Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-24
HOWE TOTTEN FILES SUIT
Alleges That Criminals Are Not
Properly Guarded.
OBJECTS TO THE BL00DH0UNDS
Supt. Whitaker Denies That Pris-
oners Are Permitted Undue
Privileges.

pictured as a safe section Of "oIe Fir-
ginia," in the answer Of Will H. Whit
taker, workhouse superintendent, filed
today in the injunction suit against the
Commissioners, wherein Howe Totten
claims that the Occoquan region is in
constant state Of terror, due to escaping
criminals and the use Of packs Of blood
hounds
Mr.. Whittakers answer Is one of the
papers filed today in the Supreme Court
of the District by Corporation Counsel
e. H. Thomas and Assistant Corporation
Counsel James Francis Smith Mr.. Tot
ten sought to enjoin the Commissioners
from allowing the workhouse prisoners
to walk the roads unguarded. That was
the strongest flavor to the legal dish he
served up to the Commissioners.
Mr.. Whittaker's Response.
In the answer filed today Mr.. Whitaker
says the roads are without wandering
prisoners.
AS for the pack Of bloodhounds. men,
toned in one of the supporting affi-
davits Of the Totten suit, Mr.. Whit
taker has already reported that the
only pack he has consists of one dog,
half bloodhound and half miscellane-
Gus. and that the prisoners all pet him.
The case Will probably be argued
tomorrow morning before Judge Gould.
with Mr.. Thomas and Mr.: Smith repre-
senting the District. and Mr.. Whit
taker.
In saying that all is quiet along the
Potomac, as far as he can see, Super
intendent Whitaker denies that his
prisoners are allowed to roam at large.
Forty Guards on Duty.
Forty guards are on duty there. he
says the best he can get for the $50
q month each which Congress allowed
the District for the purpose. He out
lines the system of reports from guards
to the superintendent, which, he says.
gives a complete history Of the daily
doings Of each of the men who have
been sentenced there. He also says
he has had long experience in han
ding prisoners, and believes that the
provisions for their care are as good at
Occoquan as they are anywhere.
In the matter Of escapes the affidavit
says:
This defendant admits that there
have been some escapes from the
workhouse and the grounds since their
co dUOuL lOuA pei
month out of about 800 prisoners at
any one time. nearly all of whom were
retaken in comparatively short time.
This percentage of escapes is no
larger II as large as those from other
similar Institutions"
Inc escapes are explained as f.. hap
pening because the prisoners have had
to work on the forest and brush and
were not always inclosed in stockades.
The wOrkhouse was but a camp for a
long time, and this is given as the rea-
son why it was SO easy for some of the
men to get away.
But One Exception.
The answer says that with only one
exception prisoners have not been al
lowed to drive unguarded over the
roads.
He says that out Of the entire num-
ber Of prisoners, he has never allowed
more than ten or a dozen to be on tne
roads at any one time. and that they
have always been guarded, and that
they have been used as drivers to help
haul building material. The one ex-
eeption is mentioned as that fo,,nd OF the ne
penal INSTITUTIONS. The "trusty' used
to get the mail unguarded. but he
does not do so any more. M. Whit-
taker also says that none OF the es-
capes have been made oy men VINO
Mr.. Whitaker says in his af1davit
that Howe Totten has endeavored to
stir up feeling against the workhouse
at OccOQuan.
Statement by Commissioners.
The affidavit Of the Commissioners filed
with the answer from Mr.. Whitaker out
lines the legislative history of the acauisi-
tion of the Occoquan tract. 1t says that
they selected Mr.. Whitaker as superin-
tendent after a careful scrutiny Of the
prison experts of the country and that
they regard him as efficient and faithful.
They also say that they have received no
complaints against the workhouse with
respect to its management, except from
Mr.. Totten, and wind up their statement
by denying the jurisdiction Of the court
to grant any writ in the case OF Occo-
uuan; that the workhouse is govern
mental institution administered in the in
terests Of the public and that the court
cannot interfere.