Arizona republican., 1913-02-25

self. More convicts could be guard ed by four men however, probably as many as twenty He then made this statement: The ravishing of one woman, and the death of one man be- cause of this present condition would be of more damage to that com munity than the lives of every con- vict in the prison" (This statement brought applause from the gallery and house)
 Here the evening recess was taken, and at seven in the evening the hear ing was continued with Mr Price on the stand.
 Continuing his statement he said he had read the statement of War den Sims in the evening papers espe- cially with regard to himself and the others whose names were mentioned, and he wanted to say that the state ments were wholly false, and that either Warden Sims knew they were false or he did not know what the cOnVictS were doing.
 c. D. Reppy followed MT. Price and csorroborated his testimony F. A. Eberlie and w. c. Palmer followed and also corroborated. Eberlein said he had circulated the petition, and while he did not know MT Sims, he knew what the petition he had circu- lated contained and that he wanted to say that the answer of MT. Sims was wholly false, and that either MT. Sims knew it to be false or he did not know what his cOnvicts were do- ing. He said he had lived two years in Florence, and wanted to make his home there as he had regained his health there, but was fearful to in vest any further under the present conditions. He wants the pen moved, and would like the committee to go to Florence. He believed that there are loo witnesses at Florence who could corroborate the statements and add more testimony to the support of the petition. He believed the petition was sent to the legislature because the people have more confidence in the legislature at present. He had com plained to Mayor Weedin, but that gentleman had said he couldn't dc anything. He did not blame the prison policy so much for what it had done but for what it might do. J. A Michea had lived in Florence for thirty-two years, was born there He believed ConVicts should not be al- lowed to go down town without guards. He had seen two convicts working on the sewer under influ- ence. The wine was sold them by a boy who was afterward arrested by the town police and fined twenty dol lars. He did not believe it would dc
  tratiOn, all the administrations of the prison had been the same as far
 as he could find out and this one
 was no worse than the others in that regard. He had been forced, how
 ever, to buy firearms for his wife
 since the present regime had been in force
 Mayor Tom Weedin was the last witness. He spoke for more than an hour going into the matter of the contract for the town sewer between the city of Florence and the Board of Control and said that Mr Sims had h been reported to him to have made the statement when it was found he was mayor, and the prisoners had re- fused to work on the sewer if he was mayor, that If his boys didn't want to work in the town he did not know how he was going to make them. He regarded the law as sufficient if enforced but believed that MT. Sims was afflicted with sentimental in sanity" over enthusiastic in regard to the system, and was hence in competent in the position of res possibility in which he was placed. He differed with Governor Hunt in the matter of the prison reform not as matter of politics he said, but as an American citizen. He had kept out of the controversy, had not signed the petition because of the charge that would be made that he was playing politics with it. This was not SO He was anxious to do good for the prisoners but not at the ex- pense of the community.
 There were few questions asked
 MT. Weedin He talked so fast and had so much to say and read that the inquisitors, with the exception of Senator Cunniff could not get word in very well. He read from copOus correspondence between the town council and the Board of Control rel ative to the sewerage controversy be- tween the city and the state in sup port of his assertions, and closed by standing and delivering a speech to the question.
 Everybody was very tired when the day was over and the announcement of the adjournment was made. The hearing will be continued this morn ing.