The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-03
MIGHT HAVE FO|LED
LAST ESCAPE FROM
STATE PRISON.
Convict Had Told Guard of
the Plans Formed.
AFFAIRS IN GOOD SHAPE
The Cotton Crop of The Penlentiary Will Ne,
Nearly $40, 00O--- The Peni-
Tertiary Owes No
Money.
AFFAIRS IN GOOD SHAPE

1t leaked out yesterday that at the
meeting OF the penitentiary directors on
Thursday night, the report came to the
board that before the last escape of the
two prisoners, who were afterwards found
liz the ceiling. a guard had notified the
warden that these two prisoners were
planning to escape The guard had re-
ceiyed his information from a convict
Why did you not take steps to prevent
the escape?" the warden was asked
Because" he SAID, there are so many
fake reports of the same character that
thought it was another imaginary dream
of convict. We have given much time
to such reports before and they have
all turned out groundless. / thought this
was the same sort of a story"
The board instructed the warden to ex-
ercise more care in the future The re-
liability, industry and integrity of the
warden are so well known and appreciated
that the board contented itself with in
structions to exercise greater care in the
future. The directors found the charges
of cruelty to be unfounded
captured. The notorious Will Harris. the
Mecklenburg criminal, is still out and no
trace of him can be found How he
escaped remains still mystery
The report that insufficient food was
furnished the convicts was also thorough
ly investigated AS a result. from the
testimony of the Oldest employees, it was
found that the food was as good as was
I'm hot
wholesome and plentiful. However it was
decided 10 add to the supper ration to
all who are engaged in manual labor dur.
ing the day.
The board will withdraw the convicts,
who are working in the swamps near
Dover, on the first of November. 1t is
believed that such work in the winter
may be injurious to them.
The superintendent was instructed to
buy forty acres of fine clay land, five
miles from Raleigh on the Mills road.
from Mr.. Buffalo, and pay therefor $35
Gn acre. Until the penitentiary needs the
land, Mr.. Buffalo is permitted to use it
as pasture. When not otherN Use en-
ployed, the convicts can be used at n;aA-
ing brick and terra Gotta, for which there
is always good sale.
1t was decided to buy a new boiler and
expend $4,000 in putting in a heating
plant for that portion of the States pris-
OH where the unfortunate insane people
who have no friends, miscalled criminal
insane are confined, to the disgrace OF
the State. The Legislature made an ap-
Iropriation for heating that department
and provision was made for so doing
| asked one of the directors what the
board decided with reference to lighting
the capitol grounds and public buildings
from the pententiary plant and he said
I'VE could save the State over So 900 a
year by so doing With reference TO the
action of the Raleigh Board of Aldermen
that we would be granted the privilege
Of putting our poles on the streets if we
would light about half of the city OF BAL
eigh, We have nothing to say We are
not yet ready to bring the light to the
capitol. When we are we will put up our
poles as we clearly have a right to do
without reference to the objections raised,
though we prefer to work in harmony
with the city authorities When we get
ready to put up the poles we will 90
ahead and do So
The reports agree that the penitcn-
tiary is doing we'll. 1t owes no debt and
will put to its credit in the State Treas
ury all the money it gets from its crop.
yet to be harvested There ale 1000
acres in cotton. 1t has been well Gull
tivated and month ago it was expected
that the crop would be 1,200 bales. The
general estimate of the cotton crop now
is that it is onethrd Off The peniten-
tiary crop is better than the average,
and Will be probably 900 or ,0GG bales.
) though 1T may not be more than 500
bales. AT present prices, the penItentiary
safely calculates upon getting not less
than $4,000 for the crop.