The Port Gibson reveille., 1913-07-24
ENTIRE PRISON BOARD
NOW STANDS INDICTED
MTSFEAsANcE CHARGE AGAINST
MONTGOMERY, TAYLOR. SMITH.
Thames Succeeds Smith-Si Simpson Coun.
tians Selection to Succeed Prison
Board President Just Convicted
Meets With Approval.

Jackson.-It was rather expected that
following the incidents Of the Smith
trial and conviction and the plea Of
guilty by Lawrence Yerger to the EN-
bezxlement Of large sums Of money III
secretary of the board Of trustees of the
penitentlary, that the logical result OF
this would be the Indictment against the
enire board Of prison trustees. But lit
tie surprise was felt when it was report
ed that indictments for misfeasance in
office had been found against w. A.
Montgomery, Charles G. Smith and Le-
roy I. Taylor, trustees from the three
districts in the order in which they are
named. While the indictments have not
been formally reported, they have been
formulated and viii be presented as s~On
as drafted by the district attorney.
The indictments alleged neglect of the
duties required of them by statute, in
that they permitted Lawrence Yerger,
their employe, as secretary of the board,
under 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 SO much so
that Trustee Montgomery has wired
from Edwards 10 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, it is not known
what arrangements viii 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 to give the at
tention to his duties as required of
him by statute and his oath of office.
Whether the cases can be tried at this
term of court is uncertain, as there re-
main only eight days more of the term.
If the state elects to prosecute fully it
is estimated that it would require all
the remainder of the term in order to
dispose of the csses, regardless of such
others as may develop.
When Gov Brewer announced that he
had decided to appoint James F. Thames
of Mendenhall, Simpson county, to be
trustee of the penitentiary for the Sec
Dnd district, to succeed Charles G.
Smith, it apparently surprised no one.
From the time that it became apparent
that vacancy would exist, and that an
executive appointment to fill the unex-
pired term would be necessary, the
friends and acquaintance of Mr.. Thames
have regarded him as the logical choice,
guided to that opinion by the widespread
and spontaneous flow Of recommends
tions in his behalf which have reached |
the governor. He 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
man for the place.
Mr.. Thomes has for several years been
the chancery clerk of Simpson county,
and as such he has achieved most en-
Viable record, standing high in the esti-
nation of the bench and bar. As stated
by Hon. George c. Myers. clerk of the
court, the governor could not
have made safer or more appropriate
for the important position
which Mr.. Thames will occupy.