The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-01
Mccormack, Shook and Glib
son, Pratt Officials, Testi-
fy in the Convict Probe
M'PHAUL TELLS OF
CONVICT's ESCAPE
On Whole Hearing Monday Feature
less - Sloss- Sheffield Officials
Testify Today-0skley De.
clared Convicts Profitable

Montgomery, March si- (speeisll De-
tails Of the transactions leading up 20 fhs
making OF the contract between the state
convict department and the Pratt can-
solidaied Coal company for the operation
of Banner mine by convicts were brought
out in the Investigation this afternoon
before Examiners Of Public Accounts 9.
+ Mccall and H. Y Brooke.
Three witnesses were on the stand DUR
ing the afternoon--G. 3. Mccormack,
president of the Pratt Consolidated Coal
COMPANY. J. A. Shook: secretary AMI
treasurer of the company and ". Asa
Gibson. formerly manager of the convlcss
at the Pratt mines.
Mr. Gibson told the board of Inquiry
that James G, Oakley had on numerous
occasions Informed him that the convicts
were not to be taken from the Tennessee
Coal. Iron and Railroad company and
transferred 10 the Pratt company, bur
that failure on the rart of the former
company to enter into negotiations for
new contract had compelled Oakley TO
tfansfer the convlcts. The witness fur
ther testified that Oakley told him he
wished To make the Banner contract the
most UlBIidDlt one tlt SidlE tDtiAitt
department had ever entered inro for the
hire of its convicts.
Nine Convicts Escape
At She mornings session OF the Inquiry
r. ID McPhaul, former president OF the
McPhaul Turpentine company, and J. ..
Johnston, present head OF that company.
were on the stand Mr.. McPhaul told the
examiners OF public accounts Of the es-
cane Of nine eonviets from the guard
house shortly after the company began
to work that class Of, labor. and Mr..
Johnston told the examiners Of the kill
Ing Of a negro who was attemptng 70
escape.
On The whole the probe was feature
less, the investigation bringing out nu-
1nerous details Of transactions Of the con-
Wet department. OFFICIALS OF the Sloss
Sheffield Steel and Iron company and
ether mining companies at which The
state has conviets employed vii be eN-
ap4ined TUESDAY
~. 81 lAnkheAd. Jr. 5enArai counsel q
tllt lsfait Conssb = sod coat rompany, was
the 8rst witnees pFsG eii sac stand NIssf
the probe iesuHea TINS afternoon ife
testified he saw the original contract and
suggested some changes IN It. lie and
Mr Mccormack and Mr. Gibson came
10 MONTGOMERY and had q conference with
the governor and tho attorney general.
Charges were made ana afterward At
torney General BrieRell and witness drew
The contract No special attorney was
employed in connection with the con-
tract
Mccormack Recalled
g. g. Mccormack was recalled to fur
nish certain data requested Of him Sat
Urday lie showed receipt Of the %
cars OF coal loaded at Banner from
March 3 to 2s. on which no credit had
been given to the state Twelve cars IN
the list furnished bv H. y Brooke we're
found to lave been given Incorrectly
All 5S cars were found 10 have been
loaded at Banner and are now only
credited to the state Thev We're weighed
at Mineral Springs and record had SIM
PLY been DELAYED on them Payment on
tll; is not due until April o.
AS to the 1909 tons OF coal. men tried
by Examiner Brooke having been
loaded at Banner in 1912 and not credit
ed TO the state. Mr.. Mccormack said he
had been able TO trace L cars mined
and loaded December 30 1911. but not
shipped oul until January |. these Of
course should not have been credited
to the state
The cost OF maintenance of county con-
victs at Banner mine in 1910 was $l1.53
per man per month. This included the
feeding and clothing OF convicis and
other expenses
w. Asa Gibson formerly manager OF
the eonvcts at the Pratt Consolidated
Coal company. followed Mr.. Mccormack
on he stand Mr. Gibson said he as
sisted III tile negotiations leading up to
the making Of the contract for the of-
GRAFTON Of Banner mines BY state con-
victs Negotiations were opened by
James g. Oakley, according to witness.
Mine Conyicts More Profitable
Mr.. Gibson said Oaklev told him lhat
the convicts at the mines brought IN
even a larger source or revenue to THE
state than those convicts worked at the
lumber camps. According to the wit
ness oakley told him that he tOaklesl
wanted 10 make ~ contract with the
Pratt company that would be the best
the convict department had ever made
that he was anxious for his administra-
ton to make more money for the state
than former administrations
Mr. Oakley told me- said witness.
that he wanted 10 make a contract that
would form the basis of other contracts,
The witness further said that Oakley told
him he did not want TO take any conVicts
away from the other mines.
The witness then told Of various meet
ings with Oakley relative to the making
OF tbe contract. lie said ae was present
al all the conferences in reference 10 the
contract
Witness testified that there no con-
sideration whatever paid Tie conyes de-
partment or any official OF that depart
(Conffuued On fsu.fe Eighth