The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-05-01

On the clemency OF an Atlanta bank
directorate hinges whether Timan c.
]. Mccain, erstwhile university grad
victed forger. shall step from the Dis
trict Jail Tuesday to honorable en-
ployment or to face another prison
term. And also upon the action of the
Georgia flnanciers, whose bank cashed
a spurious check made out by Nc
Cam, depends whether the District
government shall lose its Jail stew
ard par excellence, whose administra-
ton while a trusty has caused a saw
ing of about $4,000 a year.
Wife Awaits Him.
Should the Atlanta bankers decide
that Mccain has been punished suf-
flciently for his misdeeds and be sat
ished to allow his well-wishers to
make good the S2O5 OF which Mccain
defrauded them while fleeing from ar
rest for forgery here two years ago,
they not only will earn the thanks OF
Mccain and the District Jail authori-
ties but the blessings OF a faithful
wife and two bright children.
The District authorities have Of
fered Mccain the position Of chief
steward at the Jail at a salary OF
s2.160 q year and have provided a
pretty cottage on the reservation,
where his wife and children wait to
welcome him as a free man.
And until a few days ago every
thing looked bright and rosy for a
happy reunion of the young husband,
whose conduct in prison has been
his declarations OF intent to ego
utraiohtv forayarponra with his "a I'M
lily. Then word came from Atlanta
that the indictment against MoCann
there still is in effect and he must
be returned for trial unless it can
be quashed.
Awaiting Settlements.
When the permanent job was Of
fered Mccain, his wife went to the
cashier OF the Atlanta bank and, ac-
cording to Mccain. received assur-
ance that the officials did not wish
to prosecute her husband, but, II he
was making good. would be content
to accept the amount of their loss
and drop the prosecution With this
assurance she came to Washington,
where the cottage was assigned to
her which McCann will occupy IL he
Is permitted to stay and take his
job.
Deputy Superintendent William
Peak, of the District Jail, had a tel
ephone conversation with the sheriff
at Atlanta this week. He says he
was given reason to believe the mat
ter there would be settled. At the
Jail today, they were waiting for
mail confirmation.
McCann's troubles began two years
ago. when he was 80 years old. He
was in Washington and became finan-
cially embarrassed. He was enter
tanning friends at a restaurant and
rendered a. bogus check on the Riggs
National Bank for Sl5. Bank detec-
tives traced him to Atlanta On the
brink OF arrest, he forged another
check for $205 on a bank there. With
this money he fled to New York. He
was arrested there in January, 1919.
brought to Washington and sentenced
to sixteen months in Jail.
Superintendent Foster and Deputy
Superintendent Peak Immediately
were attracted to him and placed him
in the stewards department. Nc
Cam took a fancy to the work, and
soon showed the officials where they
could cut corners and make a large
saving in the buying and handling of
foodstuffs. For n year he has been
chief steward. when he went on the
job, Il was costing 40 cents a day a
person to feed the inmates. Food
prices have scared since then, but Nc
Cam has succeeded in decreasing the
cost to 81 cents a day.
He was made a trusty and went
freely about the city, visiting produce
and provision men urging them to
make every possible concession to the
District in the maintenance of the
Jail. For part of the time since he
has been in control he has charge OF
the buying for inmates OF another
District institution.
Get Model Menus.
Prisoners are as we'll fed now as
they were before he took charge. Sun.
day mornings they get oatmeal, bread,
coffee, and bacon for breakfast. Other
mornings the menu Is slightly modi-
fed.
For dinner they get roast beef, ham
or some other wholesome meat, brown
gravy. mashed potatoes and bread.
For supper they get apple sauce, soup
Of beef stew aud bread.
Il don't want to try to cvRdc the
fact that did wrong" said Mccain
this morning II was In trouble here
IN Warrington and took the quickest
say out Then when ! got to Atlanta