The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-09

report This result, in our judgment,
was in large measure due to Mr.
Cakes, as we find that he conducted
the affairs of the institution economical
ly, in an efficient and business like
manner and maintained good discip
line among the prisoners, by reason of
which advantageous contracts made
for prison labor by the then governor
and directors of the State prison we're
made possible in 1895.
The charge OF using state mileage
and state supplies for his private
family are declared to be unfounded
though it is said that Mr. Cakes used
the state telephone about six dollars
worth for private purposes.
eve find that upon the whole Mr.
Cakes conducted the affairs OF the in
stltution conscientiously and economi
cally, but that in the latter years of
his administration he lacked 10 a
measure the activity, diligence and
care that the Office of superintendent
of the State prison demands, and that
he placed too much confidence in his
employees and subordinate officers,
which accounts in measure for the
immortality prevailing among the EN-
ployes."
Concerning Z d Harpiu the report
says:
"E d Harpin was connected with the
State prison as warden from October 4
1889 to March 1905 and as such Off.
Ger lad the immediate oversight of the
prisoners We find from the testimony
that as far as the discipline of the pris
oners and supervision OF the subordi-
nate officers were concerned. Mr. Har-
pin was a good disciplinarian and an
efficient warden, but his personal con-
duct in and outside the prison was of
a character that cannot be too severely
censured He also lacked one of the
most necessary qualifications Of an
efficient officer in bat he failed to
report to the superintendent, who is
held responsible for any misconduct
on the part OF his subordinates, mat
ters which it was his duty to report.
Further the testimony Of a former
employe of the prison shows his
criminal intimacy with her and his own
admissions in regard to his acts in
connection with the wife of one of the
convicts are of such a character as to
require the most charitable construct
ion to relieve him of the charge OF i'm
proper relations with that woman
According to his own admission he
furnished money to this woman To get
her out of the State, so as TO prevent
her from being arrested for crime
with which she was charged. We find,
further, that during the latter part of
his employment at the State Prison,
said Harpin did not give to his super
Tor, Superintendent Cakes, the loyal
support the superintendent is entitled
to, and, in our judgment this want of
loyalty to the superintendent was in
large measure responsible for the i'm.
morality found to have existed in the
State prison.
We find the charges against said Har
pin. in connection with the Mary
Rogers case, untrue
OF the present Superintendent Will
son Lowell, the report says;
"Mr Lowell assumed the duties of
superintendent of the State Prison at
Windsor in March 1905 and is entitled
to much credit for the many improve
ments brought about at the State pris-
on during his brief term of Office, also
for his business like methods, his pur-
chases of supplies for the prison and
the discipline maintained among the
officers and prisoners.
''On the other hand his conduct in
connection with the following is not
satisfactory to the commission: His
explanation as to admitting Miss
Batchelder, reporter to interview Ma
ny Rogers; his conduct in the matter
OF returns in the case of Mary Rogers,
heard before Hon Hoyt Wheeler, judge
at Brattleboro; and in accepting SER
vice of process in connection with the
Mary Rogers case which conduct had
1t not come to the attention OF the atty