The Washington times., 1929-05-09
OFFICIAL s
WAN 7 I 0
CORRECT
BLlJNDER
Continued from First Page)

IN Wilson'S office would shed no
light on the purpose OF the hurried
trip.
Commissioners Taliaferro said he
know nothing about the situation,
hut did not think any change would
be made in the status OF the mil
lionaira prisoner.
Wilson before leaving stood pat on
his position in as far as the press
Ia concerned, and said he had no
intention of changing the order.
Commissioner Taliaferro, under
whom the Board Of Public Welfare
comes. is still leaving administration
OF iail affairs up to Wilson, and re-
f1ses to step in with even a sug-
Restion as to lifting the restrictions
imposed upon newspapermen.
Chance To "Save Face"
The transfer Of the wealthy pris'
Oner in believed to be the solution
that win relieve the Commissioners
of their embarrassment, keep the
tail free from newspapermen, and
thereby save face by neither can
ceiling Wilson's ruling or standing
too strongly behind him on barring
the press from the Jail.
Harry r. Sinclair is no piker.
You can tell the world thatF'
This is the opinion OF his fellow'
prisoners at the Jail.
Carries Big Roll
For Sinclair, his pockets bulging
with banknotes, has already won the
regard of the prisoners in his ward.
Money means nothing to the
corpulent multi-millionaire, and his
cell mates. knowing this, fall all
over themselves to be nice to the
'Angel Of the District Jail"
For example, yesterday Sinclair
couldn't find the towel allotted to
him. An eager-eyed prisoner re.
spectfully offered his own towel.
Here. son." the oil baron ex-
claimed, peeling a five-dollar bill
from a husky bank roll. Take it,
it's. not too much for a clean
towel"
The first day he was in Jail. &C.
cording to information which leaked
out today, Sinclair was approached
by a pretty seedy'looking customer
"a prisoner who, it was said, was
serving. time for tntoxication.
Free with His Dough
Immediately Sinclair's big-heart,
edness manifested itself, and he
gave his less fortunate comrade
two dollars.
OF course, they're all Strong for
Harry!'' It pays!
But Sinclair cannot get over the
fact that the public in general is
actively interested in his personal
hahits while an inmate of the
District Jail.
"I fail to see why they are inter
ested in me-" he remarked to a jail
al Aa nj
aggs--and there are lots of folks
should that fact be heralded
abroad?"
Regular Fellow"
Sinclair, it was learned, converses
freely with the prisoners with
whom he comes in contact. He
doesn't ''put on the dog" and is
regarded az being q regular he.
fellow"
When he arose this morning an.
other prisoner asked how he slept
and it he liked his new bed.
Sinclair replied he didn't sleep
very we'll, but it was through no
fault of the cot. His bed was very
comfortable, he said, and he had no
complaint to make over the way he
was being treated.
Efforts to ascertain details con-
cerning the oil baPen's movements
within the prison proved unavailing
insofar as ordinary sources OF in
formation are concerned, and it ap-
peared today that, despite protests
from Congress ana elsewhere, the
afficialdom Of the District is accord
ing Sinclair preferential treatment,
Order Sets Precedent.
Certainly no other prisoner in the
District Jail ever has been so iso-
lated and protected, from any kind
Of publicity. Never before has q
gag rule been imposed upon Major
William L, Peak, superintendent OF
the Jail. He has been forbidden to
admit even that Sinclair is In the
Jail, ,
ciais flat orders to reveal nothing
concerning the oil kings activities
and to permit no reporters to come
within gunshot of the Jail, has been
A minor official in the District gov
ernment for a score of years, con-
nected with various charitable and
reform activities. He has not
visited the Jail since Sinclair sur
rendered.
81 am acting in my own light and
according to my best Judgment
Wilson said today.
Prior to the issuance of his order
there were comparatively few re-
porters or Washingtonians in gen.
eral who knew of Wilson or his
authority. Members of Congress
asked "who is he?" when told OF
the orders.
Major Peak Worried
Major peak, according to his
friends, is somewhat chagrinned
that he is being thus muzzaed for
the first time in his life, but he is
taking the order like good soldier,
hopeful that the impression will not
prevail that Sinclair is being the
recipient of special favors while
In his charge.
There were distinct rumblings
from Capital Hill, however, to just
that effect. Senator Heflin Cd, OF
Alabama, already has berated the
local government for the present
state Of affairs, and other speeches
OF like character were expected to-
day in both houses of Congress.
The legislators are questioning Wit
sons action, and fireworks of a
nature unpleasant to the local Of
eeiais are apt tN 'n'0s'