The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-04-09

construction of larger cells. Gray suits
are advised. also that the prisoners
be allowed 10 eat together. The pris-
oners are under good discipline. are
treated huInanely and are given a snffi
Gent quantity 81 wholesome food Cor
poraI punishment is frowned upon, and
II better. Separate bath r0anls are
recommended for those I'll the male
sex.
TraistsesT are employed about the
prison, where no law permits IL. but
the idea is good and LAW should be
passed allowing IL
The shoe msking contract with A. e..
Mann 4 o. expires MAY /, 1906. That
was Is cents per day for man A
new five.year contract at 60 cents Il
day has bcen signed. subject to addi-
tions on certain conditions Since 1895
the prison has been salf supporting for
ordinary repairs and running expenses,
and the total surplus for tie ten years
lis S7,a0ss5a.
A Disgrace and Raproach.
The moral conditions Az regards The
relations VI several employees II dis
grace and fcproaeh 10 the state. The
only evidence al immoral relations WAS
between Mary Rogers and Vernon Rog-
ers. and The commission details the con-
strnetion of The prison, which permitted
of this relation Between the death
cell, where Mary Rogers WIS confined.
ard the mems section were two wooden
doors with common locks, Rogers got
hold Of pieee Of metal and simply re-
moved the screws Of the lock on one
door and Mary Rogers, With a pair OF
scissors given her By Frank Flint, a
former death watch, was able ID do
the same On the other door The
giving of SCISSORS, for any purpose. 10
person awaiting execution, was a
grave mistake and Is deserving Of the
seyerest censure,n ADDS the commission.
recommending that steel doors replace
the oHes OF wood
The connection with the prison Of
all parties against whom evidence of
charges Of immortality have been made
has ceased, and ia all cases where the
statute Of limitations does not prevent
prosecution on the part Of the state.
proceedings have been OF probably viii
be instituted BY the attorney general 10
punish the offenders
The commission dees not deem ii nee,
essary or advisable 10 detail Mary Rog-
ers' life in the prison, other than to
say that she was kindly and humaneiy
treated and that she died with indif.
ference.
Clarence Adams, the gentleman burg
lar from Chester, is surely dead, re-
ports the commission.
The superintendent, being paid Sal
arv. should not be allowed more than
his actual expenses in transporting pris-
Oners.
The directors have made more than
the required number Of visits TO the
prison.
Cakes Practically Exonerated.
Former Supt Oakes placed the prison
on paying basis; he made no private
nse Of state mileaees: he did nse the
state telephone for private purposes 60
the extent Of IS or 50 worth during his
encumbency Of the Office; he did take
few supplies to his summer cottage
At Lake Sunapees bnt not enough to
warrant criticism; Mrs Cakes did some
times take things to her daughter, but
they were nothing more than exchanges
Of courtesy between mother and daugh-
ter; Mr.. Cakes did not entertain his
son-in.law, except occasionally; the en-
gsgement OF Mrs. Cakes at s25 month
when she performed no extra services
was the act 81 the prison directors
af the time
snpt. Cakes, while he acted conscien.
tieusly and economically, in the last
part Of his administration, did not take
the proper care and he entrusted his
employees too implicitly. John Cakes,
his brother, was 8 good man and the
engaging OF hig services was all right.
Prisoners should not work for super
intendent Of guards, recommends the
commission.
z. p. Harpin Censured.
Former Warden L. 2. Harpin was a
good disciplinarian and an efficient war
den, but "his personal conduct in and
outside the prison was o. character
that cannot be too strongly censured"
His lack OF loyalty 10 the superinten
dent was largely responsible for the
scandals, knys the report Further,
the testimony OF n former employee of
the prison shows his criminal intimacy
with her, and his own admissions In
regard 70 his acts in CONNECTION with
the wife VI one OF the conyicts are Of
such character rs 20 require the most
charitable construction TO relieve him
Of the charge Of improper relations with
the woman
The charges against Harold Harpn
in connection with the case Of Nary
Rogers are untrue. There Is 10 report
regarding Sandersou. Mccormick aud
Hanson, because their cases are pending
in court.
Deceived the Court.
The new superintendent, w. S. Lowell,
has made several improvements and
what unsatifactory things lie has done
may be attributed to lack OF experience.
Both Lowell and Cakes are censured for
| their afiidavits for a new trial for Mary
Rogers IN that they were misleading
in not giving the full details OF CORE
| spondence between Leon Perham, the
woman's accomplice, and the womans
lawyer, Il. B. Flynn. Mr.. Cakes and
Mr.. Lowell may not have deliberately
intended TO deceive the court. but We
feel that this can hardly excuse men Of
their intelligence and official position
from criticism for committing so serious
an error
Raise Salaries.
The commission recommends that the
salary Of the superintendent Be raised
from 81 100 year in the discretion 81
the directors 10 $4,000 year. and that
the guards, instead Of getting S25 h
month and board. gradually be raised
/ "a 20 a innf1th