The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-17
Governor Takes Stand and
Gives Detailed Statement
of Results Reported
CRUELTY CHARGED
BY FORMER WARDEN
A. B. Lindsey Said He Would Not
Work at Henderson Company's
Camp Because Convicts Were
Whipped So Much

Montgomery, April 6-(SpeciaD-Gov-
ernor ONeal We on the witness stand
in the convjc department investigation
this morn' sad ada statement Of
the exaahaaof 81 shs convict depart
ment during lis aaasins ration.
re g1easna. s-aseAt vas the most
1Hls nous hs 3 Sc zsa before the
l.5sinstia uait,ea aia nd in de-
AZ. oT te# zhf4s s. ntEist ea5 = che con-
- reps 'S sle aad ordered.
reissa 8hs feazIncs q 4ch exenaina-
81. ceaparsd retail and disburse-
nssnss cf tee ieo ent with former re-
ias aud desc I'D the various circum-
Hanees =alaifs to the flight of Theo
Jscs af .ng chief clerk.
TAs snor began his statement by
that all criticism directed
sast him for not ordering more fire.
mt examinations of the convict de-
gartment was unjust, and he read the
law setting out the duties of the exam
the law, the governor said, he had no
authority to order an examination of the
accounts and books of wardens of the
penitentiary, or like officials. He can
OILY direct the examiners to examine the
books of the president of the board of
inspectors.
Details Three Examinations
The chief executive then proceeded to
take up in detail each of the three exam
The first was made by Exam
liner Sedberry, shortly after Oakley was
appointed to office In the summer of
the same year, he ordered Examiner
Sedberry TO make another examination
This examination covered the period ex
tending from March, 1912, to September
so, 1911.
According to this examination the re-
ceipts of the department for the seven
months were $790,S1S12 all of which was
certified to have been paid into the trea-
sury. This report was extremely graft
flying, as it showed that the net income
for the seven months of Mr.. Oakley's
had increased from an
average of net income of $3s, 1927 to
crease of s19,37515.'
Comparative Statement Requested
The examiner was next requested to
make a comparative statement of the
receipts and disbursements of the con-
Wet department from April l. 1910, to De-
cember 81, 1911, and April /, 1911, to De-
cember 81, 1911. This statement showed
that the "state had earned s12S, ,SSS.64 in
1911 in excess of the year 1910, for the
period mentioned"
The next examination, in March, 1912,
was made by Examiner German, at the
request of the governor. This report
showed that the "excess of receipts over
for the four years mem
toned was $1,622, ,0I3.S9, or an average to-
tai income of $4O5,50S.72"
The governor declared in his state
ment that he has ordered the presi-
dent of the convict board to employ an
expert accountant to make an inventory
Of all the personal property belonging
to the state, and to make proper allow
ance for deterioration, loss and destruc
tion of property so as to ascertain, ac-
cording to the most approved and mod
srn system of scientific bookkeeping, the
actual net receipts of the convict de-
partment."
The governor concludes his statement
by relating all the circumstances leading
up to the discovery of the convict de-
partment shortage and the flight of
Theodore Lacy with more than $4,000 of
the states money in his possession.
''That statement shows that the con- |
vict department has been investigated
every years since I have been governor
mad both in 1911 and 1912 the report |
shows that the state had better con-
tracts and the revenues therefrom in
excess of what they had been in the |
past"
Lindsay Charges Cruelty
Excessive punishment was administered |
10 the state convicts at the Henderson |
uulher company's turpentine camp at |
shreye according to the sworn testimony |
IF A. Is. Lindsay, a former guard at that
place, in the investigation this morning |
before Examiner of Public Accounts |
Charles II. Mccall. Mr.. Lindsay said he |
eft the camp ON account OF the cruel
treatment accorded the convicts; that
luring the 10 days he was there as guard
there were only one or two nights when
were not whipped, and that on
one occasion A convicts were whipped.
Fifteer laslles were given each convict
Judge Parks Called
The first witness of the morning was
Judge w. l.. Parks of Andalusia. Judge
Parks testified that DIR. l.. E. Brough-
ton Is lis next door neighbcr, and that
he promised to indorse HIM for the posi-
ton of physician of the convict camp
at Sanford before he knew that Dr. w.
T. Rogers, his relative, was an applicant.
Judge Parks said he knew nothing of
the $500 check which DR.. Rogers testified
had passed from ]. d. Henderson to John