Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-30
.DRAST|C CHANGES
PROMISED TO END
JAIL RUM SUPPLY
Superintendent Sends
"TruSty" Clerks to Cells
and Uses Paid Help.
REFUSES TO PROSECUTE
OR DISMISS MORE MEN
Says Evidence Lacking That Ma
lone, Discharged for Having Bot
tie, Was Regular Vender.

Sweeping changes in policy were de-
cided on today by Capt. M. M. Barn
ard, superintendent Of penal institu-
tionS, after he had practically COM
pleted an exhaustive investigation of
smuggling of liquor into the District
Jail.
Capt. Barnard announced that all
prisoners heretofore assigned to clerical
duty in the prison Office would be re-
placed by paid employees. They will
be returned to remote Enclosures. where
it will be impossible for them to come
in contact with the public and aid in
smuggling whisky to men in the cell
blocks.
Malone Discharge Sufficient.
The superintendent also revealed that
while several persons had been under
suspicion, no information juStifying
criminal prosecution or dismissal of add
ditional guards had been obtained dur
ing his comprehensive probe instituted
last Friday. He reiterated the declaras
ton that no efforts would be made to
prosecute Walter I. Malone, discharged
guard, because there was no evidence
with which to prove that he had been
In the practice of selling rye to prison.
ers before he was discharged Christmas
day.
Pointing to the fact that the sum-
mary dismissal of Malone after a half
pint of liquor was said to have been
found on his person, had demonstrated
to other guards that bootlegging to
prisoners would not be tolerated, Capt.
Barnard expressed confidence that his
investigation would result in better
conditions at the jail. He added that
the of1cials, guards and TRUSTEES had
been called on the carpet" and given
explicit instructions which would cause
them to think twice before endanger-
ing themselves by trafncking in liquor
Found No Narcotics.
Capt. Barnard disclosed that he had
failed in an effort to confirm reports
to the effect that narcotics, as well as
liquor, had been struggled to pris-
oners.
II think that report has absolutely
no basis in fact" Capt. Barnard de-
clared. II was able to find out plenty
single person knew anything about
dope having been sneaked into the
jail"
Among the persons interviewed by
Capt. Barnard were Col. william A.
Peak, superintendent; the captains of
the guard, numerous guards, TRUSTEES"
and laxative prisoners. He also talked
to several outsiders familiar with Jail
conditions.
The investigation was still In progress
this afternoon. Capt. Barnard ex-
pected, however, that he would be pre-
pared later In the day to make a writ
ten report to his Superiors. He confer
red for more than an hour this morn
ing with District Commissioner Sidney
r Taliaferro. exchanging ideas on what
action should be taken.
Doubts Liquor Sales.
There still is some doubt in. nv
mind" Capt. Barnard asserted, las to
whether any liquor actually has been
sold to prisoners. There is no doubt
that 1t was struggled into the jail, but
numerous persons questioned agreed
that the man or men who delivered
It merely acted as go-betweens' for
prisoners and their friends outside the
walls. 1t Is hard to tell definitely
whether anybody was making any
money out of this traffic.
The man in the jail who. manages
TO get any whisky from now on will
be wizard. Things really have tight
ened up; And they're going to be-
come tighter. Among the men under
suspicion are several TRUSTEES In the
1AOAAS OnACC. 4Acy Will DC sent Oack
behind the bars at once.
TRUSTEES Did Have Liquor.
while we were unable to obtain
enough information to warrant the tax
ing Of more drastic action, we did re-
ceive reports that these TRUSTEES" had
obtained liquor for themselves and for
their friends ThissSource of supply viii
be cut on altogethef when we employ
outsiders to do this clerical work"
Capt. Barnard took a hand in the
investigation last Friday 1t was ex-
planned at that time by Col. Peak that
Malone was searched when he report
ed for duty Christmas day as the re-
suit OF tip from a ''trusty" that Ma
lone had sold a pint of whisky to a
prisoner the day before. He was dis
missed the same dav