Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1879 — THE NORTHERN PRISON [ARTICLE]

THE NORTHERN PRISON

" Letter from Late Director Luther[Correspondence Michigan City Enterprise,] Valparaiso, April 10th, ’79. Please correct a statement in your paper of last week that I had resigned as director of the northern prison. This is a mistake. But I considered that my time ended on the 10th day of March, as I was commissioned for no longer time. I have never tendered or hinted about a resignation to those who elected or commissioned me. On the contrary, I have been always well pleased with my position and the pay I received for my services. I would like to say through your pap.r, however, that I delivered up to Messrs. Lee, Hoover and Wile (as did also Messrs. Baker and Dykes) our office on the morning of the 11th, and I considered I was .ready to take the train homeward; but having to wait for a late train, note my astonishment when, at a late hour of the day, aud while the new board were in session in the directors’ office, and it was pretty well understood what their action was, Mr. Baker, with myself, were called into a small room back of the warden’s office by Mr. Dykes, and very nervously requested to proceed to appoint Charles Mayne as warden four years. aS his time was out and there was a vacancy. I replied that I could not consistently, even if I were satisfied that I had authority, as by onr sworn action or complaint we had been waiting the decision of the su preme court to remove him for what we alleged as sufficient cause. Mr. Dykes replied that he did not care—they had brought up a lot of Catholics and were going to put them in there. My reply was that it made no difference to me what a man’s religious views were if they were honest men, and tnat Messrs. Lee, Hoover and Murdoch appearel very much to me like gentlemen. I finally refused to take any action with them with reeard to the appointment of warden, and further stated that I consicered my time out: that the clerk had that that the clerk had that morning voluntarily filled up and presented me a voucher to sign for the balance of my pay, which only included the 10th. I was, therefore, getting no pay for that day. Seeing no voucners voluntarily presented to Baker and Dykes, 1 tho’t it a little strange, and felt for the first time that something was being “fixed up.” Was it in case the warden fail ed, In an ether quarter, to force the decree of the defier, that there shouid be a chance for him to come home to roost? I oelieve it is generally conceded that such prepared roosts end in pretty dirty ones. Now you have a part of the reasons why it is reported that had resigned, and why a special meeting was called by Messrs. Dykes and Baker without notifying me and Mr. Wile taken into the old board in my place. I think many other good reasons can be given (and the whole thing more fully set up at some fut,ire time) why I was the one selected to lock out. Now, if the courts decide that the authority is vested in the old board, I think I have endeavored as faithfully to serve the interests of the people as either Mr. Dykes or Mr. Baker, and I am ready to continue the same to the best of my ability. If, on the oilier hand, they decide that the will of the majority of t b e representatives of the people, certified to Dy the governor of the state, Is or should be authority in this republican form of government, then I think the new board’s rights and- authority should be enforced.— And I repudiate all little technical points aad quibbles that shall intend to defy the expressed wishes ot the majority of the people of the state. Respectfully, Yours,

CHAS. R. LURHER.