The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28
WOLFFR TO REMAIN
AS PRISON WARDEN
Recalls His Resignation as
Boucher Withdraws Ac-
ceptance of Job.

Henry Wolfer will remain as warden
of the Minnesota state prison at Still
water. His resignation was offered to
and accepted by the board of control
three weeks ago, and N. F. Boucher,
warden of the North Dakota peniten-
tiary, was elected to succeed him. Yes
terday the announcement was made at
the state capitol that Boucher had
withdrawn his acceptance Of the Min
nesota position and that Wolfer had re-
called his resignation.
The new development came as a
complete surprise to everybody at the
capitol, and 1t Is doubtful IL any one
outside CT the inner circle Of the board
of control office had the faintest inkling
of its coming.
In his letter of withdrawal Boucher
says that family and personal business
relations and his relations with the
North Dakota institution are such that
they should not be severed at this time.
Wolfer says that he recalls his resigna-
ton in the best interest Of the state.
One OF the men close to the board of
control volunteers the suggestion that
the development Is due to determine
ton on the part Of the North Dakota
prison board to retain Boucher at the
head of the Bismarck institution. The
salary offered by Minnesota is $4,000
per year, which is $500 In excess of
that paid by North Dakota, and the
only difference In the way Of mainte-
nance is that the Minnesota warden Is
required to supply his residence with
furniture, while the North Dakota
board provides everything for it's ward
who GU0c frcf6n he
1t Is believed that the North Dakota
board has decided to increase the SAL
airy of the warden at Bismarck to ap-
proxlmately the same as paid at Still
water, and in view of this fact Boucher
has decided to remain at North Dakota,
where he has made his home and been
prominent in the politics Of the state
for quarter of a century.
VOTERS Plans Altered.
Warden VOTERS reason for his res
ignation at Saltwater was given as a
purely business one, it being currently
reported that he had an advantageous
o1fer from manufacturing company to
become Its superintendent It is DOS
sible that he has failed to complete the
prellmlnaries for this position and that
Boucher's sudden determination not to
come to Minnesota is Influenced by the
fact. The wardens are close personal
friends and 1t was wholly through VOL
fer's influence that Boucher was Sc
Iected to succeed him at Saltwater.
The first intimation to the board of
control of any desire on the part of
Warden Boucher to be released from
his Saltwater assignment came in a
letter dated Feb. 20, in which he ere
grets to announce" that further and
more deliberate consideration leads him
to withdraw his acceptance and that
his reasons are family and personal
business matters, and in addition his
relations with the Bismarck institution
are such that they should not be sew
cred at this time. He hopes that his
determination not to accept the posi-
ton will not embarrass the Minnesota
board.
The beard wrote Boucher on Feb. "a
accepting his withdrawal, but express
ing doubt of the wisdom of his action.
Chairman jacobson then wrote Wolfer,
notifying him of the unexpected de-
velopment, and asking him to recall his
resignation as warden of the Mime
sofa prison. Feb Wolfer replied thai
he had decided to remain in the service
Of the board at Saltwater "believine
that such course will be for the best
interest Of the state"
The board has had numerous confer
ences with Warden Wolfer during the
week, and it is possible that the CORE
spondence does not fully detail all thai
has taken place.