Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-04
SINCLAIR CALLED
VICTIM AT JAIL
Auto Rides Cut Off by "Un.
favorable Notoriety," Say
Officials Here.

Frankly nlanifesting belief that Harry
T. Sinclair has become the victim OF
discrimination induced by "unfavorable
notoriety" given his motor trips to the
Municipal Wharf. jail officials today
complied with drastic instructions
from higher up" and appointed an
other prisoner to take over the oil mans
duties at the wharf clinic.
The new assistant to DR.. Morris Hy-
man, jail physician, is Edgar l.. Mo-
Namara. a trusty heretofore assigned to
duties in the main Office of the jail.
Beginning today he will make several
trips Q week to the riverside dispensary
TO assist DR.. HymRn in treating occo-
guam prisoners detailed TO work at the
Ninth street docks.
OHicials Give Views.
Both Mai. william l.. Peak, Superin-
tandent OF the District Jail, and M. M
Barnard, superintendent OF penal insti,
I'll ions, were emphatic today In assert
the establishment of the branch clinic
and the assignment Of Sinclair to ae-
company the physician there on his
otiicial visits. Both indicated they Tel.
that Sinclair was getting an "unlueky
break" and that he would have just
cause to claim he was being treated
unfairly,
Assuming full responsibility" for es-
adjustment of the wharf clinic, Supt
Barnard declared today the assignment
Of Sinclair to accompany DR.. LYMAN
on his trips to the river was with
my knowledge and with my consent"
IT saw nothing irregular, nothing
wrong In 1t at the time, and still
feel that way about it." Mr.. Barnard
said. DIR. Lyman must have some one
to assist him at the wharf, and Mr..
Sinclair was the logical man to do 1t.
II some one other than Mr.. Sinclair
had happened to be DR.. Hyman's assist
ant, no question would have been
raised.
THE Board of Public Welfare felt
however. that the publicity given Sim
clairs assignment made 1t unWiSe Il
continue him in that capacity. 1t ID
very unfortunate that this should hap
pen, for some people will regard the
boards order as an act of discrimin-
alton against Mr.. Sinclair"
Mr.. Bernard pointed out that thf
clinic at the wharf was established
! upon his recommendation about two
| months ago, q few days after the Health
Department had criticised sanitary con-
| ditions in the prisoners living quar-
tiers at the docks.
Prisoners Were Considered.
During the inru':y into conditions
some question -; raised about medi-
cal atteut'-'l Ior the prisoners. and
! told OF Lne difhculty OF sending q
physician there from Occoquan more
than once q week or So" Mr.. Bernard
| said.
while the Health Department made
no specific recommendation that q
clinic be set up at the wharf, I de-
cided then and there to seek means OF
affording the prisoners better medical
attention. 1t was as a direct result oil
the Health Department investigation
establishment of q branch clinic OF
the jail at the wharf, in charge Of DR.
Hyman.
Later. when Dr. Hyman said he
would need an assistant, Maj Peak
advised me that he planned to have
Mr.. Sinclair accompany the doctor fol
that purpose, and / approved of 1t as
would approve any routine matter"
Mr.. Barnard and Mai. Peak ex-
planned they saw no reason for taking
the proposed assignment up with the
consider 1t purely routine and regu-
lar"
II have been proud of the confidence
shown me by the board in giving me a
free hand here at the jail" Maj. Peak
said. II haven't bothered them with
trivial problems that I could solve N.Y.
self. have asked advice only when
something out of the ordinary has
arisen. did not consider the Sinclair
assignment anything out OF the ordi'
nary"
Maj. Peak said that Sinclair received
word Of the boards order without any
display of emotion.
"He had nothing to say about 1t ane
took the news in his usual quiet and
undemonstratiye manner" the super
intendent stated.
Sinclair Asked No FavOrs.
Peak said that Sinclair has never re-
quested any favor of any sort from jail
oficials, conducting himself as q mode
prisoner.
Henry Mason Day, colleague of the
oil man, also serving a term for jury
shadowing, has had no automobile rides
since being confined to the jail, Maj
Peak said in response to an inquiry
Day is an assistant in the commissary
and his duties sometimes require him
to walk outside the jail to a storehouse
in the rear Of the institution, but he
/ Is not permitted to venture farther
than that, it was stated.
Commissioner Sidney F. Taliaferro
who has executive charge of matters
relating to the Board OF Public Welfare
| today explained his part in the order
combining Sinclair to the jail by say
ing that early yesterday he communi-
Gated with George s. Wilson. directo,
of public welfaic, to verify the story
that Sinclair had been taking auto
mobile rides. Mr.. Wilson was already
acting in the situation. Mr.. Taliaferrc
said. and a meeting of the committee
of the board on penal institutions had
been summoned. Mr.. Taliaferro said
that therefore he felt the situation was
in good hands, and has no further part
In the decision, but that he entirely
approved the decision reached.
Mr.. Taliaferro said that as to reports
| that he had directed the board to take