The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Warden Jolts the Governor.

The report OF Warden John Henry, TO
the board of control, but which is In fact
Tan open letter to Governor Vardaman,o
must attract more than passing attention.
In fact, it is the talk of the hour, the sem
sation of the day, as it IS devoted wholly
to reply and criticism of the governor,
who Is on record as saying some rather
hard things about the retiring warden,
having charged him with ''incompetency
and unfaithfulness."
Warden Henry says that the governor
declared him incompetent for the reason
that he ''did not recognize him as the
whole board" He then undertakes to
show that the governor Is not capable of
Judging of the competency of any one,
having shown his ability to manage the
Oakley farm for one year, the "records
showing net loss of s4,2I5.2o for 1906"
The warden also calls attention to the
investment of $6,I4o.68, by the board, at
the instance of the governor, in brood
mares for the purpose of raising mules at
Oakley, the record showing the net re-
suit of the venture to be ZONE LITTLE
MULE"
The warden denies the charge of the
governor that he ever recommended the
leasing Of a friends land. but says that
he had recommended the leasing of from
1000 to 1900 acres of land without speci-
flying anyone's land"
Referring to the tender of a convict to
the governor for use at the mansion, the
warden says that official was so honest"
that he declined the offer "with an air of
apparent superior virtue, saying he twas
going to run an honest administration ac-
cording to law" 1t was not very long
after this, the warden says, till the gov
ernor changed his idea of honesty, and
announced his willingness to accept one
convict for the mansion, and afterwards
"his idea of honesty became still more
elastic and he made requisition for
TWO convicts instead of one."
Warden Henry further says:
another sample of his (the govenor's)
ideas of honesty is found in the transac-
tons that he has had in purchasing horses
for himself in connection with purchases
of horses for the state. He bought on
one trip, a black mare named Maud
which was shipped in the same car with
the states horses. It's also fact that
he had another horse transaction in con-
nection with the business of the state,
which demonstrates that he, at least, was
not careful to avoid the appearance of evil.
slf ! had been guilty of acts that bear
such a striking resemblance to graft as
these acts of His Excellency, | would en-
ter plea of guilty to the charge brought
by the governors legislative committee of
appropriating public property to private
use.'
The warden figures that during his in
cumbency that scrgeants in charge of
farms sent him little presents, such as
goobers, molasses, etc., and he tenders
the board SI3 as the estimated price of the
small gifts. which he says the penitentiary
investigating committee could not identify
as "public property" He thereupon sug-
gests that the governor pursue a like
course and pay the state for the labor of
the convicts who have rendered service
around the mansion, thereby increasing
the profits of the penitentiary.
| The report of Warden Henry must at
tract general attention, and cause a lot of
talk throughout the state. -Clarion-
Ledger.