Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-11-03

h'ehet re e;tizcn ard business mar
than Frederick II. Pierce. Enjoy,
ing the absolute confidence Of all
who know him In private life. as d
man Of unquestioned integrity. he
has tor many years been well known
as one Of our most energetic and
public spirited citizens. frequently
identified with movements looking
70 the upbuilding Of Las Vegas ane
lis vicinity. He is not politician,
having devoted his life to quiet
business career. giving his best at
tention to whatever was entrusted
TO him. His veracity and trust
worthiness are beyond question
among his fellow citizens.
1t so happens that Mr.. Pierce was
member Of the board Of penitenti-
AIRY commissioners, and its chair
man. during H. o. Bursom's in
cumbency as superintendent. and
has intimate personal knowledge of
the facts upon which ex-governor
Hagerman's charges are based. In
a recent interview with a represen-
tative Of the Optic, it was suggested
to Mr.. Pierce that his version of
these matters would be greatly well
coined by all fair-minded people,
wish to know the real facts, in or
der that they may give justice where
justice is due. This he readily con-
sented TO give. and the result is the
following signed statement, which
speaks for itself. and is worth more
TO the citizen DESTROYS Of knowing
the truth than any amount of plat
form oratory:
Las Vegas. Oct. 81, 1911
To the Editor of the Optic:
was a member and chairman Of
the board of pefstentiary commits
sioners during the time that Mr..
Bursum was the superintendent.
The board held regular meetings
once in two months, and sometimes
every thirty days. Full and fire.
quent reports were made to US at
these meetings by Mr.. Bursum.
The superintendent was appointed
by the governor. not by Us. but it
was our duty to exercise general
supervision over the management
and affairs of the penitentiary.
This we endeavored to do to the
best of our ability.
After Mr.. Hagerman become gov :
ernor, he wished to have some
changes made in the methods Of I
prisoners, Of which Mr.. G
Bursum did not approve; and differ
ences arose between them growing G
out Of this. Then the governor,
-,
consulting the board of '
commissioners, who. under the law, u
were responsible for the administra-
ton Of the penitentiary. brought an a
accountant from Colorado to exam
Inc the accounts and make a report a
to him. No complaint had been '
made by the governor to the board '
Of anything wrong in the accounts q
or the management; nor did the Col I
orado accountant call upon the J
board for any assistance or explana- u
ton. He made report to the gov G
ernor, claiming that there was
shortage in the accounts, and that q
Mr.. Bursum owed the territory for I
money received and not paid over.
Thinking there might be some error :
or oversight in his books, Mr.. Bur-
sum Immediately deposited in the s
territorial treasury the first amounts
claimed. until the matter could be a
looked up; and subsequent investi- 4
cation conclusively proved that ev- q
cry dollar of the items making up v
this amount had previously and at G
the proper times, been paid into the
territorial treasury, as shown by
the treasurer's books. Then fur I
ther amounts were claimed. amount I
ing to several thousand dollars. Q
This Governor Hagerman demanded a
that Mr.. Bursum should Immediately I
pay over. Mr.. Bursum insisted that |
the report was not correct; that his Z
accounts were not short. and asked 9
for time TO have them examined by c
some other expert. in order that he s
might answer the charges and show q
the real facts. This was refused. I
and the governor notified him that I
IL the amount claimed was not paid 1
into the treasury at once he would
cause suit to be brought for it s
.va;nsf his bondsmen MI. Ruraum ,