiving the report of the SUI
perintendent for the past two years and
transmitting it to the Legislature.
In view of the resolution in the Legis-
lature to investigate the affairs of the
penitentiary, the matter was discussed
by the board with the result that the
following resolution was passed:
Resolved, by the Board of Directors
of the State Penitentiary that they will
aid in any manner possible in the inves-
tigation of the conditions of the institu-
ton by any committee appointed for
that purpose by the State Legislature;
and the services of the board are here
by rendered such committee.
Resolved further, that when this board
adjourns it is subject to the call of the
chairman"
The members of the board Inspected
the buildings and the grounds and adj
journed to meet again to-day at 10
o'clock. disappointment Mewbornes
report will be submitted 10 the board
at the session to-day.
1t has been rumored that the board
would follow the example of Superinten-
dent Mewborne and resign, but at pres
ent it does not appear that this course
will be pursued.
Chairman Dockery was interviewed
last night but did not care TO give his
views on the situation.
Asked as to whether the board would
resign. he said '.he could not speak for
the other members, but for himself he
would emphatically say that he would
not resign. His term, as well as those
of Sigmon. Clark. Hughes and Gotten
does not expire till the meeting OF the
next Legislature, two years hence.
The law requires the appointments Of
the Superintendent to be submitted to
the board for approval, and he was ask
ed what action the board would take
when Superintendent Days are sent in
for approval?
He replied that he had not discussed
the matter with the other members of
the board, and could not say what
would be done in this respect.
Asked as to what he thought of the
proposed investigation of the affairs of
the penitentiary among the other pub
lie institutions. he made the following
statement:
I'VE hope the Legislature will
make a most thorough inyestiga-
ton of the affairs of the peni-
fentiary. 1t is its duty to do so, duty
it owes, not only to the people of the
State who have right to know how
the Institution is managed, but to the
officers of the institution who have a
right TO be exonerated if their manage
ment has been unjustly attacked.
1.-The Board of Directors are anxious for
the truth to be made known. and will in
every way aid in any investigation that
may be made of the various charges
that have been circulated in some OF
the papers of the State. The blame
should be fixed, if there is any: il there
is none the people of the State should
have much needed rest. The Board
is anxious to bring about such a state OF
affairs
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr.
Dockery declined to say, it is believed
that the board will not confirm the APP
pointmenfs of the new Superintendent
and will fight the matter, that is il
there be fighting ROOM The law is sc
framed, however. that the superinten
dent has the whip hand over the boarf
Clerk Wimbush was seen yesterday
and claimed that he could not be Dust
ed. He said that he was elected by the
board, and that his term did not ex
pire until next September. He further
stated that he could not be removed ex
cept by the board. Just whether he vii