Evening star., 1926-08-22
EXPELLED WARDEN
ASKS BIG DAMAGES
Whitman Sues WeideIing for
$100, ,0OO-WiII Seek Heavy
Sums From Others.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, August 21.-Accused
only few moments after his dis
missal as warden of the Joliet State
prison of assisting prisoners in plot
to escape from the Cook County Jail,
John l.. Whitman, widely known
prison executive, struck back today
both at those who made public the
Jail break charge and at those re-
sponsible for his ousting as peniten-
tiary chief
He flied suit for 100000 against
Capt. George ~ Weideling, warden
of the Cook County jail. charging
defamation of char acter. and his at
torney announced that similar suits
will be brought AT once against Gov.
Len Small, Chairman Chauncey
Jenkins of the State welfare depart
ment, former Chairman Will Colvin
of the State board of pardons and
paroles and others.
Escape Brings Dismissal.
Whitmans dismissal as prison
warden followed the escape Of seven
prisoners, who killed a deputy war
"A
ed it held him responsible for lax
prison discipline. but affirmed its he
lief in. his honesty and integrity.
Whitman claimed he was handicap
ped by Colvln and Jenkins in admin
istration of the prison. Some days
ago county Jail executives discovered
an apparent plot Of six prisoners to
escape. They had sawed their cell
bars. A few days later Capt. Weidel-
ing announced that one prisoner in
volved In the escape. who earlier had
escaped from the state prison, had
an astounding confession to make"
The confession. heard in secret. sub
seQuentlv was announced as that of
Thomas Sullivan. He was said to
have named Whitman as smuggling
saws to him in the county Jail and
to have repeated story told some
months ago that Whitman enabled
him to escape from the State prison
for $1,000. Whitman already had de-
MED the story Of the $1,000 and
VIII County grand jury at Joliet had
refused to give credence to II.
Calls Confession" False.
Whitman likewise called the county
tail break confession" an obvious
falsehood, but Weideline said several
cellmates Of Sullivan had corroborated
It, and he himself recalled Whitma n 9
presence in the Jail on the day on
which Sullivan said he received the
saw.
The suit against Weideling was
filed today by Charles K. Erbstein.
who will represent Whitman in the
other actions still 10 he brought.
The attorney promised a. 200. 900
=
blow the lid off everything
mfr. Whitman said Erbstein. 'is
one Of the best jailers in the country.
He has been wronged by grating poll
tidans. He has kept quiet long
enough. Now he will talk"
The attorney branded as ridiculous
the allegation that Whitman was paid
81 200 for helping prisoners to escape
and declared his client never had
$1,000 in the bank at one time"
The suit against Small, said Whit
mans counsel. will he based "on his
approval Of actions Of men under him
who had a part in Whitman's dis
missal as warden. which we will prove
was unwaIranted.
COlvln's Dismissal Asked.
Jenkins heads the governing Sroup
which controls the States penal insti-
tutions. and Colvin, who lately re-
signed as parole board chairman.
after two grand juries had suggested
his dismissal, was associated with
prison affairs in his Official capacity.
Weideling has resigned as county
Jail warden. following revelations Of
escape efforts and of the smuggling
of liquor and narcotics to prisoners
He announced. however. TO a commit
tee which Is to select his successor
that he would seek appointment to
the post by examination.
Erbstein said that in addition to
the suit already filed and those to he
brought, criminal proceedings would
be instituted charging conspiracy
against all those who have had q
part in Warden W'hitman's defama
tion.'