The sun., 1916-12-10

wal iakd before James c. McReynolds,
then United States Attorney-General.
Julian Hawthorne. who was sent to At
lanta with DR.. w. j. Morton on the
charge Of misusing the mails. wrote a
severe ~arraignment OF the practices and
methods at the prison. 1t appeared that
none Of these things would accomplish
q change In the administration.
But e%x-Euards and e~x-convicts contin-
ued telling their stories Of abuse that
dated from the time Meyer was made
warden, twelve years before. the pro-
longed agitation finally bringing the an
nouncement March Is. 1915. that Fred
erick Zerbst, formerly deputy warden at
Leavenworth. had been appointed to sue
coed Meyer. Meyer rendered his resig-
nation. effective March 81. He was APP
pointed Warden Of Sing Sing last
Wednesday.
Gevernsr Diacredits Reports.
when Gov. whitman was seen in the
st. Regis yesterday he glanced through
the Atlanta reports hastily he made no
effort to read them.
II am sorry that THE SUN finds II
necessary to print these at this time"
he said. GOD knows he will have a hard
enough time as Warden Of Sing Sing.
This publication will make 1t harder for
him"
THE SuN reporter gave him the gist OF
the accusations Of the guards. The Gov
ernor said
The appointment OF MIR. Meyer was
made after the most careful investiga-
ton and the most thorough Endorsement
John Byers OF Philadelphia. secretary
Of the National Prison Board. who has
been acquainted will his work. Endorsed
the choice. Philander e. Knox. who APP
pointed him warden Of Atlanta peniten-
tlary. spoke highly OF him.
'The most thorough approval OF his
selection was given by George w. Wick
ersham. formerly Attorney-General.
under whose administration so much was
done for the improvement OF Federal
prison conditions.
says lie Rules By Kindness.
TN my talks with Mr.. Meyer he mani
tested every sympathy with the work OF
unlifting prisoners he is an earnest ad-
vocate OF the principle OF ruling pris-
oners through 4 kindness rather than
~liarshness. Had he not been so warmly
Endorsed by men In a position 10 know
his work ! never would have appointed
him.
The result OF THE SUNS inquiry was
shown to former Acknowledgement Wick
ersham at his home. 80 East Seventeen
street. He declined to read II. He
would discuss only the charges of which
Meyer was exonerated.
The original charges against Mr..
Mover he said. ''were instigated by
Julian Hawthorne. a man h fooled the
public through the sale OF bogus mining
stock. They were investigated and the
warden was exonerated.
Because I was completely satisfied
with Mr.. Meyers conduct OF his office
during the four years he was my sub
ordinate. because he was one OF the best
men in the service. | recommended his
appointment. Needless TO say. IL there
had been the slightest question of his
humane treatment Of prisoners ! would
not have indorsed him.
"As TO subsequent charges know
nothing about them. ! do not believe
them. I do not care to read THAT dis
Charged guards accuse him of l am sat
isned with Mr.. Meyer"
Efforts were made by a Sun CORE
,pondent to fnd Mr.. Meyer In his Phila-
| delphia home to give him an opportunity
to make reply. His brother reported he
had left either for Washington or New
York. He could not be located in Man
haitian last night.