The Detroit times., 1909-02-02
BOARD RELIEVES
ARMSTRONG AT HIS
REQUEST
,continued from Page one,


the charges made against me and
trial by the court.
This action. assure you. In
wolves no slight sacrifice on my
part. but prefer IL rather than
cause you embarrassment or sub
jet you 10 possible criticism. One
charged with an offense SD serious
In its character Is not. In my judg-
ment, pending an investigation OF
the facts, entitled TO the standing
and prestige this office gives TO the
incumbent, and do not desire II.
prefer TO stand solely upon my
merit as a man, thereby relieving
others OF all responsibility.
| am entitled to a speedy trial.
This right l shall avail myself OF.
That will be able not only to
prove myself innocent OF the
charges made. but establish the
fact that l am entitled to your con-
fidence and the confidence Of the
public generally. I entertain no
doubt.
Assuring you OF my highest re-
gard and esteem, am.
Very respectfully yours.
A. N. ARMSTRONG.
Senator MacKay and Representative
Lodge were on the second floor OF the
prison. They were sent for at the re
quest OF Mr.. Navin. A sweeping inves
LEGATION or the prison affairs for the
past six years was suggested by Mr.
Navin. and IL was agreed that the
house and senate should be asked by
the governor TO do so. State Account
ant Hamilton, who had worked all da,
Monday examining the books OF thu
prison, submitted his report. which
showed $40,2S4.79 to Armstrong:
credit.
Green Not Called.
Gen. +. w. Green. OF Ionia, secretar,
OF the Acme Reed Furniture Co, wht
made the complaint OF accepting
bribe against Warden Armstrong, ar
rived In Jackson yesterday afternoon
and remained at hotel during thu
meeting OF the prison board. He wa
not called owing to the fact that Arm
strong submitted his letter.
The action Of the board last nigh
gives Armstrong ample time to pre-
pare his defense. His friends alread,
are active. Certain OF them declared
yesterday that Armstrong was layinl
a trap to catch Green. The warder
would not imperil his own position II
the manner shown unless he had som'
motive OF this sort In view, they saw
II has been stated by many persons u
Jackson that Armstrong could not hav
injured the interests OF the Acme Rec
[tA n,
the board OF control; that II he ri
tempted any shady" transactions IN
would be discovered. Others. how
ever. say that warden can work Sc
Icretly and influence affairs in his owl
direction IL he desires.
Jackson today Is discussing nothin
but the Armstrong affair. Coming Il
this city with a clean record, Arm
strong had many friends. His recor
In Cassopolis and Lansing has bee
referred to numerous times today b
his friends. They declare that Their
will be sensations; that his name will
not long be smirched by the stigm
OF graft. He had a good position a
the penitentiary. they maintain. VIII
should he take a chance to lose thi
for the sake OF bride? Gen. Greer
set the clever trap. they declare, :,
catch the warden, but instead Greer
himself may be the victim OF the con
spiracy.
Says Armstrong Threatened.
In the Otsego hotel, where Wardel
Armstrong is charged with accepting
bride, John Thwaites. of Ionia. an
nj. NJ. Reed. OF Ypsilanti. stakeholder
OF the Acme Furniture Co. discusse
the situation. They declare thei
company was making money In Ieni
prison. but not In Jackson. The
tlamed Armstrong for this state o
affairs. Thwaites declared that War
den Armstrong had threatened to hol,
up three cars OF material that were el
route that he had refused to permi
one man to enter the plant who wa
essential TO Its operations. The wal
den, he said. could assign whoever h
pleased to the plant and therefore h.
could control the efficiency OF the con
Wet labor. Thwaites' statement woul'
tend to account for the offer OF a brib,
by Green.