The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-30

have been made publically are reiter-
ated from time to time, even though
some Of them We're anonymous in char
acter, cannot fail to have an effect
for evil on the discipline and conduct
of the prison if they are permitted to
stand without investigation and deter
mination as to their truth or falsity
Furthermore, as all of the complaints
are based upon the unsworn state
ments Of persons who have only hear
say information concerning the mat
ters complained of, l consider it to the
best interests of the state that the
board of control, proceeding under the
law creating that body (Chapter CXIX.
Session Laws of 19O1), investigate all
and singular the matters hereinafter
referred to- For the reason that the
persons Offering the complaints
against the penitentiary management
have neglected or declined to place the
same in writing before you in ac
cordance with the law, I desire that
this communication be treated as
such complaint, and that you, with
any legal assistance that may be Of
fered you by Hon. John D. Atkinson,
attorney general, investigate the
charges and complaints which are, in
substance, as follows:
Cd That On a date preceding the
municipal election held in the city of
Walla Walla on July 10, 1905, A. F.
KEGS, superintendent of the state PEN
itentiary by coercion and intimidation
required certain employees of the insti-
tuition who were not residents of the
city of Walla Walla, unlawfully to
place their names upon the voting
lists of said city to enable them to
vote at said election.
(2) That because A. F. KEGS, SUI
perintendent of the state penitentiary
| refused to follow the advice of DR.. Y.
| G. Blaiock the penitentiary physician,
| in relation to making certain repairs
and improvements in the sewer system
and water supply of lhe institution, the
sanitary condition OF the penltent1ary
became such that an epidemic or ty-
phoid fever resulted among the con-
victs confined therein.
(3) That the legal execution of one
bradshaw, a prisoner under sentence
of death by the superior court IN
Franklin county, by negligence on the
mart of the superintendent of the pen
itentiarv and his subordinates, was de-
laved an unreasonable period and has
not vet taken place.
(D That those directly or Indirect
lv connected with the management OF
the state penitentiary failed to COM
ply with the law of 1905 in relation TO
the inspection of factories in so far
as. it concerned the inspection OF the
penitentiary jute mill.
(5) That the superintendent or the
penitentiary, by retaining IN the posi-
tion of chief turnkey one Phillip
porrv we'll knowing the moral unfit
ness Of said Berry to hold that position,
acted in a manner prejudicial to the
host interests of the public service OF
the state of Washington.
further request that, in addition
to the foregoing charges, you inves-
t;gate any and all matters connected
with the management of the peniten--
+oarv that YOU may judge to be Tor the
oo,,.ro, betterment of the institution.
As Governor. 1 have investigated the
foreooing charges SO far as possipie
1,;tbout sworn testimony, and l have
.soertained nothing that has shaken
oonfidence in the integrity ana
.h;,i+,, of the superintendent. More
ovor that official and the state OF
washington are both entitled TO tne
fullest and freest investigation OF all
$50 charges. 1 would therefore
ast that YOU hold this public IN
/ 81 vour earliest conven-