The Warden Stole His Son’s Fiancée—Then Got Fired Over Eggs

The appointment of G. L. Palmer, of South Prairie, as warden of the United States penitentiary at McNeil’s Island, in place of Ira S. Bamber, who was removed for cause, has brought to light not only Mr. Bamber’s abnormal appetite for eggs, but a romantic story connected with the life of Bamber, in which the old man, figuring as a gay Lothario, cut his own son out of the affections of his best girl, married her himself and left the young man in such a desperate strait that he went out to commit suicide, but was persuaded from his rash act by interfering friends.

This happened over a year ago, shortly after Marshal Drake went into office and appointed Bamber to his position. Bamber was then a well-preserved widower of about 50, with a son about 21 and two daughters well grown. The family moved over to the island, where the young man made the acquaintance of a young girl named Gertie Chord. It was apparently love at first sight on both sides, and the two were soon engaged to be married, a fact which they did not attempt to conceal.

The old man about this time discovered charms in the girl which he felt he was not too old to appreciate, and which, as head of the family, he thought he should possess, notwithstanding his son’s alleged prior claim. Having reasoned the matter out to his own satisfaction while the two were mooning around the woods, he set himself to work to upset the young man’s plans and capture the prize to himself. All the old tricks which he had practiced in his youth were resorted to and he had but little difficulty in convincing the girl of his susceptible heart. Three weeks from the time of their first acquaintance the old man and Gertie were married.

On learning the truth the young man became so worked up with his now useless affection that he picked up a loaded revolver and started for the woods vowing to shoot himself. Some of his friends, divining his purpose, followed the young man, took the revolver away from him and persuaded him that life might still be worth living. He thereupon returned and has since made the best of the situation.

Bamber’s administration of his office, however, has not given satisfaction, and not long ago a special agent was sent to McNeil’s Island to make an investigation of his accounts. Among other items which he unearthed as hardly in line with the bill of fare of convicts were a number for eggs aggregating $187 in one month. The special agent questioned him, suggesting that the prisoners must be living pretty high, and an inquiry among the prisoners failed to discover that they ever got either egg or shell, so the matter was reported to Marshal Drake, who at once fired Bamber and appointed Palmer.

Palmer, the new appointee, is a civil engineer on the Northern Pacific. He had been a Republican until the last election, when he changed his coat and voted the Democratic ticket. He is a man about 40 years old and during the recent railroad strikes had charge of a large force of special deputies. Bamber’s removal and Palmer’s appointment have set the Democratic politicians talking, as the following dispatch shows:

Tacoma, Aug. 3.—[Special.]—Politicians are gossiping about the removal of Ira Bamber as warden of the McNeil’s Island penitentiary. He was formerly bookkeeper in Hugh Wallace’s real estate office and his appointment was credited up to Wallace’s glory. His successor is G. L. Palmer, formerly a deputy United States marshal under Marshal Drake, and he has been considered a Drake man. Perhaps he can serve Wallace and Drake equally well, as far as that goes, but the political gossips will persist in talking about it, and some are bold enough to hail Marshal Drake as the coming Moses of the state of Washington, who is to lead the Democrats somewhere or somehow. Mr. Drake makes no pretensions, however. He saws wood. People who know the Bambers domestically say they scented his removal weeks ago.