Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-15
Statement OF FUGITIvES
ONLY BASIS FOR CHARGES
Workhouse Escapes Declared Not
Large Compared With
Other Places.

W. H. Whitaker. who is in charge OF
| the workhouse at Occoquan. I'm an inter
view with a Star reporter gives another
angle of vision on the matter of the al
legged escapes Of prisoners from that in
stitution.
Mr. Whitaker declares that the record
of the escapes is not large. maintaining
that Occoquan has as good a record as
any in the country. Recently Judge Pugh
said from the bench that it was an easy
matter for prisoners to escape If they Sc
desired. Ralph Given, the prosecuting
attorney at the Police Court, made sim.
liar assertion, and has already submitted
a quantity Of data. United States Attor.
ney Clarence R. Wilson now has it under
consideration.
Mr. Whitaker denies the truth OF
statements made to Mr.. Given by es-
capped men who have told Mr.. Given that
1t was easy for them to get away, and
declares that the word of such men is all
the basis Judge Pugh and Mr.. Given
have to go on in making any statement
| about the number of escapes from the
workhOuse.
An average of about fifty prisoners a
year escape from the workhouse, Mr..
Men manage to get away from some in
situations in far greater numbers than
this, he declared, and said that some
men are bound to get their liberty, even
Prefer Jail to Work.
Statements made BY two men who es-
capped from the workhouse were to the
effect that it was an easy matter for
them to get away. Mr.. Whitaker says
they said this because it would probably
LII hoiy1 m iai1 hv he
court, and this is just what they wanted.
In Jail, Mr.. Whitaker said. they would
not have to work. while at Occoquan this
would be required of them
Mr.. Whitaker says that class of men
are being sent to the workhouse from
the courts of the city for whom the insti-
tuition was never intended These men,
he explained, We're the thieves and like
characters most of whom. he declared,
should be in the penitentiary.
Mr. Whitaker objects To making too
public report of escapes from the work
house he says, because of the spirit of
unrest engendered among his prisoners
by the publicity sometimes given them
He said that the day following Judge
which was printed in The Star, five of the
men ran away at noon. All OF them We're
caught within an hour and a half. he
said.
Mr.. Whitaker VIII SUBMIT a report on
the matter of escapes to George Wilson
of the board of charities, which will
nrobably be referred TO the Commission
ers for their consideration. Mr.. Whitaker
declares he is perfectly willing to make
reports of all escapes to officials at the
Police Court if he is notified that they
desire them.
Reason for Court Inquiry.
Tha cola object of Police Court officials
in asking that reports be made to them
Of all escapes. they explain, is that they
will not let prisoner go free after pay
ing a fine following conviction, when he
might have failed to serve out another
term at the workhouse-
When the superintendent Of the work
house was questioned about the number
of guards employed he said that he had
a sufficient number to take care of the
prisoners.
When he was informed that Judge
Mullowny had predicted an enormous i'm
crease in the number of prisoners to be
sent to the workhouse after July J. when
+ba IopeS-Wor<S lial.Or law goes into eff