The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-26
BOARD FOUND
No LINING IN
THAT COFFIN
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CON-
cLUDE INVESTIGATION az Ex-
HUMING BODY OF PAUPER-
UNDERTAKING FIRM sURREN-
DERs CONTRACT.


We went out there, Mr.. Chair
man, and found no lining and no
headrest. 1t was just exactly as
described by witnessed at the farm. :"
was how County Commissioner Nc
QUaTrie reported on the visit in
body Of the board of county com
missiOners TO the poor farm yester-
day when the body of the pauper.
Bradshaw, was eXhumed and a peep
was taken by each member present
to see IL there had been any lining
In the coffin containing the body. The
action followed the inquiry of the
Tuesday night before when testi-
mony from witnesses was heard. The
board held a meeting at p. n. Sat
urday after visit to the poor farm.
Mr.. Wood, a member of the under
taking firm concerned, asked leave to
make q statement. He said his as
sistant had assured him that the cof-
fin had been properly prepared, and
that he had had the utmost conf
dence in that assistant
Responding to Mr.. Wood Commits
sioneT Steward said that not even
single tack hole had been found.
Commissioner Brown moved and
the motion prevailed, that hereafter
all pRuper collins be examined by
the superintendent of the poor farm,
and II any of them do not come up
to the required standard, to refuse
to- take them In, and 20 notify the
chairman.
Commissioner McQuarrie explained
that the investigation had not been
prompted by the board, but by the
contractor. to which Mr.. Wood made
acknowledgment, saying his conf
IN nf
highest kind.
MOVED TO FORFEIT CONTRACT.
Commissioner Steward stated that
the position of Mr.. Wood did not
settle the matter and moved that the
contract be forfeited. This was
seconded by Mr.. Davis and was fol
lowed by Mr.. McQuarrie who said
that was the only thing that we
can do under the circumstances.
Before voting on the motion, Mr..
Wood ask91 to be relieved of the
contract Commissioner Brown sug-
gested that the attorney be heard
from, on the question, and Mr.. Nor
gan, the boards legal adviser, said
thus be taken on such a technicali-
ty. Mistakes often did and would
occur, In every business. A suffi-
Gent amount could be held out Of
any contract, he said. to cover any
but one technical violation
would hardly be upheld by law as of
sufficient gravity to warrant the
Wrestling of any contract.
In such Commissioner Brown
agreed, saying mistakes would occur
in any business, and he was in favor
of giving the contractor a chance to
make up any fault in the contract
~
Wood, in his opinion. should be ex-
onerated personally from all blame
as he had placed confidence in his
employees. In the matter Of breach
Of contract he was responsible, but
was not so personally.
Commissioner Davis inferred that
there had been reported some d1f-
ference in the testimony Of the con-
tractors chief witness. and he asked
that stenographic notes be produced
and read. His request was comDli-
ed with. Then Commissioner Nc
Quarrie moved that the request from
Mr.. Wood that he be released from
the contract be granted. This was
so voted, and a resolution was pass
ed which read as follows:
"ResoIved. BY the board of county
that 1t is the sense
of this board that Mr.. John G. Wood,
manager for the firm Of Northup and
Wood. was not personally RESPONSE
HE for the fact that a certain coffin
in which the remains OF one Brad
shaw WAS buried, was not fully up
to a faithful performance of con-
tract. and was not lined"
This was passed and Mr.. Wood.
Thanking the board. left the ROOM
ANOTHER CONTRACTOR
Commissioner Brown moved, after
some discussion, that the contract De
awarded to w. K. Robinf inns
had no second, Commissioner Stew
ard moved the contract be awarded
to the next lowest bidder. which was
F. r. Pou. This was carried. The
new contractor later appeared before
and addressed the board.
UP TO SOLICITOR.
The question OF whether or not
perjury had been committed by
some of the witnesses was then dis
cussed, resulting in a telephone mes
sage to County Solicitor Eotttn and
his presence Questioned
as TO the law. Mr.. Loftin said the
matter was too serious for an Off
hand opinion, but that he knew OF no
statute giving the county commits
sfoners authority to administer an
Oath in any proceeding. He did say
this power by special enactment had
been conferred upon members of the
board of pilot commissioners, and
threw out a suggestion that II he
cnuId find no authority, that such be
reGuested at the next legislature.
The board then left the matter with
the county solicitor and the county
attorney for investigation.
doses of 1855" VIII cure any