The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 27, 1902, Page 1

VOLUME XCI-NO. 17§ AN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY PRICE FIVE CENTS. PRISON DIRECTORS TO MAKE A SEARCHING INVESTIGATION | OF FORGERY, THEFT AND FRAUD BY SAN QUENTIN OFFICIALS m IAY 27, { A THOROUGH investigation of the financial affairs of San Quentin prison is to be made by the State Board of Prison Directors. R. M. Fitzgerald, president of the board, was interviewed yesterday as to the charges of felowy made by l ¢ Call against Warden M. G. Aguirre and other officials of the penitentiary. President Fitzgerald made the following statement: . “There will be a most thorough investigation of the charges made by The Call. This must be done in justice to the officials of the-prison who are accused and to the people of the State. The accusations are of the gravest ture, and the Board of Prison Directors must take cognizance of them. I cannot say when the investigation will take place. "As a-matter of couricsy to my brother directors I must.consult with them and arrange the details of an inquiry. T'he records of San Quentin prison arc open to the public, and the Warden or any onc acting for him has no right to refuse an-inspection of any book, document or paper connected with the affairs of the institution.” ] President Fitzgerald De- ' * , | * Wilkins Declares If Accused mands Call's Charges : Are Guilty They Must Be Probed. .Be Punished. by The Call of | mill, with the exception of $s50. The The Call to San Quentin prison for the | him, neither have I been able to talk with purpose of investigating the records| the® other members of the board as yet i) igned in the institu. | Yo% 5¢¢ I have been away for several | consternation has reigned in the Institu- | p,onepy gng only returned to California tion. A coysin of Warden Aguirre has | from Mexico last week. Personally I know for two 'days past been busily engaged | of nothing that has transpired at any of | with a number of convicts in hiding | the Prison Directors’ meetings since Jan- ST uary 28. The board does not meet untfl vay 3 n made away. the furmitite tHat i Bee June 14 in regular session. Whether or by convicts for the Warden, his| not a special session will be asked for T brother and his friend McClure of Los | am not aware.” Angeles. Some of the guards have a| *Mr. Wilkins, has the board at any time ~ authorized the manufacture of furniture ust on the | lumber was used for making furniture M. G. |ior Wa mem- ! hands of convicts ‘o3 i Acting an'den Lies. | good results. President esentatives of The Call visited Aguirre’s friends at the f the Board of Prison ay announced that the | San Quentin prison last week and in,the ysence of the Warden requested Act- Warden J. A. Aguirre go be shown | ire being made in the prison sl $ uentin | the furnite ; ] \ | quantity of old furniture stored away in | SNG2ECh T P 5 The v will be ordered No furniture is being made in the | the big abandoned furniture factory,| «wel, you know, years ago the manu- just as the Directors can get to on,” was the reply of the Acting and in some of the _dismal rooms the | facture of furniture was the chief indus- g 2 the for the rden, therefore you cannot ses Warden's cousin and convicts have hid- | try at the penitentiary. There was a com- men working on those artic B s lete furniture and sash and door factory ay v f iling | P . | ;den away. the new fufnitite,. PGl e . Gom which lrge gunatiiiie: wer up around it the old articles belonging | yumeq out. Later this manufacture was to the guards. only for consumption at State institutions, The corrupt ring of swindlers and for- | Such as thé deaf and dumb asylum, ete . e they having first to present proper requi- gers in control of San Quentin prison| ..o opers to the Board of Directors. are trembling.in their shoes now that an | 1, recent years this was. abolished and investigation of affairs is to be held by | the furniture was only salable to officers tlie> Pricon Ditectors. of the prison for use in their houses or for use In the prison offices and apart- ments. The officers of the prison getting such furniture would be charged for being pressed for information as y work being done by convicts on ny kind of furniture, Acting Warden A. Aguirre stated that “perhaps some the in prisoncrs might be em- loyed in making a chair or two.” « He i | | prison The | few samples of | refu e lead ed, however, to allow the “chair or two” to be inspected When g Warden made ve stutement he' knew full well | Consultations have been' held by members of the ring and the question of 4 * " actual cost of material and convict labor | at about 75 cents per day added. T was not |'aware that any furniture had been man- | | ufactured within the last three or four vears, although I suppose if any was wanted or required the Wardén could have it made. If he wished any repairs | he could have them done.” “Do you know that furniture has heed made and sold within the last few weeks?" was asked. “No, I am not aware of it.” “Do you know that there is now a large amount under construction?” “No, T was not aware of that, either. You see when it was decided years ago to abandon the manufacture of furniture | there was a very large supply of hara- wood and other fine material on hand,” sald Mr. Wilk “Until this material was consumed furniture was made, but | | this was supposed to have been the case four or five years ago.” — | | r e State penitentiary | of felonious ng &6ods by| | epared by con- ¢ purloining of food supplies of public rec of Aguirre, The e met used rre in presenting con re to his friends and es in direct violation the furniture be-|{ | fraud and falsification | { Furnifure Is Made. e mzking of furniture for the pub H CONVICT MADE BEbSTEAL D B FeAUSOLENTY ’ HMRL DisPposrn > OF. I he State prisons by the labor of | “Now, in regard to the $10 a month al- P s absolutely prohibited by act lowed the Warden for maintenance of his of ature. house. Should that be ample, Mr. Wil den Aguirre has in the past few l 'l’_‘ e o " [ AR +‘\m-l?\sx:en I should think so. Personally m lized the services of convicts | | PHOTOGRAPH OF -PRISON-MADE BEDSTEAD GIVEN BY WARDEN AGUIRRE TO A FRIEND IN SAN FRANCISCO. ' | was always in favor of paying the Wase to ke elaborate household and of- | | 1don a stated salary’ and then let thema fice re. The material for the| A e - peedl | pay for all maintenance out of that sum. same has been obtained by fraud. The | he was lying and he had good reason for | ord shows that convict-made ' furniture | best known to himself. Even if he cred-| furnitare were being completed in | destroying some of the prison’s records | ;rm"h “;:" in dky e f"’"’ h"”}" VRN . 3 ; ; 5 : e 3 3 1 > | in the house are convicts, the . Sumber o charged up to the|denying that any furniture was being | was shipped by Aguirre, the Warden, to | ited it to the prison account he violated U AR By comvist ;‘;‘:‘:;"' has been discussed. oita’ k. 54t v ettt o p and other accounts: | made in the prison or that any furniture | Los Angeles and to San Francisco - te | the law, which prohibits the sale of con. 8 covers for inlald tables, tops | are furnished him free. There is one big meter that acts for the whele prison. The food is procured cheaper than any out- rider could even get it. Meat, for in- stance. The best of it only costs about § cents a pound. His coal is furnished at about $6 per ton, whereas I pay $13 or §i4 for the same kind. There are lots of convicts supported by the State have | was to be secn there as the product of | many of his friends. vict-made furniture. This bedstead, of | all finished. . i oyed for months in making | convict labor. Some time ago a ‘prominent- business | handsonic proportions. is made of finc 1 rosewoed Bed, carved. e, and the articles have been | At the very time that Acting Warden | man of San- Francisco, accompanied by!| mahogany, and many weeks of convict 1 Stdebonrd, rlr\-n‘d. & jarden Aguifre to his | J. A. Aguirre, representing his brother, | his wiie, visited Warden Aguirre at Sani| Jabor were .utilized on the delicate | , 10, 12¥8¢ Armchairs, partly fin- INVESTIGATION wverted to his own usec. Warden M. G. Aguirre, stated that no | Quentin prison. The visitors were | carving. The bedstead was seen yester- g | E 3 h 2 _ 3 - 12 fancy Chairs, carved. i< Di e arging that Governor Gage is|convicts were employed in making fur-yshown through certain ‘portions of the day by representatives of The Call, and 2 Dressing-Cases, carved. Pn.on rector Declar SThat | . . the beneficiary of the felonies com- | niture or that any convict-made furni- | prison, and among other things shown | a ‘photograph of it is published in this| General Overseer J. A. "“‘“’"'5 He Desires the Gu“ty “""e[ab'"’ Srown on_ihe priion grounds ; by Wasd ; 4 . i ? i 2 brother of the Warden, has been = : | that are used and don't cost anything. mitted by Warden Aguirre and his | ture was in the prison he knew that 2| to them was an claborately carved ma- | paper to-day. s e e Ao i Parties Punished. | So you see the Warden ought to do a convict zides The Call will later on | corps of inmates of the prison was en-| hogany bedstead. : i Warder; Aguirre has employed many | Commissioner to succeed Barnmey Lot e | great amount of entertaining on $1M a present further proof. gaged in making furniture for the War- The visitors were delighted with the | convicts in making furnijure since the | Murphy. J¥n anticipation of secur-| SAN RAFAEL, Cal, May 2%.—J. H.|month. He has done lots of it since he The records of the San Quentin |den and himself and friends: that a]article and Warden Aguirre was asked| day he assumed office at . San Quentin | tn® this position J. A. Aguifre has| Wilkins, one of the five State Prison Di- | has been thefe. Whether or not this show that considerable furniture. | valuable stock of the articles was on | where such products of prison work prison. . Bedroom sets. office furniture, | *¢1€cted © house in Berkeley and n :’ectnrsl oih?a" Jml;“m?'hv:“‘:v':" s :'; m'e"d:n::‘g y E—-— d"dr S;“m‘s“! ‘: > t 2 i a ing Mw r 53 R . " | complete set of furmiture for the | home in s city to-night. en asked | eyes o e tadxpayers o o ate or the pri has been shipped to | hand. In making a demand on Acting [Mwere for sale. dining-room articles, have been made veriias . i MeikE RraENoA e | WHALC hé thought: af ' the' wenditiinal | WhethdE 1 uouidiTie” cipicteid ¥ dhiams the city of Los Angeles, At the proper | Warden J,. A. Aguirre to produce the . The Warden informed his guests that | af the prison and presented by the War- by convicts last week in San | charges made by The Call against War- | tion. The Warden necessarily has to en- Call present the proof, | “wharf shipping book” representatives | the law prohibited the sale of convict- den to his favorites. The material for | @uentin prison. den Martin Aguirre he said: ’Lertahm Sheriffs, Judges and even Su- hom th sas | of The Call sought to learn to what| made furniture, but he would hav < | —For—a friend of Warden Aguirre,| ' When I first read the accusations In | perfor Judges are fraquent visitors to the e SmmpeipE shuse g 2 S sinilar boditead ave, a| thémarticles has been charged to sundry| = Feor T Los Anmelon whon mirrel The'call T was utterly dumfounded. Since | prison. At those times he. is supposed to shipped points the records showed the shipping similar bedstead made by the convicts| accounts and . the books Rivine 1n/Tow Kugtics: whoet mamed s it e T e hel s ster gy siasbnsagor Aguirre and his cronies have | of some of the convict-made furniture. | if his guests paid for the material. have been falsified by is McClure, the following furni- | . showing to and records convict clerks every. line printed with intense interest | ought to be done on $100. I know I have " ¢ p 3 Jar : 4 7 . 7 S | ture was being prepared last week oug! o cured quantities of horsehair and silk| Acting Warden J. A. Aguirre refused Convicts Are Busy. acting on instructions, in order to cover | yn Sam Quentins and concern because if what The Call as- | often asked him If the amount allowed irs and lounges and the articles | to show the book, even defying the or-| The visitors ordered a bedstead to be| up the transactions. 1 Desk. ser:s is 'm;,; can :, :m‘\:nv it is a very | was sufficient and Martin would say It 1 ey har, to “ ™ esident Fitzgerald tk < 7. 2 - ? ¥ serfous matter and the arden is placed | was plenty. In regard to thess might- have been charged to “general repairs” | der of Pr gerald of the Board | made on these terms. Warden Aguirre| When representatives of The Call 1 Bookcase Dol DR Vot The Thater wiH| SRivle T acs 20 Sk e R for the prison. The Call is prepared to | of Prison_ Directors that all the records | received $45 for the wood of which the | ""’d"'"::m:” ':‘:.,"."k Ay ‘; ?mr:' Cane of course be rigidly investigated by the | slept in them. There are five rooms in prove that in a certain month lumber | of the prison should be produced for in-| pedstead was made, and the work on the ‘::: e e ::nh:-nnnre 1 Hies o Board of Prison Directors. This investi- | the Warden's house set apart for the amounting to $975 was purchased for | spection by The Call's representatives. | piece of bedroom furniture was per- prigon. Te Med. g s o Al SR R og | BAtion will, T have no doubt, be at the in- | Prison Directors. I knew thers has al- the prison at San Quentin and in the The contents of the wharf shipping| formed by convicts. On; the day. that he was inter.| auarter oak of the best gquality. stigation of Aguirre. I understand he has et < 5 A i i T g A 9 3 returned from Los Angeles and arrived at falsified books was charged to the jute- | book are known, however, and the rec-{ What Aguirre did with the $45 is| vlewed the following articles -of| Since the visit of representatives of{ the vrison to-day, but I have mnot. seen Continued on Page Two.