Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-30
NEWS OF VERMONT.
More Important Events Grouped fos
Free Press neaders-Wild Rumers
about AMairs at state Prison.

w
stories to which the incident has given
rise. one indisputable result of the recent
discharge of Keeper T.. u. ffarpin and his
son from the State prison by Superin-
tendent l.. w. Cakes has been the crea-
ton of two bclligerent factions in Wind
sor the members of which are engaged
apparently In a fight to the finish. A sur
prising amount Of feeling has developed
and statements are being given circula-
ton by adherents Of both the Cakes and
Harpin factions which for bitterness have
rarely been equailed in a tangle of this
nature In Vermont and which IL proven
true, will provide an expose of rottenness
in public Office such as tho State has
never heretofore had the misfortune to
endure. The hills of Windsor almost echo
with the charges of abuse of power, Off
cial Acknowledgement and moral laxity.
extravaganza and worse in expenditure of
State moneys, and dcpravity in the con-
duct of State employees fostered. apparent
ly by carclessness on the part of those
in charge almost to the point of counten-
ancing the scandalous results. Cnques-
tionably some OF these street charges are
fake in whole or part. Just where the
discriminating line should be drawn is
hard to determine. however. as the prin-
cipals in the mix-up. Mr.. Cakes and Mr..
Harpn. refuse to discuss the charges or
any phase of the situation. The latter
talked freely Immediately after his
discharge. but on the advice of counsel is
now Saying nothing but saving wood
THE IItsH-1'P POLICY.
The policy OF Superintendent Oakos and
Of the prison since he assumed it's con-
troll has been the suppression of facts
which might tend to shed an unfavorable
light on the institution. The guards and
assistants are given to understand that
whatever occurs within the walls of the
prison Is not to be discussed elsewhere
and Mr.. Oakess attitude in matters af-
fecting his Office and the institution in his
charge is to refuse absolutely to say II
word about them. The plan of suppress
sion and news censorship was handed
down by Mr.. Oakess predecessor. cx-Su-
pcrintendent Rice. and came easily to the
present incumbent. who is naturally re-
toent and self-rescrved man. Superin-
tendent Oakes is also of a frugal. careful
nature as indicated by the gratifying i'm
provement in his financial circumstances
during his service as prison superintcnd
savings have put him in comfortable cir
stances. Mr.. Oakcs holds mortgages on
many Windsor places and is rcpnted a
wealthy man. His supporters there assert
that he Is if anything more careful in buy
ing State supplies than he would he buy
ing for himself and according to one man
1.-THE farmers who trade with him almost
hate to do it, he buys so close
HARPIN MEN CHARGE EXTRAVA-
The Harpin men assert. on the other
hand, that Cakes spends State money
freely and with little judgment; keep
ing a team of horses the year through
for drawing coal, when it could be
drawn by contract for less money: pay
ing $1,000 for installing electricity in
the prison; employing as prison assist
ants men too old for their duties: thus
requiring a larger force; taking on ex-
ira help in the summer vacation pc
riod. when his son and that of the pris-
on chaplain were home from college.
while the amount of work remained
the same before and after vacation;
and other alleged instances which are
freely made public, with proper COM
ment by the friends of the Harpins.
ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE
These same men also tell of strange
occurrences inside the prison walls
The hush-up policy of Mr.. Cakes is
not wholly successful, for through
lower channels the suppressed facts
leak out and sooner or later become
town talk. The world outside Of Wind
sor has never known that about a
employ Of the institution. tried to
suicide by shooting himself in the
throat. The bullet tore n gaping hole
in the back of his neck and missed
severing an artery by the narrowest
margin. Tho effort was unsuccessful,
the prison physician attending the
man, who was discharged as soon as
sufficiently recovered.
The attempted suicide Of Green was
not known in Windsor until recently
and even now the prison attendants
do not care to discuss tho affair. The
physician says the attempt was made,
probably because OF dependency and
the man was discharged because the
officials did not want him to blow
out his brains there. He knew OF no
other discharges at that time.
Your correspondent has learned Of
several instances Of discharges OF
male and female employees in the
prison under circumstances that do no
credit to those responsible for the dis
cipline of the institution.
A MARY ROGERS STORY.
Such occurrences as these make the
assertion that Mary Rogers. the Ben
nington murderess, is in delicate
condition. strike the Windsorites as far
from preposterOus. In fact the prison
board took enough cognizance of the
story to summons before it a few
weeks ago, employees OF the institution
and others. including Sheriff Peck and
the matron, and investigate the story.
The result of this investigation is
not definitely known, but men in close
touch say the story is lie and has
been proven so to the satisfaction of
the prison directors. Sheriff H. H.
Peck was, according to some, the
source from which the story emanat-
cd Before the board he fatty denied
all knowledge OF the matter or any
connection with the circulation of
such a report. The prison matron. who
has charge OF Mary Rogers. told the
board that she knew positively the