Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-15
EXAM MlNATION
Inquiries Made During Gen. Olay's Annual
Inspection.
Prisoners Asked Questions Abou,
Their FOOd-A Junketing Trip
to Albany.

Chief Clerk Clay of the Department of
Justice has just concluded the regular an
nual inspection of the District Jail. The
last regular inspection was in January,
1894. In the course of his inspection Mr..
Clay specially Investigated a number of
complaints against Warden Leonard's ad-
mnistratiou of affairs. One of these is
that the transportation of the last batch
of prisoners to the Albany penitentiary
was junketing trip for the benefit of As
sistant District Attorney Jeffords and Har-
vey Given, a clerk in the office. During
the investigation the prisoners were asked
all sorts of questions as to their treatment.
food and accommodate tions. Although Capt
Howgate, Beam and Taylor made no COM
plant, several others said they had been
badly treated.
Mr.. Clay told Star reporter that he had
not yet prepared hts report, and he de-
clined, in advance of its submission to the
Attorney General, to give any indication
OF It's character one way or the other.
Talk at the Court Houses
At the city hall it was said today that
the investigation by the Department. of
Justice into Warden Leonard's manage
ment of the District Jail is matter wholly
Independent of the District Supreme Court,
which tribunal appoints the warden and
Jail officials.
1t was asserted today, however, that the
court has for some time felt that Mr.. Leon
ard, as warden of the prison, has not per-
formed his duties satisfactorily. and it is
said that some of the judges have ex-
pressed themselves being more or less
disappointed in the wardens management,
and that the court has about come to the
conclusion, unofiicially, that there should be
a change in the office of warden.
nj faa of
appointment, it was explained to a Star
reporter today, there has been of late more
or less discussion among the members of
the court as to the adyisability of intimat-
ing to Mr.. Leonard that his resignation
would be acceptable to the court. In this
connection the reporter was told that the
propriety of appointing either Crier ]. E.
kronse Of Judge McComaS court or Crier
Robert Ball of Judge CoX's court as war;
den upon Mr.. Leonard's resignation has
also been discussed by certain members of
the court.
One of the complaints said to have been
made against Mr. Leonard is that he dis
missed the only two colored men on the
Jail force and failed to appoint coIored
men in their place. One of these men,
Arthur Payne was appointed five or six
years ago. upon the recommenda ton of ex-
Judge Martin Montgomery, and because of
his dismissal Judge Montgomery is said to
rave called Mr. Leonard severely to ac-
count before the members of the District
Supreme court. As a result Mr.. Leonard is
said to have been directed to reinstate
Payne on the first of this month, but it is
understood that he has not yet been REIN
stated
1t is said also that Mr.. Leonard has of
Tended the members of the G. A r. be-
cause of his dismissal of G. A. r. men, and
his failure to appoint members of that or
ganization in their places.
Warden Leonard was in consultation with
Judge Cole at the city hall early this morn
ing. but could not be seen by a Star re-
q IN a pyta 1.e+
day, however, that he invited the closest
investigation to his management of
the Jail either by the Department of JUS
tice or by the District Supreme Court