New-York tribune., 1919-07-01
Murder Accomplice Sought
as Man Who Struggled
In the Rope With Which
Wife Slayer Hanged Self
Inquest to Begin To-day
Prison Investigator Says
Jail Was Conducted as
Loosely as kindergarten

Staff Correspondence
MINEOLA, l.. l.. June 3O.-Sheriff
Ihlneas Seaman announced tonight he
had suspended Warden William Hults
with Keepers William Hendrickson and
John 7. Mills, Of the Nassau County
Jail here. This action was taken pend
ing a searching investigation to ascer-
tain whether his orders rega riding the
guarding of DR.. Walter X wilkins. the
convicted wife slayer who committed
suicide here last night, were carried
out. The testimony before State Prison
Leon C. Weinstock to-day indicated
that these orders had been dsobeyed
District Attorney Charles Weeks,
who prosecuted DR.. wilkins, intimated
today that he would apply to the Gov
erncr for permission to call an eX-
traordinary grand jury to investigate
the suicide. If this is not done at the
conclusion of Coroner Walter Jones's
inquest tomorrow, Mr.. Weeks may
start John Doe proceedings to learn
whether any crime was committed in
connection with the suicide. Coroner
Jones has summoned number of wit
nesses to appear before him to-mor-
row at 2:3O p. m. in the Mineola Court
House.
"Run Like kindergarten"
State Prison Commissioner Leon
Weinstock, when asked tonight what
steps were being taken by the state
TO fix responsibility for the conditions
that. made DR.. Wikins's suicide pos
sible. replied:
The Mineola Jail is run like
kindergarten. A prison like that makes
my blood boil. We have started an
investigation and will continue it on
Wednesday. BY that time we will
have gone far enough into the matter
n "a ka hal
charges will be made to Governor
Smith against those responsible for
the conditions we find. Nassau County
is the richest county in the state, and
has the rottenest Jail in the state"
How do you think DR.. wilkins OBJ
tanned the rope he used?" Commits
soner Weinstock was asked
II am convinced from the testimony
we have aready taken.' he replied, that
1t was conceaed in packages brought
into other prisoners on Sunday and
they passed it to him. Why, they
coud do anything in there. To-day
when | examined the tier l found %
Federal prisoner with an alcohol stove
In his cell. That is very dangerous,
you know, but we intend to go into
the whole matter and see that cond-
tons are improved"
Commissioner Weinstock stated that
nothing hut gross carlessness made 1t
possible for Or. Wilkins to hang him
self the way he did. He further ex-
planned that for some time the state
authorities have been investigating the
conditions IN the Mineola jail and that
number of complaints against the
institution had been received, one from
the Federal Judge.
This morning Justice Manning, be-
fore whom the aged physician was con.
Nicted. held short investigation and
examined number of witnesses in re
gard TO the suicide This hearing es-
tablished the following facts
/. That the door of DR. Wikins's cell
was not locked after the Rev August
: Deppisch visited him on Sunday af-
tcrnoon.
:. That the prisoners in the Nassau
County jail are not segregated as re-
quired by the stat prison law.
&. That the authorities know nothing
Of how DR.. wilkins obtained the six
feet OF rope with which he hanged
D. That under the existing conditions
u was possible for the prisoners in the
tier to 60 TO the shower bath room
unattended
Eight Could Have Aided Him
5 That because the prisoners were
not segregated il was possible for any
OF Or. Nllkins's light cellmates to
have assisted him in the suicide
At the conclusion Of the hearing
Justice Manning expressed his aston
lshn1ent that n man convicted Of a can
ital offence was not kept locked in his
cell but was allowed to roam about the
ter even though escape was impos-
sible.
When Sheriff Seaman attomnted 10
explain the situation to Justice Man
nlnG, the court declined to listen and
taid:
The outstanding fact is that prison
er7 IN the Nassau County Jail arc not
locked UP and a condemned murderer
Mas allowed the freedom Of the CORR
dor or tier in which his cell was To-
Gated"
Keeper Hendrickson. who was on
duty at the time when Or. wilkins
killed himself was the first witness
called. He told of the finding of the
body hanging in the shower bath room
and then in answer to questions hy
Prosecutor Weeks, explained that the
pr soncrs were given the freedom Of
the small corridor outside the cell tier
When Judge Manning heard this he
Eaid:
well, that is very loose method Of
managing a jail. | must say don't
know what you are therefor, must
sav"
The interrogation Of Sheriff Seaman
ard the keepers failed to throw anv
light on how DR.. wilkins had obtained
the rope with which he hanged himself
None o. them could remember having
seen such a rope around the prison.
It was recalled to-day that when Dr.
wilkins was convicted on Friday orders
weer issued that he be stripped to the
skin and hia clothes searched. At that
time he was relieved Of all his pos
sessions, even his lead pencil and
watch. Sheriff Seaman said that as
soon as he learned the verdict he tclc-
phoncd these instructions 20 Warden
1'ults and was under the impression
that they we're carried out. u was
learned thai while DR.. wilkins was
being searched ne drew a small pair
of shears from his pocket and passed
T. 10 LOUIS &. Freiss, ene Of his conn
se!. Mr.. Freiss Immediately turned
the instrument over TO the authorities
Aided From Outside
There seems to be no doubt in the
minds Of the authoritics that DR.. VII
kjns was aided from the outside in his
suicide plans. They first tried 10 de
fefminc Who among those mentioned in
the care might wish MS death for fear
that If nc confessed other prosecutions
might result. In other words If any
ore conxprcd with DR.. wilkins 10 Kill
Jys. wilkins, that person, by reason
Of fear, might aid the physician IN