Evening journal., 1907-08-21
PRISON GUARDS
HEAR CHARGES
Board Of Trustees Of Work
house Held Star Chamber
Session Without Results
TROUBLE STILL A MYSTERY

I, would take a squad OF expert do,ec-
tives to get at the bottom OK the trouble
at the New Castle County Workhouse.
Why CHIEF Warden A. s. Meserve re-
signed and three guards were dismissed IS
as much a mystery as ever. The much
talked about meeting at which it was pre-
ioicted There would be something dong
was held yesterday afternoon. Dut the
scheduled fight OF the discharged guards
asa.nst Mr.. Meserce was not pulled of.
The meeting was held az the workhouse
behind closed doors. Newspaper ropresen-
iauves spent most OF the afternoon IA
a sliding swing on the lawn of the work.
house admlrng the beautiful flower beds,
and The work OF the prisoners who were
doing outside duty as gardeners, while the
trustees were az work.
Beside the newspaper men, the three
dismissed guards with their attorney.
Walter II. Hayes, and city Health Officer
Henry M. Lang, the latetr a witness la be-
half Of Guard Wlndish, were also on the
outside. Mr.. Hayes was called into the
meeting, however, sometime after il start
lea and then IN their turn the dismissed
former centre guard of the Jan, was the
first to appear before the board and he
was followed Egbert Shellender, who was
the farm guard and John n. Thackery.
the chief steward OF the institution.
Were Much at Sea.
After the hearing not one of the men
was better Informed as to why he lost his
position than he was before
Windish was charged, II was said, with
having left the institution with his key
and sending IL back with street car con-
ductur, and with failing to lock some cell
doors Shelender was no longer wanted
because tho farm work was done, and
Thackery was too old for his position.
short in the number OF his knives.
Board Withheld Facts.
After the meeting of the board. Secre-
ltary j. Frank Ban said: "Wo have done
nothing as yet and it is quite likely that
another meeting win be held to consider
the matter"
Can you tell us the charges preferred
against Wndish, Shellender and ThaclS-
lery," no was next asked, and first con-
lsuit.ng his brother members OF the board.
ne came back with the answee that the
board had nothing to say on the sub
IJect at this tme
That was the extent Of the actual news
obtained by the newspaper men, but dur
ing the talk about the front steps. Of The
prison IL was learned that for sometime
past things have not been going on at
the institution as they should. There have
lbeen jealousles and bitterness and some
opposition 20 Warden Moservo's manage-
mont of the workhouse This was evinced
when Trustee Kerr Of Newark, II Is said,
asked Shcllcnder in the meeting If he had
not attempted to set Guard Edward
q VRourke to join him in a combination
AGAINST the Meserve administration Shell
lendcr denied this and after he emerged
from the board meeting he asked for
O'Rourke, who also denied any such move
ON the part of shclonder O'Rourke made
this statement in the presence Of the news
paper men.
Jail Well Conducted.
City Health Officer Lang's part in the
affair was to testify how he found things
at the prison during his stay there at the
time Of the smallpox sickness in the pris-
ION early I'm March OF last year. He stated
ITO the board that he went TO the institu-
tion preiudiced against the managemei
OF the prison. because OF what he had
heard hut he left there with an entirely
different opinion. IIe said he never saw
men work harder than Warden Meserve
and the guards to maintain discipline and
eiery'hing moved along quietly There
appeared to be no hitch in tho manage
ment Of the institution as far as he could
sec.
Another meeting Of the board viii be
held on Friday. No charges have been pre-
ferred by the dismissed men as yet. but II
the trustees do not allow them to make a
proper defense they threaten an sorts Of
things