Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-08-04
A FAL SCHOOL SOME WHERE
SURPRISING TESTIMONY GIVEN
AT STATE PRISON HEARING.
Supt. Lowell and State Attorney Batch
elder Give One Another the Lie
in Mary Rogers Interview Matter
Improper Use Of Prison Supplies.

Improper Use Of Prison Supplies.
The state prison investigation be
fore the special legislative committee
re-opened at Bellows Falls Tuesday
Aug l. A large number of witnesses
We're present, but only five were ex.
amined during the day The impress
sion of great laxity in prison manage
ment made by the testimony during
the last session was strengthened dur.
ing the days hearing, but those hav-
ing inside knowledge of the condition
of affairs at the prison say that much
more startling information than ha,
yet been given will develop before the
hearing is over. Before the ending OF
the hearings the committee will meet
at the Windsor prison at which time
Iany of the prisoners there will be
allowed to testify before the members
L. T.. Herrick of Claremont. n. III.
was the first witness called Tuesday
Mr.. Herrick was guard at the pris-
on at different times under the ad-
ministration of Superintendent
Oakes. The witness said he always
regarded Mr. Harpin very favorably
but that Mr.. Oakes was neither agree
able or popular. He said that previous
to year or SO ago the superintendent
spent very little time at the prison
and that orders We're received from
Mr.. Harpin. Less than two years ago
there seemed to be change in Mr..
Oakes, he spent much more time at
the prison and attended to matters
himself Witness said that he knew
that supplies We're taken to the cot
| tage at Sunapee. He testified that
much unwholesome food was served
to the convicts, and that there was
much complaint among the inmates of
| the institution which he thought was
justified. Mr.. Herrick said there was
slack management in farm matters.
| The witness was sharply cross
questioned by Judge Palmer. attorney
| for Mr. Oakes. but his testimony was
| not shaken.
! The next witness called was Mrs.
| Lindsey of Cornish Flats. who worked
for Superintendent Oakes at his home
at two different times. finishing work
for the last time in 1895. She worked
at Sunapee one year doing general
housework at SO per week at Mr..
Oakess cottage. She said Mr. Oakes
paid her wages but she did not know
where the money came from. Attor-
ney General Fits however, found the
entry of the payments in the state
books for this time. The witness said
she did not know of the family taking
provisions to the lake but once.
Wallace A. Hutchinson of Clare
mont book-keeper at the prison for
eight years, from 1895 to 1908 took
the stand. He testified that he re-
ceived $25 per month at first and later
$40. Mr.. Hutchinson's testimony cor
roborated that of the previous wit
nesses and was very damaging to
Superintendent Oakss.. Mr.. Hutchinson
said he received orders to place Mrs.
Oakes's name on the payroll from Mr..
Oakes, and that her name was omit
ted from the annual report by Mr..
Oakes's orders. He said Mrs. Oakes
had no additional duties because of 1t,
and that her health was not good and
she did no work any way. He said
the first time he paid Mrs. Oakes her
salary she did not feel like taking 1t
but she did take 1t.
In regard to the state mileages wit
ness said no account was ever kept
of them nor were they put IN the in
ventory, which was made out by him
assisted by Oakes and Harpin. No one
outside the family had access to them,
as they We're kept by Mr.. Oakes at his
home
According to Mr.. Hutchinson's tes-
timony he acted in the capacity of
private secretary for the Oakes fam
ily as he wrote private letters for
Mr.. Oakes. and assisted Mrs. Oakes
In getting up the genealogy of the
family. Witness said he did not neg
lect state work as he had plenty Of
time. the state business not requiring
more than one day week or at most
two days Said he did not think IL
necessary to have a book-keeper. and
when asked why if he wasn't neces-
sary he continued to hold the place
for eight years. he said it was soft
snap and he wished to hold 1t.
He said he was in the habit of buy
ing stamped envelopes belonging to
the state for both Mr.. and Mrs. Oakes
and that Luther Oakes took them to
college to use. Witness testified that
the matron told him she packed ham,
per and small trunk with bread, dough-
nuts. chickens and vegetables and 9TH
er things for the daughter at Wood
stock.
Judge Palmer and Mr.. Davis, also
counsel for Mr.. Oakes, at this point
tried to make it appear that there was
an understanding between the offi-
cials and employees of the prison to get
up a case against Mr.. Oakes. The
witness emphatically denied that there
was.
The hearing was continued We'd
nesday. Aug. 9 The first witness call
ed was John f. Green of Burlington.
who for several years had charge OF
the prison farm. Green thought on
the whole the farm was managed all
right, He said that Mr.. Oakes was
never negligent in his duty toward the
prison and the management of the in
stitution and farm. He said the state
teams often did outside work but he
did not know whether the state re-
ceiyed any revenue from it. He did
not know of John Oakes using convict
labor. but said the prisoners often
helped Mr. Harpin shovelling snow
and cleaning up about the house. He
said he had killed poultry which he
s,1pposed went to Sunapee. He also
thought a little pig four weeks old was
sent to DR.. Burbage at Woodstock.
Harry f. Craven. steward from Oct
ober. 1904. to June 16, 1903. was called.
He testified that he received $50 a
month at first and was finally raised
| by degrees to $40, with additionai pay
for extra guard duty He had charge
of the supplies. Any officer could take
state supplies if they wished as the
kew was kept in the guard room. Mr..
Oakes personally looked after the quail
ity of the food and witness thought II
ali right. He thought the discipline
was perfect and could not have been
| improyed. When asked by Attorney
General Fits in regard to the feeling
between Oakes and Harpin he said
everyone knew of IL. He said IT be-
gan about two years ago when the au-
| thority which Mr.. Harpin had always
exercised was taken from him and
Oakes became the actual as well as
nominal superintendent. The witness
admitted that he was an Oakes man
but he considered Mr.. Harpin all
right. He said he had been IN tne
habit of throwing away left overs OF
meat etc. until Mr.. Oakes called him