The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-10

Nassau Co. Supervisors to
Learn Why Jail Officials
Left Their Posts.
Hollis GUARD ADMITS
HE ORDERS

HE lula Ed OKDEKS
a thorough inquiry not only into the
suicide of Frank Holt but into general
conditions in the Nassau county Jail mt
Mineola. where j. !. Morgan's assail-
ant ended his life last Tuesday night.
was decided upon by the county officials
yesterday.
At the suggestion Of Charles r.
Weeks. Assistant District Attorney.
Coroner William r. Jones adjourned
the inquest last evening for n week.
The original plan was to Examine only
Jeremiah Ryan, the keeper whose spe-
cial duty 1t was 10 guard Holt. The
| Coroner announced that when the ih-
quiry is resumed not only every Keeper,
but every prisoner who was IN the
Jail when Holt dived to death VIII be
questioned.
Another development Of the inquest
that was startling came when 1t was
lea rned that, contrary to the impression
which has been circulated. Holt was not
the only prisoner in the double tier
OF cells on the night when he committed
suicide. Assistant District Aitorney
Charles +. Weeks was Informed that
there were five other men in the cells.
The entire upper tier. from when HON
| lcaped to his death on the floor below,
was occupied.
Coroner Walter Tones learned OF the
fact in the morning. He visited the
jail and asked the prisoners "A rev
questions. They told him that they
were asleep at the time and had not
heard anything. The Coroner did not
coil apx ora Of them TO the with Ss
stand to-day nor did he take any deposit
tions.
More startling was the ment
OF the Nassau county Board of super
visors that at . o'clock this morning
they will begin an investigation; Ihey
away on a vacation, why SneriH
| Stephen c.. Petit left Mineola for Cali
| fornia two days after Frank Hollis ar
res; and why every ~precauion was not
taken 10 prevent the prisoners suicide.
The Board of Supervisors is com
posed OF Philip J. Christ of North
Hampstead, "A Democrat; James II;
! Cocks of Oyster Bay, a Democrat, and
Herman X. Smith of Freeport, A Repub-
lican. The fact that TWO members OF
the board are Democrats while the
Sheriff and all his deputies are Repuo-
Leans gave rise to the charge last night
that the majority of the Supervisors are
seeking to make political capital out OF
the present situation. However,. smith,
the Republican, seemed as determined
10 get at the bottom of Jail conditions
as his colleagues.
The Supervisors have no direct juris-
diction over county officials and no
power of removal" said chairman
Christ last night. However, II is we
who vote the county's money TO pay
bills and It is our duty 10 see that the
officials render the services for which
they are paid. We have authority 20
recommend the removal of an lneHi-
ciont subordinate and IL the Sheriff does
not act on our recommendations we
have the power 10 prefer charges with
the Governor.
Additional Keepers Provided For.
'Three years ago We agreed with
Sheriff Demott that twelve hours guard
duty WAS too long. We then appro-
priated money sufficient to hire two ad-
ditional keepers and arranged that none
should work more than eight hours,
Ryan SAYS he was on duty from s p. NJ
until S 4. NJ. We want to lnow why?
And why was there only one guard
for Holt. when Assistant District At
torney Smith says he ordered the placing
of two on that duty"
1T is believed that Sheriff Pettit VIII
have returned by the time the C%oroner's
inuuest is resumed. He went TO Los
Angeles to attend the national conyen-
ton of the Elks. but A telegram re-
ceived from him on Thursday indicated
that he was then in Albuquerque, y. NJ
Ryan was the principal witness at the
inquest in the Hampstead town hall yes
terday. The guard is - years old
white haireo, horid faced, short and
rhunky He is something of an actor
and enliveued his testimony with in
tcrcstinP physical representations. Testi-
vim that Holt snored Ryan also snored.
He showed how the prisoner tossed about
on his cot, initiated his voice in con-
yersatlon and rose from the witness
chair when telling how he himself tiptoed
along the prison corridor,
Ryan said he was the sole guard out
side Hollis cell, The uarden's office WI.
three doors away and no other keeper
came near.
Were YOU asleep that nigh,T" asked
Mr.. Weeks,
Positively no"
1.-THE warden had ordered you IL
guard Holt carefully"
yes, lie said, Don't leave him alon,
for q minute, Jerry"
"D!! you violate his orders"'
Yes, sir ] did"
RYAN explained that he heard a nois.
AT the other end of the corridor and lef
his post to Investigate. Hol, seemed I,
be fast asleep, Ryan had reached thu
end of the tier when he heard n noise
n shot he thought It was-in Hollis cell
He came back and found the prisone
lying IN "A pool Of blood,
Ryan had been quoted In an interview
IN saying he would never be convince'
, that the noise he heard was not an OK
f, plosion, 81 don't believe that now" h.
said IN his testimony, "The doctors tol,
me there had been no shot"
Assistant District Attorney Week
. tried to discredii this interview wit
Ryan which appeared IN The sun an,