The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-24
Charge of Nepotism Probably
Cause of Resignation That
Present Superintendent Is
to Present.
MEEK is WELL KNOWN MAN
HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FARMER
AND HIS FRIENDS THINK he
WILL BE EQUAL SUCCESS m
HIS NEW OFFICE.

Harry {. Meek. former township as.
SCISSOR and a resident of Wayne town.
ship, will succeed Francis w. Town.
send as superintendent Of the county
infirmary, March or IO. the exact
time To be decided at Saturdays scs.
sion of the county commissioners. Mr..
Townsend has not handed in his resig-
nation to the commissioners as yet, but
has announced his intention of doing
SO, and yesterday afternoon the COM
missioners went into private consulta-
tion with Mr.. Meek, at which time,
it is said, arrangements were made for
the change in the management
The appointment has not been Off.
cially made. The commissioners had
expected to attend TO this on Satur-
day. They gave no intimation that
change in the management of the
county infirmary was contemplated.
The order of things. SO il is UNDER
stood. was for Mr.. Townsend to re-
sign Saturday and the commissioners
to appoint Mr.. Meek.
Townsend Is Silent.
Mr.. Townsend was communicated
with by long distance telephone this
morning. He was asked to give his
reasons for resigning but remained
non-committal. His answer to the
question as to whether the investiga-
tion by the probe committee. appointed
by the county commissioners had any
thing to do with his decision 20 give
up the superintendency was mot par
ticularly" He said that he would is
sue public statement i'm a day or two.
in which his reasons for resigning
would be set forth.
Homer Farlow. one of the commits
sioners. was questioned about the ap-
pointment. and while confirming il in
part. gave no additional light on the
matter. He said that Mr.. Meeks' sal
airy would be $500 a year as at present.
Complaints Were Made.
There has been considerable COM
plant about Mr.. Townsend's manage
ment of the institution, since Septem-
ber, when he succeeded the Rev. Ma
pier. The probe committee exonerat-
ed Mr.. Townsend from all blame, and.
in fact. found nearly everything man.
aged in a satisfactory manner. How
ever. the fact that Mr.. Townsend is a
brother-in-law OF Robert y. Beeson.
chairman of the board OF commission
ers. resulted in charge OF nepotism.
which Is said to have had its weight
in causing MIR. Townsend to take the
action which will probably be made
public either tomorrow or Saturday.
II was rumored today that Mr.. Meek
would have a deputy, but his son said
this was incorrect. Mr.. Meek will
have entire charge OF the institution.
The probe committee will recon-
mend, in a personal communication to
the county commissioners. in the near
future that the county infirmary BE-
farmed by a competent man, other
than the superintendent. or the place
be rented. All the superintendent
will have to do, If this suggestion is
followed, would be to look after the
interests of the inmates and act as
general manager.
Meek Well Known Man.
Mr.. Meek Is well known In this city
and the eastern part Of the county.
He served as township assessor and
made a competent official. AS farm
er. he has been successful. and his
friends are certain that he will be an
efficient overseer and prove to be
qualified in other respects as a super
intendent.
Mr.. Townsend will leave the county
farm and locate on his farm, three
miles from Greensboro. Mr.. Meek's
farm. south Of the city. will be man.
aged BY his brother. Jesse Meek
What changes will b- made among the
minor employees of the farm. has not
been determined