CHAPTER 693

An Act for the relief of James E. Rodwell.
(H 521]

Approved April 6, 1966

Whereas, James E. Rodwell as a young man was convicted of crime
and sentenced to prison, but there conducted himself in an exemplary
manner and has been released, having paid his debt to society; and

Whereas, while a prisoner at the State Farm, James E. Rodwell was
assigned, with another prisoner, to the job of operating the cutting machine
in the book bindery, which machine was defective in that it could not be
operated efficiently with the safety switch in its proper position; and

Whereas, as the result of this defective machinery and the negligence
of his fellow prisoner, James E. Rodwell suffered an injury and lost four
fingers from his left hand, as a result of which he is unable to pursue his
previous occupation as a construction worker and to earn a sufficient wage
to enable him to support his wife and two small children ; and

Whereas, there is no way in which James E. Rodwell can recover
damages for this injury, suffered while in the custody of the State; now,
therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund of the State
treasury the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars, to be paid to James
E. Rodwell for the loss of the four fingers of his left hand as the result
of being forced to work under dangerous conditions at the State Farm.
Such payment shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrant of the
Comptroller issued on a voucher signed by the Superintendent of the State
Farm, and shall be payable upon the execution of a release by James FE.
Rodwell of any and all claims which he may have against the Common-
wealth, its agents and employees, arising out of such event.