The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-12
GOVERNOR HAS
LITTLE TO SAY
Executive, However, Admits That
he Will Not Do More Than
Conform to Pen Boards
Request For a Legis-
lative Investigation.
Nd vA-snecial :

ton with DR.. Carrington's request that
= the State Board OF Charities and Cor
recuons launch into an immediate in
vestigauon OF conditions at the peni-
Tertiary.
Although the executive, under the
terms of the statute. has the author
/ ity 10 order such an inquiry, he will
leave the board TO act OF its own in
ltlauVe in this connection If il sees
tit so to do.
DR.. Carrington's communication.
though addressed TO DR.. j. I. Mastin.
the secretary OF the board, has been
published. and therefore the execu-
tive presumably knows its contents.
he said today, however. that he
| had not familiarized himself with the
statute bearing on the subject and
purposed following the plan he an
nounced yesterday.
That plan is TO transmit to the
General Assembly the peniten tiary di-
rectorate's request that there be a
full, fair and free Investigation of
everything pertaining to the prison
and particularly of the official acts
of the board.
The directors, i'm making their
request, asked for an investiga-
ton with the least possible de-
lay" such an Investigation could
be had lar more quickly at the
hands OF the charities and cor
rections board than at the hands
of a Legislative committee, as the
General Assembly does not meet
until the early part OF next jan
uary and IL would require possibly
three weeks for the body TO organ
ize.
L do not care to discuss the mat
ter in detail" said the Governor this
morning when asked if he had any
thing TO say by way of reply to DIR.
Carrington's card. I can only state.
as did yesterday, that 1 shall trans
init the request of the penitentiary
board to the Legislature without any
comment and leave the General As
sembly to decide what is best to be
done.
a shall make no personal comments
or recommendations in connection
with the matter" added the execu-
tive. If in the past 1 had known of
any conditions at the penitentiary re-
curing investigation l would have
ordered an inquiry. And if. in the flu
ture, L know of any 1 shall order an
inquiry"
Beyond this the Governor would
say little, though he intimated that
he would leave the members of the
Board OF Charities and Corrections en-
tlrely free TO act lis they saw fit.
Just what that body will do no
one can say at this writing. Secretary
Mastin is out or the city TODAY on
official business, and even were he
here: he would hardly be able to
speak dehnitely until he had conferred
with all the members of his board.
The charities and corrections hoard
IN making an investigation OF the con-
duct OF the prison, would possibly be
more restricted in it's powers than the
General Assembly.
But one thing, at least. is certain
II would nave full authority to in
quire into the treatment of the pris-
oners and the manner in which thew
are worked and cared for.
1t would also have the power TO
see how the hospital has been con-
quoted ana how the sick have been
looked after.
And these are all the chief points
IN the issue which has grown out of
the prison boards failure to re-elect
Or. Carrington-in fact. they are the
very pith and marrow Of the present
Mr.: w. b. Bradley, talking today
about DIR. Carrington's request said
o onaI so lar as ne was personally con
cerned and so FAR as he understood the
position Of his associates. none of the
BOARD would object to an inquiry by
the Charities and Corrections BOARD
We will be glad 10 see them at anv
time" said he, and we always wei
come the members when they come out
could not be so sweeping as a legisla-
i've INVESTIGATION. IT would apply
rather to the condition and treatment
OF the prisoners and to the hospital
You have seen how they proceed nv
their cir recent report on the city jail"
AR; Bradley then added: 1--WE have
acted entirely for what we consider
the best interests of the State in elect
ing DR.. Mann. Beyond that / do not
care 10 speak at present. shall have
a conference with my associates as soon
as possible and later we NAV issue a
reply to DIR; Carrington's communica-
ton. Gerald Stratton, one member OF
the board. lives in Petersburg and an
other member, Mr.. Scherer. is out of
the city today"
Cohen Will Reply i'm Writing.
Sam Cohen, another member of the
board, also intimated that he and
his associates would answer DR.. Car
card. He said the reply would
be in writing, but was not definite as
TO when 1t would be made.
1t is not going too far to say that
Or. Carrington's open. letter giving
what he conceives to lie the reasons
Tor the failure of the State peniten-
nary board to re-elect him as surgeon |
OF the institution, fell like a bomb in |
certain quarters.
And it might also be added without
naccuracy that the communication
has caused no little indignation among |
those whose tactics he so severely |
criticises, though most OF the persons |
concerned are masking their feelings |
ma Keeping their indignation we'll un-
Ter control.
One thing is certain, however-Dr. |
Carrington's card will necessitate sew |
eral explanations and perhaps also will |
,all forth some indignant denials as |
% certain arts Of his allegations
Corporation Commissioner William |
?. Rhea, who, according to DR.. Car
'ington, probably used his influence /
% induce l. L. Scherer to vote for
DR.. Herbert Mann, could not be seen
his morning as he is on the bench in
connection with the dock hearing.
shoe Co. Manager Left Town Today.
II. w. Hutchinson, the local man
lger of the Thacker Shoe Company,
which has the contract for the prison |
abor at the penitentiary, though men
Toned in DIR. Carrington's card, has
lot indicated a purpose to make e re-
'ly to what is said ia connection with
him. He left at noon today for the
North on business connected with his
concern.
Shoe Co. Counsel Silent.
Horace Buchanan and w. D. Card
veil, of local counsel for the Thacker
Company, the methods of which are
by the retiring surgeon in
cathing terms, when seen this morn
ng at first indicated a purpose to an
wer DIR. Darlington, but subsequently,
announced that they would have moth