The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-31
Believed Now That All of the
Most important Evidence
Has Been Taken
INTEREST IN WHAT
O'NEAL WILL RELATE
Probably That Permanent Successor
to Oakley Will Not Be Named
for Several Weeks-Namess
Suggested

birmingham citizens who have attended
the examination of witnesses in the inves-
tigation into the state convict depart
ment report that the end is in sight.
1t is generally believed that the great
bulk of the artillery has been fired, and
that little else of general interest will be
developed. This week the single exception
to the foregoing conclusion will probably
be the statement of Governor O'Neal
AS result Of the probe there will be
a mass of evidence. Out of this evidence
an official report will be made The gist
of that report will be that Theodore Lacy
has absconded with $4,000, and has not
been captured; that James q. oakley, for
mer head of the convict department, has
been dismissed, and that charges of en-
bezzlement have been preferred against
him. Save that the state will enter vig-
orously into the prosecution of the former
head of the convict department. and will
continue on the alert In an effort to cap
ture the former chief clerk of the depart
ment, there is little else that the report
can relate.
Interest in Governors Statement
There is general interest in anticipation
of the statement of the governor. 1t is
understood that he will so into details and
will talk without mincing words.
1t is understood that he will review the
legislation of 1907. by means Of which the
funds were made payable TO the president
~ tha ~ .i,o
treasurer, and that no bond was provided
for the president of the board 1t is un-
derstood that he will declare that he was
not aware that the president of the board
was not bonded official. As an explana-
tron ror the fact that the nrst discrepan-
cies are alleged to have occurred in
1911. and for so long escaped detection,
it is understood that he will state that
there has never been under any admnis-
the convict department., and that if certain
carelessness was displayed under the pres
ent regime, other administrations were
equally careless, even though more for
tunate
1t is understood that he will defend his
appointment of Oakley and Lacy, and
point to the fact that both were indorsed
by large number of the most prominent
people of the state.
1t is understood also, that Governor
O'Neal will give his version of the for
mer investigation of the convict depart
ment following the charges of Thomas
l.. Long of Jasper. 1t is understood that
the governor will present facts to show
that that investigation was not in secret
and was not of the star chamber va
riety, but that representatives of the
newspapers were invited to be present.
and all other people with knowledge of
the alleged Irregularities.
The governor will also, it is understood,
&C into the details of the contract between
the state and the Pratt Consolidated Coal
company, and will relate the facts lead
ing up to the signing of that contract. He
will show that he spent several days in
Birmingham consulting with coal oper-
etors In an effort to learn if the contract
was good one from the standpoint of
the state, and that he finally decided TO
reject it unless the Pratt company would
give bond that it would be as remuner-
ative to the state as had been the con-
tract between the state and the Tennessee
company.
Permanent Appointment
1t is considered very likely that the ap-
pointment of permanent president OF
the convict board will be delayed for some
weeks, because it is generally understood
that the governor and the people are
satisfied with M. b. Wellborn, the we'll
known banker of Admission. who is tenn
porary president
For the permanent position, however
the governor has several men under con-
sideration. His chief examiner, C. D.
Mccall head OF the court of investigation
in the matter of the convict departments
Is very anxious that the position be given
to II. Y. Brooke, the we'll known ex-
amner Priestly Toulmin of Birmingham
has been nominated by w. p. G. Harding
and other representative men of Birming-
ham. Judge Graham of Autauga is the
third applicant for the appointment John
King of Marengo is the fourth applicant.
1t is not considered certain, however,
that the appointment will go to any of the
four.