Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-07-20
TURNING ON LIMELlGHT.
Facts Brought Out at States Prison
investigation.


because of the lack of hotel aecommoda-
tions at Windsor.
Those present were the three members
of the committee. n. O.. Williams OF Bel
lows Falls, II. F. Brigham OF Bakersfield
and c, II. A. Stafford of Morrisville, Gov.
g. j. Bell and Atty. Gen. q. q. Fits.
The committee were in Windsor Tuesday
and made a personal Investigation OF the
prison. ~,
The first witness put on was L. w.
Cakes, former superintendent OF the
prison. Mr.. Cakes was accompanied by
Two attorneys, c. S. Palmer Of Burlington
and G.. A. Davis of Windsor. Mr.. Cakes
stated that he was warden in the prison
in 1878 and in 1888 was appointed superin-
tendent by Gov. Barstow. He resigned
last March. His salary had been slO0
month. He had mad general supervision
OF the institution and bought the supplies.
The price paid for coal, groceries, ETC.,
was the lowest he could get offered for
good goods. Cash discounts OF from one
to five per cent, were offered, and were
always taken when possible. Mr.. Cakes
stated that during his SUPPLEMENTARY
the directors had frequent meetings, and
he thought looked after the affairs OF the
Institution carefully. His brother, j. q.
Cakes of Windsor, was employed IN the
prison as guard for few years and was
paid $50 a month, other guaros getting
20. When his brother resigned four or
five years ago no successor was put in
office because the directors desired to run
the institution as economically as pcssi-
BILE.
The matter OF telephone bills was taken
up. Mr.. Cakes said that during the past
four or five years the prison tolls and his
personal and family tolls had been kept
on separate bills prior to that they all
went onto one bill, and he discovered
that some of his personal telephones had
been paid for by state money. lie thought
the amount was not over 20 or III. This
money he had not refunded because the
state was owing him about 200 for
transportation. In 1897 he was offered
5000 and living TO go to a hospital in
Hartford, Conn. He informed the di-
rectors, +. G. futile, NJ. o. Perkins and
L. ID. Hazen. They agreed to put his
wife on the pay roll as housekeeper at s25
a month. She so remained until 1901, but
her name does not appear on the payroll
as an employe. At the time that his wife
was made housekeeper the family con-
sisted OF but two, the heating was done
from the prison plant, the washing was
done in the prison laundry, the heavy
work about the house was done by con-
victs and a domestic was employed at the
expense of the state. His wife spent con-
siderable time taking care OF the female
prisoners while they were sick.
The testimony OF MIR. Cakes regarding
the admission OF Attorney +. b. Flynn to
that institution to question Leon Perham,
convicted as the accomplice OF Mary Nj.
Rogers, was the most interesting feature
OF the second days hearing. Mr.. Cakes
said, in reply to question, that he had
admitted Mr.. FLYNN 10 the prison in order
to talk with Perham about the case. He
said he was present at the interview, and
that no notes were taken. A statement,
said TO have been made by Perham, was
used by the attorneys defending Mrs.
Rogers, IN an effort to gain new trial.
Mr. Cakes was excused after testifying
that he never received directly or indi-
rectly any reward, fee, graft or pay from
any one with whom he traded or made a
contract.
l.. d. Hazen OF st. Johnsbury, once a
director of the institution, and A. T..
Cudworth OF Loado derry, present
member of the board OF directors, were on
the stand and testified that they had been
perfectly satisfied with Mr.. Cakes in his
capacity as superintendent. Mr. Hazen said
when asked ABOUT the enrolment OF Mrs,
Cakes name on the pay roll that in the
fall OF 1897, MIR. Cakes was offered posi-
tion in Hartford with a much larger
salary and that the directors considered
that an experienced man could not be
obtained for less money and that with
the consent OF Governor Grout il was
decided to allow Mrs. Cakes s25 per
month.
NJ. O. Perkins OF Windsor, director
from 1894 TO 1901, testified that he had
seen some neglect on the part of the
officials but nothing OF importance. He
stated that John q, Cakes, the brother,
received higher pay because OF his ability
and long service.
Friday, the first witness was Il. c. Tut
tie OF Rutland, director OF the prison
from 1892 to 1900. According to his testi-
mony very prosperous condition OF af-
fairs financially had been brought about
by Superintendent Cakes. Through his
excellent management, convict labor had
been made 10 bring an annual profit &c
the state Of 5000 against deficit of = ,00(
per year under different arrangements.
Much interest was attached to the evil
dence given by Edward b. Harpin, ex-
warden, who was at odds with Mr.. Oakes
and was discharged by him. He told OF
the jealousy and Ill feeling that existed
between the two.
The witness said it was not known al
the prison for some time that Mrs. Cakes
name was on the pay roll. When il be-
came known il was considered almost in
the light of joke as Mrs. Cakes did not
even make her own bed.
Mr.. Harpin denied that he was in any
way the cause of the investigation mad,
IN the winter. Harpin said Il was sus.
pected among the officials that Cakes wa
dishonest about the use of mileages but
that he had never tried to use this as
lever to remove Cakes. Ii was generally
known among the employees that Oake,
took meat and other provisions in largs
quantities to his cottage at Sunapee.
The witness testified that DIR. BurDagl
of Woodstock, son-in-law of Superinten
dent Cakes, spent half of his time a
Windsor, where be had an office, staying
with Mr.. Cakes and did not think he eve
paid any board. The witness thought
Mr.. Cakes took large quantities OF sup
plies when they went TO visit their daugh-
ter at Woodstock and that the daughte
had been known to 20 down cellar to ge
supplies which she carried to her room
when packing up TO return home.
The duties of Mr.. Cakes brother, JohI
G.. Cakes, at the prison were not as ardu
Gus as those of other guards and the wit
ness did not know why he should hav
received higher pay. The state convict
were at times employed in working 70
his brother and at one time large field o
cabbages was cultivated and harveste,
/ for John G.. Cakes by convict labor an,
4 he kaF 20