Evening journal., 1920-01-12
BLAME OFFICIALS
FOR RPRICEESCAPE
Continued from Page Seven.

Continued from Page Seven.
Ball is one Of the trustees Of the work
, house, and acts as the secretary Of the
board. lie IS also counsel for many OF
the prisoners who are confined in the
workhouse, and this dual position OF
trustee and attorney has initiated
/ against the best interests and manage
ment Of the institution. Our invesli-
CATION has disclosed certain conditions,
some OF which are as follows:
30 In November, 1917, man was
convicted Of murder in the second de-
gree and sentenced to life lmprison-
ment. lie was represented by j. Frank
Ball. This murderer was regarded by
Warden Cross as d0nger0n but Mr..
Ball Insisted that the Murderer be
placed out on the farm for the benefit
Of his health. The prison physician
found the health Of the murderer to be
I fair. and the warden refused TO place
him on the farm and had a serious
clash with Mr.. Ball In regard 10 the
matter.
"l2) Another man was convicted Of
( assault with intent to commit rape in
the early part OF the year 1918 and was
sentenced 20 five years Imprisonment.
He, also, was a client Of Mr. Ball This
prisoner was regarded by Warden
Cross as dangerous, but Mr.. Ball insist
ed that his client be placed on the farm
for the benefit Of his health. The
worRhOuse physician found the health
OF the man to be good and the warden
refused to place this man upon the
farm, whereupOn he had another serious
disagreement with Mr.. Ball over the
matter.
"(3) Three pickpockets with long
records in many States We're convicted
and sentenced 10 terms OF six years
each. They were clients Of Mr. Ball.
On the morning Of the day set for their
trial they were brought by he warden
10 the county prison connected with
the Public Building. This prison has
no adequate facilities TO prevent The
friends Of prisoners passing weapons,
saws or other objects, TO the prisoners.
Friends Of the prisoners applied through
Mr.. Ball to the warden % see The
prisoners in the county prison, but the
warden refused permission on account
of the danger Of the pickpockets re-
ceiving weapons, or saws from persons
who were strangers 90 the warden. Mr..
BAH Insisted, claiming that ne was a
trustee Of the wOrkh0use and that Mr..
Cross must grant his request. The mat
ter was finallv refnrrcd TO The court by
Ball and the court sustained the de
cislon Of the warden in the matter and
denied the right Of Mr.. Ball to have his
clints visited by ihelr friends in the
county prison.
"(l) The police authorities OF lhe
CITY OF Wilmington desired to be nOI-
fed Of the discharge Of cOnvicts from
the prison for the purpose Of knowing
what convicts might be at liberty about
the oity. Application, was made to the
Workhouse authorilibs to have the
names OF discharged prisoners and the
time OF discharge furnished to the pO-
lice authorities. This was refused by
Mr.. Ball and 10 became necessary for
the police authorities 20 ask Resident
Judge OF New Castle County for the in
formation desired and this information
Is now obtained from this source.
30 Upon one occasion a prisoner
was applying for q pardon and was
represented by Mr.. Ball. One Of the
grounds Of the petition was the III
health Of the prisone~. The WOrkhouse
physician examined the prisoner and
found him fairly healthy. Then. Nr.
Bail without any authority or permis-
sion Of anybody, and without any no
tficaiion 20 The WorkhOuse physician.
had his client examined by two out
side physicians who gave a certificate
Of poor health. which certificates were
used with the petition for a pardon.
No other members Of the Bar Of New
Castle County could have had such an
examination made bN outside physicians
without FIRST making application to the
Board Of Trustees. and without notify
ing the WorkhOuse physician Of the in
tended examination.
Instances Ike the above might be
mentioned almost indefinitely but time
and space forbid.
I'VE are convinced that no attorney
at-law, while practcing in a criminal
court should ever be permitted TO oc-
cupy the position OF trustee Of the
workhouse, though as a trustee he may
be ever so efficient, and rs an attorney
his integrity may be entirely above
suspicion yet this dual relationship
gives rise among the prisoners, their
relatives and friends. 10 rum0rs OF IA
voritism shown TO the prisoners who
have been represented by the attorney.
In many cases these rumors may be en-
tircly unfounded. yet this state OF facts
seriously impairs The confidence Of the
public in the integrity and efficiency
of the worhhOuse management, and also
often causes clashes Of authority be-
tween prison officials. and the attorney
trustee. which are demoralizlng 10 the
discipline Of the Institution
Without intending to reflect upon the
uersonal iniegritysof Mr.. Ball, we be-
lieve that he should either discontinue
the practice Of criminal law while a
memher OF the Board NJ Trustees, or
that ne should Withdraw from the posi-
ton Of trustee Of the workhouse and
thus put an immediate end TO this un-
fortunate situation
THE Grand Jury also investigated
rumors that two certain prisoners
namely Nields and Lucas were per-
mitied 10 leave the institution
I'VE hnd that such rumors are entire
" without foundation and that these
prisoners have been constantly confined.
and subjected to the same discipline as
all other prisoners.
General Conclusion.
"The grand Jury considers the escape
of Lemuei Price as \ disgrace 10 the