New-York tribune., 1915-07-11
JAIL REFORM
MAY BE MINEOLA
LEGACY OF HOLT
County Supervisors Hint
Changes in Management
Will Be Demanded.
SUICIDE CASE DUE
TO "GROSS NEGLECT"
District Attorney Investigating,
Board ASSertS-'Nothing to
Investigate" He Says.

The supervisors Of Nassau County met
yesterday to discuss the responsibility
for the gross laxity in Mineola jail
which allowed one Of the most Cele-
brated criminals this country has ever
known, who had announced that he
would kill himself, TO try it once and
then make good his threat. But the
supervisors, after consultation in the
Office Of District Attorney Lewis J.
Smith. declared they would let the en-
tire matter hang over until Sheriff
Petit returned from his Pacific Coast
vacation. The supervisors say they
know he will handle the situation as
they wish
The District Attorney, it was said by
the board in an official statement; was
doing everything in his power to in
vestiGate," but Mr.. Smith. in a rather
torrid interview later on in the day.
said there was nothing 10 investigate
that it was simply a case in which
Warden Hults was negligent.
"He made q mistake in his Judgment
Any man might have done the same"
the District Attorney said of the war
den. who left so calmly without notice
for his summer camp, near Chester
town, the morning the inquest was to
be held. "Holt should have had two
guards" continued Mr. Smith, "but he
appeared so weak a ten-year-old boy
could have handled him. Two doctors
had examined him. and we were think
ing OF removing him 10 Mineola Hos
pital.'
Hults's Son-in-Law Bosses Jail.
Mr Smith also said he had received
10 letter from Governor Whitman and
exDected none. lie said he had not and
would not wire to Warden Hults; that
the supervisors had not communicated
with Sheriff Petit, but that Hults had.
In the meantime, with Petit away,
Acting Sheriff RaynOr takes his place.
With Hults in his Adirondack camp, a
man named Mills is in charge of the
jail, but County Detective Phineas Sea-
man. fitting back i'm his chair, said yes
terday that Hults's son-in-law, Fred
HallOran. was in charge at the baStlle
"What official connection has Hal
loran with the jail?' Seaman was
asked.
"Oh. he's just Hults's son-in-law,' -
the detective answered.
The supervisors. including Philip j.
Christ. Of New Hyde Park; J. II. Cocks,
of Oyster Bay, and Hiram r. Smith, of
Freeport, appeared at the District At
tornev's office with their counsel,
Charles T. Mccarthy. After their con-
ference with Mr.. Smith they issued the
following statement:
"The Board of Supervisors, at a con-
ference with the District Attorney,
agree with the District Attorney that
there has been great neglect Of duty in
the Jail as to the custody Of one Frank
Holt, who committed suicide on July 6,
1915. The District Attorney is doing
everything in his power to investigate
and find out who is directly responsible
for the act. and will lay the whole
thing before the Sheriff on his return,
and if facts warrant further action will
be taken and those respo' slble dealt
with according to law.
"The board is advised that Sheriff
Petit is temporarily absent from the
county and Will return in a few days
In view Of the fact that heretofore the