The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-03-17
SCANDAL
AT PRISON
Outcome Of The Discharge Of
Harpin and Son
WORST NOT YET TOLD
minated That Further Invest
CATION Will Bring More
ToLight
WORST NOT YET TOLD

Windsor, March 49, Why did Sup
Cakes hold his discharge of Head
Keeper Edward Harpin and his son
Harold from November until March to
dismiss them Immediately after the
first meeting Of the prison directors at
the state prison since that date? That
question was put to Director Addison
E. Cudworth at Londonderry today
by the Herald correspondent.
81 don't know" Mr. Cudworth re-
piled.
"But Supt Cakes knew before
Thanksgiving that Keeper Harpin had
told the legislative committee of his
1.-THE SUPPLEMENTARY alleged ship
ping away OF state beef and state pro-
visions, as to the use OF mileage books
etc"
EYES, said Mr. Cudworth. &" Ofici.
ally we have no knowledge that either
Mr. Harpin or his SON have been dis
charged. - he continued.
You never requested It nor advised
it, as directors?" was asked.
'No sir, we did not, Mr. Cakes did
not consult as, nor was there really
any reason why he should,n replied
Mr. Cndworth. 'He may appoint or
remove whom he pieases OF his subor-
dinates. AS directors we hold him re-
sponsible; we appoint him. If he
should appoint keeper or guard OF
whom We did not approve we have the
right to request or direct him to substi-
tute some one else.
Judge F. b. Pier and myself met
at the state prison nthe first two DAYS
of the present month. Our meeting
had nothing to do with the removal OF
Keeper Harpin or his son. The Hon
John N. Woodfin, our chairman, has
been so i'll at Rutland that at one time
We feared he might not serve with us
again. felt that we should carry out
our duty as If Mr. Woodfin was with
us. That was why Mr. Pier and were
at Windsor. We were there to take
an account OF stock as the law requires
us to do quarterly"
Didn't Mr. Cakes tell you he was
going to discharge the Harpins?"
III can't say that he did. OF course
know there was friction between them
existing long before came on the
board Of directors which was in 1902. y
"What was the cause of it?"
"You must ask Mr. Cakes on
course if you thought man was try.
ing to supplant you in your position,
you would like to get rid of him,
wouldn't you? Anybody would"
"Do you know or did you hear Of
any guard being discharged for undue
familiarity with female employe a,
the state prison at Windsor or of any
female employee being discharged be.
cause she told the wife Of guard a,
the prison of her husbands actions
with q domestic and that the wife has
LEFT him?" was asked.
swell there might be q grain ia
that but in the way 1t has been told /,
has been highly colored, and colored
for purpose by those who want to
get Mr. Cakes out. While there may
be a smattering of truth in some things
the newspapers have published, the
real situation has been distorted and
tremendously exaggerated. We as
directors believe in Mr. Oakes and will
stand by him."
Hasn't Supt Cakes rendered his
resignation and have you not refused
to accept ftp"
I'VE have no official notice OF MI
Cakes intending to resign"
''There has been some talk over Al
Windsor that the directors we're stand
ing by the superintendent because o.
criticism Of themselves.
.'Weil," said Mr. Cudworth, "all
can say is that hope there will be al
investigation. have nothing to con
ceal and any charges they may bring
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