The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-01-17
PROBE OH
PRISON is
STARTED
Witnesses Tell OI Real
Estate Transactions
Of Warden

McAlester, Okla, Jan 1.-THE state
senate investigating committee yes-
terday afternoon began its probe of af-
fairs al the penitentlary. The first
testimony brought out dealt with the
city addition to McAlester In which
it was charged that prison officials
were interested.
It was testified BY L, c. Million, A..
T. Thomas and J r. Lebosquet all Of
McAlester that in partnership with
Mr.. Dick, they bought forty acres Of
ground and plated an addition II
was testified that in the spring oil
1871, Mr. Dick sold his interest to r..
u seamans and that Mr. scamans
later acquired the interest OF AIr. Le.
bosquet OF the 400 lots comprising
the addition, half have been sold TO
individuals, chiefly employees al the
penitentiary, and the other half have
been sold to a real estate exchange
ot which Mr. Dicks sonin-law, n r..
Berry is secretary and owner Of 20
per cent Of the stock
Mr. Million testified that the inn
proved part OF the addition is now
owned by himself. A. u Thomas and
H. C. Perkins. although contracts for
deeds to most Of it are standing, the
property being sold on monthly In,
stallments, There Is forfeiture
clause IN the contracts but none have
besn forfeited.
II was stated BY Mt Million that the
penitentlary was getting dirt from the
lots prior TO the plating Of the addi-
tion, needing It for filling on each
side Of the prison walls. and that the
building Of the retaining wall, grad
ing the streets and legeling the lots
was in exchange for this dirt. The
sand and cement used In building the
retaining wall was presumably fur
nlshed BY the state, but although is
months has elapsed no bin has been
rendered, but Mr. Million said that
Deelty Warden Fry has stated that
it has been charged up to the com
pany
The removal Of the houses was ex-
planned on the ground that they and
many other houses owned by occu.
pants were on the penitentiary farms,
and that the warden agreed TO move
an houses to sites selected BY occu-
pants within convenient distance, free
Of charge. on their surrenderlng peace
ful possession.
Mr. Million. who was trustee in
charge OF The addition company. said
that there had been one small divi-
dend, early in the history Of the ccn
cern, and that Warden Dick had shar
ed in ite
senator Thompson dld the Question
ing for the committee and sought tc
get an admission that Warden Dicks
transfer sas not genuine. but was
done for purposes OF eoncealment. Bul
each witness. however denied this IN
sinuatlon. Three owners of houses 10
the addition two former employees o
the penlientiary and enc still EN-
ployed, denied that the warden hac
insisted on the purchase 81 houses.
r. d. Cook. foreman Of road work
said that Warden Dick had told al
guards that they must live close q
the penitentiary that they must 9th
or buy houses. rent houses or live il
tents, as they must be within haiiinl
distance in time Of riot. Mr.. Cook es
timated that haIs the guards lived j.
The addition in question, and the res
in other houses close to the prison
y D. berry son-inlaw of Wardel
Dick, and secretary 81 a real estat
exchange, ana also OF an abstract an
insurance company testified that h
AID his wlfe and one child lived 4
the wardeas house board and rem
free. and thai his laundry was don
by conyicts.