The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-02
But Governor is Not Certain
Wether He'll Accede to
Boards Request
PRISON DIRECTORS
INSIST ON INQUIRY
Defeated Candidate for Re-
election as Surgeon Pro-
misses to Make People
sit Up and Take Notice

Governor Mann said last night that
lie did not care to say what ne would
do when asked II he woul1 carry out
the request Of the State Prison Board
+ which forwarded a communication
to him Saturday evening, insisting
that the Legislature at It's approach
Ing session appoint special commit
tee to investigate the management
OF the institution in every way, shape
utive Mansion. the Governor very po-
litely begged to be excused from ex-
pressing himself on the subject.
This unusual request on the part OF
the board was the outgrowth OF the
somewhat bitter fight for prison sur
geon, the intimation having been
made in one of the Richmond news
papers that under certain condl-
tons an investigation would be had
in connection with the penitentiary.
While asking and counting an In
vestigation, the board insists that
there Is absolutely nothing in con-
nection with the transaction of the
business of the institution which Is
not in every way honorable and fair"
DR.. Charles V. Darlington, the in
cumbent, who was defeated for pris-
on surgeon by DIR. herbert Mann,
nephew of the Governor. promises to
explain very shortly what influence
! compassed his defeat
Collecting Data.
81 am now collecting data" he
said last night that will make the
people sit up and take notice. But
am not quite ready to state along
what lines / am working. However,
1 may be ready with a statement with
in the next day or two
DR. carrinRton went on tn say that
he had just wired to a distant part of
the State for some particular data
As predicted by Or. Mann several
weeks ago, he secured four of the
five votes on the board on the FIRST
ballot, Major James ID. Patton, pres
ident OF the body, casting the only
vote for DR.. Darlington. On motion
of Major Patton, the election of DIR.
Mann WAS made unanimous. Those
who voted for DIR. Mann were Messrs.
Luther l.. Scherer. Samuel Cohen. w.
4. Bradley. of Richmond; F. Gerald
Stratton, of Petersburg.
The name of DR.. Julian w. Sloan,
who was formerly associated with
DR.. Darlington In the practice of med
icine, and has frequently assisted him
in looking after the prison work, was
also placed in nomination. but he re-
Ceived no votes.
bOwles He Elected.
Of E. X. Bowles was reelected
surgeon at the State prison farm
without opposition. and DIR. John p.
Davidson was again chosen to fulfill
the honorary duties which he holds
as surgeon for eye, ear and throat
troubles. DR.. Davidson, by the way,
Is Ill at his home on East Franklin
street, and some doubt as to his re-
covery has been expressed. Owing
to a rush of routine business. the
board postponed election of other Of
ficers until next Saturday. At this
time Major James 3. Wood, superin-
tendent of the State prison, will be
elected. The superintendent of the
State farm vial also be reelected
Just what caused the board to re-
fuse to re-elect DIR. Darlington after
he had filled the position for twelve
years in most efficient manner, ac-
cording to his friends. is not yet clear
However. the reason may be found
in a statement issued by the board
to the people OF Virginia and signed
by the four members who voted for
DIR. Mann first. One sentence in the
statement reads thus. Had condi-
tons at the penitcntiary been differ
ent. we would certainly have voted to
retain the present surgeon, but know
ing SoHuAtApns a. VIZ no. we UoueSe
that the best interests Of the peniten-
tiary demand a change
Statement Given Out
The statement In full is as follows:
r. AT the election held to-day, the
undersigned members of the board
OF directors OF the penitentiary cast
their ballots for DR.. Herbert Mann
as surgeon to the penitentiary
The names of only three candi-
dates were presented to the board.