The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-19
BASELESS CHARGES
MOBILE CONVICT CAMP ExoNERA-
 TED BY COMMTTTEc.
Members' of Revenae Board Visit The Pisce Near Dos River, Take Tes- timony And Return
 Verdict.

timony And Return
 Verdict.
 Mobile, Nov. 1s.--(Special.)--Aft a careful investigation of charges which have been made against the manage ment of the road convict camp of the county, the committee of the Board Of Revenue and Road Commissioners re- ported the charges as groundless.
 The committee, consisting of John Bauer. John Cowley and John Hagan; went to the camp at Dog River, yester- day morning and made an investiga- tion. This work was thorough and there could not be found a single Dit of information that would uphold the charges.
 When the board committee met in one of the tents for the investigation, there were present besides the mem bers of the committe Road Superinten- dent Jackson, County Architect Louis Benz, Superintendent of the Camp Charles McCarty and two of the guards.
 Commissioner Hagan said that the investigation was asked for the purpose of Investigating charges that had been preferred by Thomas Murray. one of the guards, and John Mcdonald to the effect that supplies were being pur- chased for the camp but were appro- priatedsto the use of other persons con- nected with the camp in official capac- ity. He said that both Messrs. Murray and Mcdonald had been invited to be present at the investigation, and the latter had promised to attend, but neither was there. {
 The first matter considered by the committee was the bills for supplies for the camp. These bills showed that the purchases for food for both man and beast included the following items: Sugar, grits, milk, potatoes. pepper, onions. molasses, bread. meal. coffee, lard, salt, vinegar, maccaroni. peas, flour, soap. vinegar. maccaroni. peas( and hay. Bills for these different items did not appear to the committee as ex- orbitant or extravagant.
 In October fifty convicts were sent to the camp, varying fin sentence from two to twenty-nine days. There was an average of twenty-two men and the number of working days had totaIled 6S1. The cost per day was ifty-six capita cost for the month of s17.93. and figuring the entire cost of the camp for the month. including the pay of guards at s394.2s. The cost for September was but little greater, amounting to $453.
 When these figures were brought out, Commissioner Hagan remarked that he thought the cost had been reasonable, WuCh ~ ID EN4tbtuEE Gu tAdL NS6QtAT IhDQF for the roads would have cost $1.50 per day.
 MT. Lundy, one of the guards, was the first camp witness to be examined. He testified to the receipt by the camp of all the items of food set forth in the several bills, and said that the food was good and sufficient. He said that all the convicts were worked regu- larly and they did a good days work arh AuU 1uyfo xsyMa hal init. There had been no escapes re- gently.
 King Davis, a negro, who had been in the camp for eight days, said that his treatment there had been good. the food sufficient and well cooked and he had no complaint.
 Superintendent McCarty was the last witness. When informed of the direct charge made bv the accusers that cer- tain supplies had been carried to the camp and from there transferred to his own home. Mir. McCarty said that such Is a fact. but that such supplies had been purchased in the city upon his own account. He said that he had fre- quently had the convict wagon bring things for his personal use, and that he did not make any attempt to hide the fact. However, he replied with consid- erable warmth, that lie would not do it again if 1t was cause for criticism.
 Mir. McCarty gave an outline of the work that is being done by the con- victs. He said they had been engaged for about Six weeks in opening the "Hannon Road." a new road extending from the Cedar Point Road near the eight mile post eastwardly for about one and half miles to the bay front and connecting with the bay road. The cost for building this road to date had been $700 and 1t would probably re- quire $500 more of work to complete it. He said this would cost a less amont than he had originally calcul- ated as a great many very large stumps had been removed and much ditching had been done and three bridges built. He said that altogether, since inaugur- ating the scheme to work convicts on the road nearly two years ago, they had opened and constructed the Cedar Point Road to Fowl River, 8 distance of about twenty-five miles, and had done considerable work on the cross roads.
 After the examination of the witness had been concluded, each member of the committee expressed satisfaction that the camp is being excellently man aged, and that there had been no mis- appropriation of the supplies.
 There was considerable informal dis cussion as to the continuation of the camp after January 1, and 1t appeared to be the concensus of opinion that 1t would be better to discontinue 1t and lease all of the convicts. If this Is done, it is expected that sonic change will be made in the use of prisoners on theroads
 There were thirteen convicts in the camp Yesterday. The guards testified that they work themselves when the number of convicts Is small, and their full time is not taken up with super vision.
 The report of the committed was made to the full. meeting of the Board at noon today
 eNenroen fin q Row.