The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-21
Examinations of the
Convict Department
CONTINUED From rage Eisat)


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city. / then called up Mr.. Oakley who
was at his residence. ! Informed him of
Mr. 1acy's action; his absence from his
office during the day, his failure to de-
liver the bank books, deposit slips and
correspondence to the examiners, and that
! wished him to come at once to the Of
flee and open Mr.. Lacy's desk. Mr.. Oak
ley informed me that he was sick in bed,
that the doctor had prohibited him from
leaving his residence but that he would
certainly be at his Office Thursday morn
ing and that he vSs satisfied Mr.. Lacy
was drunk and would be on hand when
the office opened the next day.
Thursday morning Mr.. Oakley came to
his office, Mr.. Brooke opened Mr.. Lacy S
desk, but Mr.. Lacy failed to make his
appearance at the office. then wired
Goodin-Reid Il Co. for an immediate an
swer in reference to the payments of the
items which had not been entered upon
the books of the convict department, but
received no reply until late Thursday
evening. In the meanwhile Mr.. Brooke
informed me he had discovered there were
other checks which had been received by
the convict department of $4,000, which
had not been entered upon the books OF
the department. He stated lie would go to
the bank and examine them. Shortly at
ter this / was informed that the $1,000,
which / supposed had been deposited in
cash with the treasurer had consisted of
two checks drawn on the First National
bank of Birmingham and the American
Trust and Savings company; making a
total of $4,000 and had been turned down
by these banks because there was no
money to the deposit OF the convict de-
partment Mr.. Brooke then called me by
phone from town and asked me to wait
at my office till he could arrive at the
capitol. Mr.. Brooke said the bank books
did not show deposits of nearly all the
items maintained and that the evidence
was sufficient to justify Lacy's arrest. /
thereupon notified the sheriff to take i'm
mediate steps to arrest Mr.. Lacy and to
wire every city and town in the country
and every detective agency that Mr.. Lacy
was a defaulter for the sum of 800, 900;
that warrant for his arrest for en-
bezzlement had been issued and that the
state would pay reward of $1,000 for his
apprehension.
Increased the Reward
: Since that time Notwithstanding the
active efforts. of the Burns Detective
agency and state authorities Mr. Lacy
has been successful in avoiding arrest
and on today, the Sth of April | in
creased the amount of the reward to the
full amount OF 5000.
This statement shows that the convict
department mas DteH investigated every
year since ] have been governor and
both in 1911 and 1912 the report showed
that the state had better contracts and
the revenues, therefrom were in excess of
what they had been In the past. Early in
March | ordered all the examiners of
the various convict camps, to-wit: Exami-
ner Sedberry was ordered to examine the
convict camps at River Falls. Sanford,
Sellers & Bullard. Horse Shoe Lumber
aorf Handercap ff,rr . 10
and McPhaul Turpentine company; | A.
dered Examiner German 20 examine the
penitentiary at WetumpKa; Examiner
Brooke was detailed TO investigate the
Ranner mines; Examiner Wilkerson de-
tailed to examine Lucille and Belle Ellen
and Examiner Evans detailed to examine
the cotton mill at Speigners; Examiner
Mccall to complete the examination OF
the books, accounts and vouchers at
Montgomery from the period of the last
examination and Special Examiner Hoop
er to Investigate In connection with Ex-