The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-03-16
FIRED IN SPITE
SAYS HARPIN
Keepers Son Declares Prison
Supt. Never Made Charge.
GAVE LETTER TO CAKES.
Sensational Stories Affecting Morale Of
Prison = Mrs. Rogers Counsel
Wondering What Became Of
Money Raised,
GAVE LETTER TO 0AKES.

Brattleboro, March l6.-aarold haI-
pin declares that he and his father, who
was keeper Of the state prison here,
were discharged on account OF spite,
and he bIames Superintendent Cakes
The summary dismissal Of keeper Har-
pin and his son has famed the fame
anew, and gossip takes wide range,
| from stories affecting the morale OF the
prison to the disposing OF supplies
charged to the state Attorney General
Clark G. Fits, as chief prosecutor, Is
at the head Of the investigating board,
which has not yet quite finished the al
! fairs Of the insane asylum at Water
bury. Governor Bell is giving personal
attention to the general inquiry and
| just how soon the committee may reach
the state prison is no known.
MY father and | were fired for spite,
said young Harold Harpin TO cores
pondent at Windsor. That was all il
was just sheer spite,
Father went of duty at o'clock. |
was to 20 on duty at 7:15 the same
evening. Cakes by no word Or sign in
timated to either Of us what he was 90
ing to do He made no charges whatey
er. All he said was TINT ii was on
pheasant to have us continue, and he
would dispense with our services.
Father got his pay At o'clock, and /
got mine when ! reported to 90 on duty
y wasn't working for the newspaper
Oakes says | was during the time the
Mary Rogers ease was talked about.
was approached BY reporter tof a
Boston morning paper) about tie letter
! received suggesting poison for AIRS
Rogers, and money was offered for that
letter. Now, ii | had wanted to. ii
could have turned it over to the re-
porter. But what did I doY Went and
carried that letter to Mr.. 0akes. Does
That show that didn't know My duty
| knew my place, and while ! held it I
wouldn't write for any paper net for
the one he talks about, ANYWAY.
The paper says that we resigned.
We never resigned He fired us with.
out warning, and other guaRIs are 60
ing. One left only the other day be
cause Of his actions with domestic. A
young woman employed at the prison
was let 20 because she told the wife Of 4
another employe what he was doing. 1
She was told she shouldn't mix in ana !
talk Of the affairs Of the prison outside.
rs ] am informed.
Now | know what the superinten. 4
dent has put up against nv father. He
says he told things about him. This Il
now it happened Father was at the /
prison when the committee was at
Montpelier. He was called up by tele-
phone from the State House by lie
sergeant.a arms. That officer told nav
father that he was wanted Ia 20 IN /
there before the committee and tell I
what he knew.
Ny father said he could not do that
because it might affect his position. He
was told that be was summoned and
that If he didn't 60 they would come
and get him. He was told he would h.
protected, and he went and testified.
That was ali there was to that, and It
was Just before Thanksgiving that the
met.
Father came back to work at the
prison. The directors were there tba
week before we were DISCHARGED takinq
IN account Of stock. Supt cakes baS 4
he power and he discharged us nv
governor appoints the directors. tbev
'ppolnt the superintendent and he M.
Joints the keeper and guards
Il never received any money n fbo
ioison letter and never gave away the
lame signed 10 it,"
a windsor doctor saws the door Was
hut in his face two or three times
when he went to the prison 10 attend
! patient and Ills purpose was imppon.
q. There il talk of beef and nrogis.
ons being slipped away IRON the pris.
N. ~ All of this Che superintendent
hlits his lips tightly His friends do
ne talking. They urge thai the co,n.
nittee last fall could End nothina
gainst Supt. Oakes, ana assert tbe7
ghen he offered 20 resign the directors
you'd not allow it They claim his
ontract provided that he should be hr.
lshed with subsistence As Ill on.
onents eonstrue the law, subsistenea
'as only 70 be furnished on the prison |
rcnises. i
Mary Ne. Rogers sleeps IN the sa,,o
ondemned cell she was In when tbara !
rieye was read to her, but she i ii.
WED the freedom Of a sanara roav, !
dloining- Her attorney. Thomas /
loloney Of Rutland, is wondering wbeps +
i the money is that was furnished ~ 7
le women. The time is short 1pnSo ?
~ soon be here and her lawyer NV g
OF dollar to prosecute her case IVA y
ne the supreme court. ~ a
= court officer said today that 10 "a Y
eyed, Il money was quickly raised Az 9
.oloney could get the afiidayits Of az. !,
Y senator and assemblyman in favor Y
a new trial for the ,rnrno,, t'No' d