The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-13
EMILY {. RHOADES
PAYS STATE $1,000
AS A SETTLEMENT
Conducts Big Chicken Farm
While Prison Head, At
States Expense.
IS WELL KNOWN HERE
State Officials Say Woman
Actually Owed More
Than $4,000.
rs WE'LL KNOWN HERE

Miss Emily f.. RhOades, whose res
ignation as superintendent of the Indi-
ana Woman'S Prison created d Sensa-
tiOn when made public at indianapolis
yesterday, was a former Richmond
woman, resigning as city missionary
in charge of the Richmond Associated
Charities twelve years ago to accept
the management of the institution
from which she has just resigned.
Miss Rhoades' resignation was de-
manded by Governor RalstOn, follow
ing the examination of the prison ac-
counts by state accountants, the re-
port Of which has not yet been made
public. 1t is known that Miss RhoadeS
made a settlement with the state by
the payment of 81 900. She also turned
over to the state 300 or more chickens
she had been raising on the property
OF the institution
State officials say that Miss RhOadeS
actually owed the state more than 81
600 but the best than could be done in
the way Of a settlement was to accept
her offer of 81 900. She was not under
bond, consequently the state was pre-
cluded from suing anyone to secure
the remainder of the money.
Efficient Here.
Miss RhOades was city missionary
of Richmond for several years and AS
sociated Charities workers say that
she performed the duties of that office
in manner which gave her a reputa-
tion throughout the state
When the trustees of the Indiana
Woman's Prison in 1901 sought a SUI
perintendent of that institution DR., r.
Henry Davis of this city, a mem ber
of the state board of health, was re-
uuested to report on Miss Rnoades'
qualifications for such office. Those in
a position to speak author;tatively on
Miss Rhoades' work as atty mission
ary spoke highly of her. although one
officer of the Associated Charities
said today, he informed DR.. Davis that
Miss Rhoades was inclined to be eX-
travagant in hez Hving and had been
slow in meeting her obligations.
Her reputation for honesty and eff
fcteEcy was never questioned, howev-
or, end DR.. Davis advised the state au-
thorities that Richmond people in a
position to know thought she would be
satisfactory superintendent of the
prison. Eventually Miss Rhoades was
given the appointment. She was sue
ceeded as city missionary by the pres
ent cumbent, Mrs Elizabeth Cand-
Ter.
Helped Local Poor.
While here Miss Rhoades fitted up a
vacant building near the headquarters
of the Associated Charities for use as
laundry. The use of this building
was donated for charitable work by it's
owner. In this laundry poor women
were permitted to do their washings
with but little expense to themselves.
This proved to be very popular in
trItin TO in oil 10 n+h
acts of kindness on the part of Miss
Rhoades won for her a warm place in
the affections of the worthy poor
people,
II has been charged, since Miss
Rhoades' resignation as superintend-
ent of the Woman's Prison, that she
operated a chicken farm on the prison
grounds and that she had raised thOuS-
ands of chickens and sold thousands
of dozens of eggs from this industry,
which she conducted as private con
cern, although it was charged that the
state paid all the expense of maintain
ing the chicken yard. The establish
ment of this chicken business by Miss
Rhoades dated back several years, and
It was charged that the state had paid
out more than $4,000 for chicken feed
and other maintenance.
owned Farm.
Miss Rhoades owned a farm a few
miles north of indianapolis and there
was testimony that men employed at
the woman's prison had been sent by
Miss Rhoades TO this farm to do work
on the states time. 1t was testified that
she sent some prison furniture to the
f. '''- that later it was returned to
the prison.
AuoUner bit of information that
came out was that during the hot days
of summertime Miss Rhoades install
ed electric fans in the stables to keep
the institutions horses cool. while at
the same time, inmates of the prison
were required to work in the gardens
and on the grounds of the prison with
out protection from the sun and heat
and that in some instances these in
mates became exhausted and fell