The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-27
A DEADLOCK AT PRESENT
FAILURE TO AGREE ON THE
WORDING OF A RESOLUTION.
IN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD
Capt. Day Playing Shrewd Game of Delay
by Specious Pretexts Before Both Com
mittees and Waiting for Public
indignation to Cool.
indignation to Cool.

Why has Lewis Summerell not been
removed as supervisor of Northampton
State farm? That is a question that
has been often and Indignantly asked by
the people and press of the State since
the investigating committee exposed his
brutality.
The answer is as follows:
Last spring when the newspapers
printed the stories of Summerers cruel
ty as told by the returned convicts who
had been victims of it, the new board Of
directors of the State Prison
instructed the executive committee
of the board TO investigate on the
charges and report to the full board.
The executive committee is composed of
Chairman 70. l.. Travis, of Halifax;
Col. w. H. Osborn, Of Greensboro, and
Mr.. w. c. Newland, of Lenoir. TO this
committee the board, out Of courtesy,
added the name of Capt. w. II. Day,
Superintendent of the State Prison.
The committee summoned witnesses
before it at Halifax and took testimony
that brought out before the Legislative
committee, and even more startling in
some particulars as the witnesses were
taken off their guard. This evidence has
been in the hands of the committee
ever since and has been discussed at sew
eral of the meetings, but no definite ac-
ton taken.
At the last meeting of the committee
here, on week before last the matter
was again brought up Mr.. w. c.. New
land it is reported, offered resolution
demanding SummerelPs removal, and
citing as a reason that the evidence in
the case showed him to have been guilty
of wanton cruelty in driving men to the
fields in the bitter cold of February, to
have their hands and feet frozen.
This resolution Mr.. Newland strong
ly supported in the committee, and was
backed up by Chairman Travis. Capt.
Day, who has not ut any time made n
secret of his fondness for Summerell,
stood by him and violently opposed the
passage of the resolution both ON ac-
count of the action recommended, and
because of the facts cited as a reason
for Summerells removal. Col. w. III.
Osborn declined to vote for the resolu-
ton, because he thought the wording
too strong. but is understood to have
signifed his willingness to demand Sum
merells removal if the resolution was
differently worded
This made dead lock in committee,
Messrs. Travis and Newland favoring,
Messrs. Day and Osborn opposing the
passage of he-resoution, in the shape in
which it was offered
COL Osborn, as Il way out of the diff
Guilty, proposed that the resolution be
given him to be re-worded, after which
he would sign it and, of course, Messrs.
Travis and Newand, if they found it
satisfactory. This was to be done in
few days, | understand, but so far Moth
ing has been heard of the matter, and
apparently it is still in statu quo.
Capt. Day, who has conducted Sum-
merell's case before the executive COM
mittee in person, and who has, it is al
legged, directed it from afar before the
Legislative investigating committee, has
all along played the game of delay on
first one pretext, then on another. What
his latest find is | am not advised. His
purpose has, of course, been plain in all
this-to stave off SummerelIs removal
until public anger at his atrocities had
cooled when he could retain him i'm
safety or at least allow him to slip out
quietly at the end of this year when the
States lease of Northampton farm ex-
pres and thus save him the disgrace Of
a dismissal.
Whether the executive committee can
remove Summerell without Days sane
ton and whether Day will assent to his
removal is n matter ON which opinions
differ. lie is understood to have said
that he would remove Summerell if the
committee should demand it. But then
Capt. Day said he would resign il the
Democratic caucus did not endorse his
acceptance of Russell's appointment to
the superintendency of the penitentiary-
AS to the legislative committee COM
posed of Senator Brown and Represen-
tatives Gattis, of Orange, and Patterson,
of Robeson, it will probably in due time
demand that Il man be substituted for
Summerell at Northampton. It's reasons
for not doing so earlier will doubtless he
made public when it's report is made up.
Justice Gaynor told the Mazet com
mittee yesterday that he had been Of
fered $4,000 worth OF Ramapo stock
to use his influence to get Brooklyn