Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-14
PRISON PROBE
IS CONCLUDED
Warden Replies to Charges of
Using Prison Materials for
His Own Home
LIBEL SUIT Is LIKELY
With Warden MuIheron as
Defendant Against CON-
missioner Lewis
LIBEL SUIT Is LIKELY

TRENTON. June 14:-A libel suit
with former Warden James II. Null
heron, now L. S. Marshall. the plain
tiff and Commissioner of Institu-
tions and Agents Burdette G.. Lewis
the defendant, was in prospect here
today following the action yesterday
when testimony was brought before
the joint prison probe committee to
the effect that while head of the pen
itentiary Mulheron used prison ma
terials in the improvement of pri-
vate house he had bought for a
home in this city. The former war
den, hot under the collar, appeared
before the probers yesterday after
noon to Indignantly deny the implied
charge of dishonesty. He said that he
had arranged to replace the prison
goods which were used in the inn
provement of the house which he
had bought to live in after relin-
gushing the prison wardenship and
had paid a bill of S3S for supplies
from the institution when il was
submitted as representing the cost ot
the materials used.
1T is not likely when nearly three
score and ten that 1 would begin to
be thief and CRATER" Mulheron
shot at the probe committee.
According to the records produc-
ed at the prison the materials used
in the Mulheron home were window
glass. large quantities of paint,
enamel and varnishes, electric light
bulbs, nails and other supplies, in
cluding lumber.
After he left the room the former
warden was asked about the suit for
damages against Mr.. Lewis, whom
he had by inuendo named as the
man responsible for the charge
against him. Mulheron would not
comment on the possibility of legal
steps for damages but the intima-
tion of them was plain in his COM
ment.
On the stand he started off by say
ing that he had intended not to tes-
tify because he was not present
when the question of his using
prison supplies for his private house
was brought up, but after having the
nature of the charge explained and
being advised that his side of the
matter was invited, if he desired to
give 1t, the former warden decided
to talk to the committee. He said
he told the prison superintendent of
repairs to keep an account of the
things he used and he would replace
them. He also gave the fiscal agent,
Joseph p. Mccormack, similar in
structions. 1t was testified in the
morning session that seven or eight
convicts had been sent to the house
to work on it and that keeper went
along to guard them. Mulheron ad-
mitted this.
Il used them for everything while
1 was warden and never hired out
side labor. This was all the expense
the state was put in this case and
there was no intention to graft, it
was done as part of my maintenance,
as left office on January 13, three
weeks ahead of time"
Chief Deputy Keeper James Z.
kersey had a spirited twenty
utes on the witness stand. He and
Center Keeper Joseph McChensey
were suspended for thirty days pend
ing the outcome of the probe and
investigation concerning lax disci-
pline on their part last summer dur
ing the riots of August. This sus-
pension is up today, but the joint
probe committee decided to continue
is pending the final action of the joint
committee in its inquiry proceedings.
concerned, these were concluded
yesterday. Next Tuesday the joint
committee will hold an executive
session at the prison to go over the
testimony taken and make a report
to the Board of Institutions and
Agencies and the board of prison
managers. These two bodies will in
turn consider the matter and reach
findings.
Kersey on the stand yesterday ad-
mtted he went to Paterson with Nc
Chesney and Deputy Keeper Thom-
as Mahoney on August "a. He ad-
mitted he went to Paterson with Nc.
the men named and several other
deputies had a couple of rounds of
"peach brandy" at the home OF
Deputy Thomas l.. O'Brien. They
had just put the riot in the prison
down and Warden Hoff told him to
take the boys for ride" said Ker-
sey. In Paterson they went to sew
eral saloons and restaurants and
called at the home of Deputy Keep
er Blauvelt, said the Chief Deputy.
II did not go away and leave the
n