The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-20
SCATH|NG REPORT
Of GRAND JURY
cONOEMNiNG WORK OF CON-
TRACTORS IN ERECTION OF
DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOL.

Davis. Okla, Dec. 20.-The report
OF the grand jury to District Judge
r. Mcmillan. is a scathing condemna'
ton of the contractors who attempted
TO build the State Deaf and Dumb
school at Sulphur. Gross fraud is
charged against the state, but impor-
tant witnesses could not be found at
this term of court Members of the
grand Jury declare that $Gj,OO0 has
been paid TO the contractors while
Il less than $4,000 has been expended
on labor and material. The attorney
general of Oklahoma is taking hand
in the alleged frauds with a view to
iunearth the facts and prosecute the
guilty parties.
Following is a part or the report:
We. the grand jury. have had un-
| der consideration and Investigation
the alleged fraud in connection with
The construction of the Deaf and
Dumb school at sulphur We have
examined several witnesses and made
the best investigation We could in
the limited time at our dis osal. We
have visited and inspe cted the por
tions OF the buildings referred to, and
We feel sure that only a glance at
/ the buildings by any fair minded
raY will show that gross, fraud has
been porpetrated upon the state,
fraud that merits the condemnation
Of every honest man. for the reason
/ that if the contractors had been per-
mitted TO cover up the defects i'll the
buildings and completed them, ii
would have endangered the lives OF
more than two hundred deaf and
dumb children who would have occu-
pied said building. We conscientious
| " from our personal inspection OF
said buildings and the floors therein
and by seeing with our own eyes the
sinking floors, sinking by their own
weight, we can, without fear OF con-
tradiction, say that there has been
built there a death-trap, liable at any
time after being covered up. to fall
with the weight OF the deaf and dumb
children. who would have unknowing-
lv been compelled to go into the
danger caused by such fraudulent,
systematic and Intentionally made
dangerous buildings.
From our interrog cation of witnesses
and from our own investigation and
inspection of said buildings, We are
of the opinion that gross fraud has
been perpetrated upon the state. We
are reliably informed that principal
witness, and a man knowing much OF
valuable information to the state in
this connection. has left the state
and is not accessible at this time; 9th
er witnesses are out of the jurisdiction
of this court. And We recommend in
as mucn as our luN pSllSdllOuS ~ La
convinces us that froud perpetrated
upon the state is of such importance
that a more thorough investigation
should be made, and We recommend
that the county attorney, wieh the
information he has, and such addi-
tonal evidence as he may proucre,
take such action ard file such infor-
nation, or prosecutions as he sees
fit. or that the matter be referred to
another grand jury for thorough in
vestigaton to be made
We have also investigated certain
charges filed against the county COM
missioners Of Murray county, but We
are compelled to eXonerate them from
all such char-es. We find they have
acted honorably and discharged their
duties"