Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-07-24
ENTIRE PRISON BOARD
NOW STANDS INDICTED
MfsFEASANcE cHARGs AGAINST
MONTGOMERY, rAYLo Z! SMITH.
Thames Succeeds Smith--Sii pson coun.
nan's Selection to Sueee,i Prison
Board President Just Cor sicted
Meets With Approval.

Jaeksou.-It was rather expected that
following the incidents Of the Smith
trial and conviction aud the plea Of
guilty by Lawrence Yerger to the en-
berrlement Of large sums of money as
secretary Of the board Of trustees of the
Penitentary, that the logical result of
this would be the indictment against the
enire board OF prison trustees. But liz
tie surprise was felt when it was report
ed that indictments for misfeasance in
office had been found against W. A..
Montgomery. Charles C. Smith and Ls-
roy I. Taylor, trustees from the three
Districts in the order in which they arc
named While the indictments have not
been formally reported, they have been
formulated and Will be presented as sSvn
as drafted by the district attorney.
The indictments alleged neglect Of the
duties required of them by statute, iu
that they permitted Lawrence Yerger,
their employe, as secretary of the board,
under a nominal bond, to make and
transact sale of cotton seed and other
produce in violation of the statute which
directs that the trustees must personally
make sales OF all products of the prison
farms.
The fact that the indictments will be
presented, while not officially verified,
as generally accepted, and 50 much ~
that Trustee Montgomery has wired
from Edwards to w. J. Groom OF the
local bar, former state senator, to take
care Of his interests.
As to Col. Taylor and the reported in
dictment against him. IL is not known
what arrangements will be made or
have been made to represent him in the
proceedings. He is physically feeble and
has admitted that for several months
past he has been unable 10 give the at.
tsntion to his dut:es a. required of
hin by statute and his oath Of office.
Whether the eases can be tried at thi,
term Of court is uncertain, as there re-
main only eight days more Of the term.
II the state elects to prosecute fully il
Is estimated that ii would require all
the remainder Of the term in order tc
dispose Of the eases, regardless Of such
Others AZ may develop.
When Gov. Brewer announced that b.
had decided to appoint James r. Thams
Of MendenAail, Simpson county. to b
trustee Of tAs penissntiAry fos the Sc
ond district, TO succeed Charles |
Smith, it apparently surprised no on
From the time that IL Aecame apparen
that a vacancy would exist, and that a
executive appointment to I'LL the unea
pired term would be necessary, In
friends and acquaintance OF Mr.. Thame
have regarded him as the logical choic,
guided to that opinion BY the widesprea.
and spontaneous flow Of reeommendl
tions in his behalf which have reache,
the governor. lie is reputed to be a
man OF high executive capacity, as well
as a thorough-going. practical farmer
combined with the business instinct and
habit which is requisite TO qualify a
man for the place.
Mr.. Thomes has for Several years besn
the ehancery clerk OF Simpson county,
and as such he has achieved a most en-
visble record, standing high in the esti-
nation of the bench and bar. As stated
by Hon. George C. Myers. clerk OF the
supreme court, the governor could not
have made a safer or move Appropriate
selection for the important position
which Mr.. Thames will oneupy.