The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-02-06
BOARD RELIEVES
PRISON WARDEN
Deputy Veneer Appointed 10
Succeed Armstrong.
ACTION WAS REQUESTED

Accused Man In His Letter States
u Is His Wish 20 Save Officials EN-
harrassment or Criticism and Ex.
presses Belief That RE VIII De
Able 10 Prove Himself Innocent.
uproar Among Men 10 the Cells.
jackson. Mich. Feb. 2.-Resigng
Not IN thousand years shall do
fend my position and fight for my hon.
or"
So said Warden Allen ~ Armstrong
of the penitentiary here. The prison
board OF control and Governor Warner
met to consider the situation arising
from the vardens arrest on charge
OF bribery
The complainant Is General Fred W.
Green. president OF the Acme Reed
Furniture company. which has a con
tract chair factory in the prison. The
company Is DESTROYS OF changing IT'S
contract SO that II could manufacture
chairs from paper fibre in addition 20
the reed chairs.
General Green az a conference with
Attorney General Bird, Prosecuting
Attorney Reece and Justice Russell
outlined his suspicious that Armstrong
was seeking money as a return for in.
fiuence with the prison board.
Juice Russell signed the warrant
for the warden's arrest. II Is charged
that numbers on 500 OF currency TAX.
en- from Armstrong tally with the mum
hers OF bills the general declared no
had given the warden. AT an alleged
secret conference. General Green
says Armstrong agreed TO use his I'm.
fluence with the prison board In favor
81 the company for $4,000 and 5000 per
month for three years. the payments
10 be contingent upon his success in
getting the board 10 adopt the change
OF contract desired
Armstrong furnished $4,000 ball and
was released from custody.
General Green stated that at the
otsego Hotel in Jackson. he secreted
behind folding doors II. A. Gilmartin.
a newspaper reporter and A. ID. Nc
Birney. prospective stakeholder In
the furniture company. General Green
said he suggested 20 the warden that
they each write down a figure on
paper and see how closely they agreed.
General Green said that he wrote
down $4,000 while Armstrong wrote rs
NJ and 5000 per month for three
years" According 10 General Green.
Armstrong tore up the paper written
by him and threw the pieces into
cuspldor from which they were later
removed 10 be pieced together and
used as evidence.
The board OF control granted the re.
quest OF Armstrong that he be reliev.
cd OF his duties pending investigation
OF the charge OF bribery. In order 20
be specific the board decided that the
warden should be relieved from duty
until the boards regular March meet
ing
The warden In his letter stated that
he asked 10 be relieved IN order 20
save the board embarrassment or Criti.
clsm and expressed the belief that he
would bee able not only 10 prove him.
self innocent OF the charges made. hut
also establish the fact that he Is emit
tied 20 the confidence OF the board OF
control and Of the public
Deputy Warden John Wenger was
appointed 10 take Warden Armstrong;
place
Armstrong added he could not talk
10 bis friends as he would like az this
time. preferring that matters should
take their regular course II r. evi.
dent. however that he has on his tight
ing clothes
Governor Warner insists that he did
not appoint Armstrong as warden OF
the prison and that the law does not
give him power 10 remove him.
When Armstrong returned from De-
troit. where he had gone with the hope
OF having n conference with Governor
Warner. which, with the exception OF
a telephone conversation. was denied
him. he appeared TO be In cheerful
frame OF mind With him came Attor-
ney Miner and one OF his bondsmen. A.
J. Peck As they got of the train
Armstrong chatted pleasantly with his
companions.
The news OF the wardens arrest
travelled rapidly through the prison and
such an uproar proceeded from the
cells jeers. catcalls and hoarse laugh
ter-that Deputy Warden wengler was
Obliged 10 talk TO the prisoners In the
chapel. telling theim that their privi-
leges depended on their good behavior.
He had his hands full I'm trying 90
quell the noise from the majority OF
the $50 inmates, though. as soon as
they had returned 20 the cells and cor
ridors.