The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-03
Caring ton Claims He
txerted Influence to
Elect n ephew.
SHOE COMPANY
ALSO ASSAILED
Defeated Candidate for Peniten.
tiary Surgeon Declares That
No Charges Were Ever Made
Against Him by Board,
Which Suddenly Con-
demns Him.

demns Him.
Dr. Charles v. Darlington, who was
defeated for reelection as penitentiary
surgeon at meeting of the board
held on Saturday, gave out last night
statement Tor publication, in which
he deals at length with many ques.
years. The statement follows:
But for the yelled and unfair attack
made upon me BY four members Of the
Penitentiary Board in their letter TO
the Governor. this statement would
not nave been written. / ieel, how
ever, that III justice TO myself. my
friends and the friends OF good Low
eminent in Virginia. ! should make
public the true conditions and the i'm
proper influences that consplred to de-
feat my reelection as surgeon at the
penitentiary. ana 20 secure the sclec-
ton OF the nephew OF the Governor
Tor that position.
wish first to call attention to the
fact that the Penitentiary Board har
full power to investigate the conduct
OF the surgeon at any time. and &c
suspend. or remove, him from offics
Tor misbehav!or. incapaciIy. neglect OF
official duty. or for any act performed
without Authority OF the law (see
Virginia Constitution. 1902, Sec -;
virginia Code, 1904, sec. 345).
II the board had any ground for
complaint against my administration
as surgeon, II was their duty to no
thy me of it. and give me an oppor
tunity to be heard In my detensc.
This investigation could have been
had at any time by the board.
No Adverse Criticism.
The fact Is. however. that L have
never received from the board, or any
OF It's members. the slightest intima
ton that the administration Of my
duties as surgeon was in any way un-
satisfactory. on the contrary. in their
last annual report TO Governor Mann,
dated November / 4, 1910 the board re-
ported as follows:
we are especially pleased with the
report OF the surgeon OF the peniten-
tary. showing that the health condi-
tons. discipline and the general we'll
being Of the convicts, are in u most
satisfactory condition. Most respect
fully submitted,
-. u. PATTON.
y. NJ. HARRIS.
r. G. STRATTON.
SAMUEL COHEN,
wv. q, BRADLEY"
Every single Saturday, or board Jay.
since l have been surgeon OF the pris-
on. have made a written and extend
ed report to the board, giving the
name, disease and condition OF every
convict coming under my care in the
hospital. In addition. the same report
sets forth the number OF calls made
on the surgeon. the number of persons
excused from work, the number sent
10 work. excused to their cells. or put
in the hospital for treatment; in fact.
my weekly report Is fully comprehen-
siye of the happenings OF the week in
the surgeons department. Every one
OF these reports, over six hundred in
number. has been approved by the
board as constituted at the time Of the
report. and is on hle ct the peniten-
tiary. Ny last report dated Septem-
Der 80. 1911, was on that day approx
ed and confirmed by the present board
Il am checked square to date and my
work approved by the board-four Of
whom. on the same day. write to their
Governor:
Had conditions at the penitentiary
been different we would certainly
have voted to retain the present sur
geon."
I demand that the conditions refer
red to be Immediately given.
Were these conditions In the nature
of pledges to the Governor and the
half of the Governors nephew?
Makes Several Charges.
charge
1. Thar Governor Mann has used his
power and influence. directly. through
members OF his official family and other
agents. to secure the position of sur
geon for his nephew. and
q That the fhacker Boot and Shoe
Company Generally known as the Da-
Wis Boot and Shoe Company has en-
ployed every means in its power to GUST
me from the position as surgeon at the
penitentiary. and controlled at least
one Of the votes that was cast in favor
of tho Governors nephew.
William Hodges Mann became Cover
nor OF Virginia February, 1910. On or
before that date his nephew and adopt.
ed son, DR.. Herbert Mann, became can
didate for surgeon of the Virginia PEN
itentiary. We must never lose sight
of the vital point that his uncle had tho
appointment Of, and did appoint, a ma
jority OF the board which elected him
on September 80. 1911, to the coveted
position. Governor Mann says that he
never directly or indirectly sought to
influence the board for his nephew OF
ever discussed the matter with a single
member of the board: that he was
hands Off" When the Richmond legis.
lative delegation, indorsing me for re-
election, called upon him and requeste ed
his aid as ooverhur to assist them In
accomplishing my re.ention at the pen ;
itentiary. he replied: II can do nothing
that would injure my nephew. ;
The whole matter 10 in the hands Of
the board, and can safely trust the
whole matter to them"
Members OF Board.
The Penitentiary Board consists of
w. B. Bradley, of Richmond: Luther L.
scherer. of Richmond; F. Gerald STRAIT.
ton, OF Petersburg: Samuel Cohen, Of
1Continued on Seventh Page5