Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-03
More Evidence against Former
supt. Cakes Introduced
Tuesday.
MORE SENSATION PROMISED
Convicts At the Prison Will he Allow.
cd TO Tcstify-Mr. Herrick,
Former Guard, Tells Of Supplies
being Sent to Supt. Oakes's
Daughter.

investigation before the special legislative
committee re-opened here this morning
~ large number OF witnesses were pres
ent, but only five were examined during
the day. At the last session, affairs stood
at sensational point, showing great lax
ity in the prison management. To-day's
hearing served in way to strengthen this
feeling. but 1t Ia expected that informa-
ton much more startling will develop
before the hearing is over. This Is as
surod by those who have inside knowledge
of the condition of affairs at the prison,
saying the public will be amazed It is the
desire OF Governor Bell at whose instiga-
ton it is said the investigation was begun
to place the prison on a firm basis. and
make it an institution that the people of
Vermont will be proud to possess. Before
the ending Of the hearings the committee
will meet at the Windsor prison at which
time any OF the prisoners there will be
allowed to testify before the members.
This morning attorney Fits called
l.. r. Herrick of Clarcmont first to
the witness stand. Mr.. Herrick was
guard at the prison at different times
under the administration of Superin-
tendent Cakes. His testimony was
very much like that of E. w. Harpin.
who was examined earlier In the in
veSigation
The witness said he always regard
ed Mr. IIarpin very favorably but that
Mr.. Cakes was neither agreeable or
popular. He said that previous to
year or so ago the superintendent
spent very little time at the prison
nd 11uf
Mr.. Harpin. Less than two years ago
there seemed to be a change in Mr..
Cakes. he spent much more time at
the prison and attended to matters
himself. Witness said that he knew
that supplies were taken to the cottage
at Sunapee. Witness said he never
kept a memorandum of suspicious
happenings but If he had there would
have been plenty to note Witness
testified that much unwholesome food
was served to the convicts. and that
there was much complaint among the
inmates Of the institution which Mr..
Herrick thought was justified Mr..
Herrick said there was slack manage
mcnt in farm matters.
The witness was sharply cross
for Mr.. Cakes. but his testimony was
not shaken. when asked by Judge
Palmer about packages and trunks
which witness thought were filled with
supplies for the daughter in Wood
stock, II they might have been books
belonging to his daughter. Attorney
Fits objected. Mr.. Palmer said he
wanted to get at the basis and valid
ity OF the talk among the officers. and
find out II it was fact or something
they imagined. do you think we
were in a trance whom we saw these
things" asked the witness
This ended Judge Palmers cross
examination and the witness was dis
missed
DOMESTIC PAID BY THE STATE.
The next witness called was Mrs. Lind
soy of Cornish Flats, who worked for Sill
perintcndent Cakes at his home at two
different times. finishing work for tho
last timc In 1896. She worked at sunapce
one year doing general homework at 81
per week at MIR. Oakcs's cottage. She
said Mr. Oakcs paid her wages but she
did not know where the money came
.
found the entry Of the payments in the
State books for this time. The witness
said she did not know Of the family TAX
ing provisions to the lake but once.
BoOKKEEPERs TESTIMONY.
Wallace A. Hutchinson of Claremont,
bookkeeper at the prison for eight years,
from 1926 to 1908. took the stand He testi.
fled that he received $25 per month at
first and later $780, Mr.. Hutchnson's tes-
timony corroborated that OF the previous
witnesses and was very damaging to SUI
Oakes. Mr.. Hutchinson said
nc received orders to place Mrs. Oakes's
name on the payroll from Mr.. Cakes, and
that her name was omitted from the
annual report by Mr.. Oakes's orders. He
said Mrs. Cakes had no additional duties
because of it, and that her health was not
good and she did no work any way.
Said the first time he paid Mrs.
Cakes her salary she said she did not
feel like taking 1t but she did take II.
In regard to the State mileages wit
ness said no account was ever kept OF
them nor were they put in the inven-
tory. which was made out by him as
outside the family had access to them.
as they were kept by Mr.. Cakes at his
home.
According to Mr.. Hutchinsons tcs-
timony he acted in the capacity OF a
private secretary for the Cakes FAM
lily. as he wrote private letters for Mr..
Cakes, and assisted Mrs. Oakcs in get
ting up the genealogy OF the family.
Witness said he did not neglect state
work as he had plenty of time, the
State business not requiring more than
one day a week or at most two days.
Said he did not think II necessary to
have a bookkeeper. and when asked
why II he wasn't necessary ne contin.
ued to hold the place for eight years,
he said II was q soft snap and he wish
ed to hold It.
He said he was In the habit OF buying
stamped envelopes belonging TO State for
both Mr.. and Mrs. Cakes ard that Luther
Cakes took them to college to use. Wit
ness testified that the .natron told him
she packed a hamper and small trunk
with bread. douRhnuts. chickens and
vegetables and other things for the
daughter at Woodstock.
Judge Palmer and Mr.. Davis also
counsel for Mr.. Cakes. at this point tried
to make II appear that there was an un.
derstanding between the of,ciais ard EN-.
ployes OF the prison to get up a case
against Mr.. Cakes. The witness en-.
phntically denied that there was. After