The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-22
SHERIFF PAYS $I2I.4
ADMITS COUNTY SUPPLIES WERE DI.
VERIFIED TO USE OF FAMILY
Says II Was Done on Advice OF Dep
uty Sheriff Skunk

hS iOhOWlHB ID an duSITdCI OF Ine
testimony taken by the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners, January 5, 1909.
The stenographic report OF the investi-
cation has the caption:
Investigation by the County Com
missioners for Carroll County of
charges preferred by John G. Skunk
against ]. Belt Townshend, Sheriff OF
Carroll county, charging him with
using for his family provisions furn-
ished by the county for the use OF the
prisoners In the Carroll county jail"
Mr. Skunk testified that he was ap-
pointed deputy-sheriff December 2,
1907; that early In December, 1908.
he was notified by Sheriff TownshenI
that his services would not be needed
after December 81; that the sheriff
said that he could not AFFORD 20 keen
a special deputy; that during he time
he served as deputy he made his home
at the jail. eating and sleeping there,
except three or four nights that dur
Ing the whole year he saw only threv
or four sacks OF -four brought 10 the
jail; that Mr.. Humbert brought -four
In barrels; that witness never saw
any separate baking; that tread for
prisoners and family oil came on the
same loaf that the coffee FOR the FAM
lily and prisoners all came ont Of the
same big pot. that the prisoners weIe
generally fed about the same time :hc
family ate. and he often saw the coffee
poured out; that mUiasses was taken
out Of the same barrel for the prison
ers and for the fanny table. that lie
never saw any separd pptntoes. a.!
being taken from the same pile; thKt
potatoes were bought from Yarioua
persons; does not know whether any
came from the n.mshouse. ths sheriff
raised some of them. about six wheel
barrow loads. these they fed to the
prisoners the same as the rest, that
he knew nothing about meat. that Mr..
Townshend bought meat for the iail
and so far as he knew for Tie family
separately: that he cannot tell the
amount OF -four used .telephoned TO Mr.
Humbert, steward OF the almshGdse.
several times, q barrel of aonr elme
times lasted ten days; don't know how
much was used. would consider the
family would consume more than tho
prisoners; that there were ] or ~
In family; have had as nIgh as ig
prisoners nj time. sometimes only
one; that the sheriff boT,.ht Tread
several times. fiye or six loaves vt a
time when bread did not set baked
In time for prisoners; thr, he bought
bread sometimes for family use that
he supposed one-third ~ the coffee
was used on family table: and most
half OF the molaases; knows nothing
about lard: family had potatoes Some
tf4ks4 graskT AssF
my; under the impression that Mr..
Townshend bought the hominy
hlmself prisoners always had
hominy 10 eat when the nher.tf had
II for his family.
A. q. Humbert testified that he IL
and has been for several years ste sa-d
OF the almshouse thnt he furnished
10 the jail from December 2. im7, 10
December 81, 1908. 90 barrels of iipnr
and the sheriff got so pounds himself
nj the mill; that II was furnished for
the prisoners, that he furnished no po-
tntoes, no meat; nothing but -four.
Walter T,ookingbill testified that
he had been living at the Jail for forr
months; that he could not swear
whether or not the Sheriff used four.
NVhfN w H1lhNHtN lul UihHta DN tue
county commissioners for prisoners
for the family because sheriff bought
stun OF his own and stun for the coun-
ty; that they cooked In different pots
for prisoners and for family: that Mr..
Humbert brought -four In barrels:
that -four was also brought In sacks
from W. II. Davis Co, when
they did baking saw them get II from
two different places, from sack on
table and barrel In cellar; that coffee
for prisoners and family was not made
separately; that the only molasses at
the jail was In the barrel
Eva Cox, or Eva Chase, the negro
cook testified that everything was kept
separate. and II anything was ever
used from the supplies intended for
the prisoners IL was always replaced
Al request OF Mr.. Townshend the
monthly jail reports were produced to
show the number OF prisoners IN the
Jail during the year The reports
showed an average OF 20A prisoners
per month.
Mr.. Townshend In testifylng said.
Il only have this TO say: what is
wrong is not wrong at my instiRation
thought ! had some one 10 look after
that part of Il; unfortunately | had
not | can show by. witnesses that he
is the party that made suggestions that
II they were carried out were wrong.
am making no fight; I was away a
great part OF the time; ! wasn't around
the kitchen. If there was any leak
age II was not done by my will or sug-
gostion.' In response 10 a question OF
Mr. Fink as to his knowledge of the
use OF Hour OF the jail, Mr.. Townshend
@fi;' i t'll5d their attention num-
Der Of times; | said there was TOO
much bread wasted in the Jail" Mr..
Townshend also frankly said that he
knew that at times -four was used for
the ffmily but that as they were buy
ing -four all the time he supposed Il
WIS being made right; that he did not
know 10 what extent that he cautioned
them o number OF times about the
emount Of -four used; that his
fomily -four wgs bought at diff
ferent places but has no record
of the quantity as he never at,
tended to that part OF IT. simply paid
the bills, never personally bought: cof-
fee YVES bought by the family at vari-
Gus places; that personally he never
made any purchases OF groceries for
the family; that before the potatoes
raised by them matured, potatoes were
bought for the family; that the potato
crop thus raised was used for both
prisoners and family Asked whether
he could give an approximate idea OF
the amount of provisions that belonged
to the county that were used for the
family, he said that he could not. but
suggested that with an average OF 20
prisoners month, as II would take
more than a barrel per month, that
would require 10 or 16 barrels for the