Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-16
INC|T|NG
LAID TO CHAPLAIN
Resignation Asked by Joliet
Warden Three Weeks AGO.
Second Rioter Dies.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
JOLIET, Ill, March 16.-Warden
Henry C. Hill said today the Rev.
George Whitmeyer, State penitentiary
chaplain, had been asked to resign
three weeks ago after the discovery of
evidence that he had been fomenting
disaffection and carrying letters to and
from prisoners.
Chaplain Called Tool.
Warden Hill said the chaplain had
been tool, with or without his knowl-
edge, in a cleverly hidden plot for
prison break several weeks ago. Chaplain
Whitmeyer, he said, had carried short
story written in prison by James Cen
tile, Chicago convict, to Mrs. Gentle.
Prison officials afterward learned the
story conveyed in code the plans for
jail delivery. The plot was discovered
and frustrated several weeks ago.
Gentle was convicted with Tommy
Shupe June 10, 1926, of participating
in the $4,000 pay roll robbery at the
International Harvester Co. Works.
They were sentenced to 10 years to life.
James Fur Sammons recently returned
to Joliet to serve out an old term for
Jack" White, who was convicted last
week of murder were acquitted of the
Harvester company hold-up.
Investigators for the Secret Six"
Crime-hghting Committee Of the Chi
cago Association of Commerce demand
ed OF the prison administration that
Chaplain Whitmeyer be removed.
Resignation is Received.
His resignation was received Febru-
airy 25, three days after the fatal am
bush of three escaping prisoners, whose
death he called murder at the hands
OF prison guards"
Warden Hill made his statement to
newspaper men at the old penitentiary
shortly after he had announced the
death of a second convict from wounds
lnnlcted by guards during Saturdays
riot OF 1,100 rebelliouS prisoners. -Four
conv1ctS were shot, two fatally, and
captain Of guards suffered a broken arm
in the uprising.
Rev. Whttmeyer was caught carry
ing letters to and from prisoners" said
the warden. IT have these letters.
"A convict brought to my Office by
Deputy Warden Erickson said Chaplain
Whitmeyer was telling the prisoners.
What this place needs is a damn good
about January 20. Prison rules re-
quire that any information gained from
convictS be backed up by other EVIL
dence and concrete evidence has been
sought"
Chaplain COmmends Warden.
Warden Hill was taken i'll mean
while and while he was in a Chicago
hospital the secret six asked that
Chaplain Whitmeyer be dismissed and
at the order of the warden Col. Frank
D.. Whip, State superintendent of
prisons, asked his resignation.
In his letter of resignation, Rev.
George L. Whitmeyer, the chaplain,
wrote:
II have no grievance. Nothing but
the kindest thoughts for Warden Hill,
and heartily approve of his great work
IN improving conditions at the peniten-
t1ary. like him very much.''
The letter said. Mr.. Whitmeyer re-
signed to enter parish work, and that
he was leaving Of his own accord. Col.
Frank D. Whip, acting warden at the
time three escaping conVictS were shot.
said he asked for Mr.. Whitmeyer's
resignation because he Ibid not fit into
the picture"
George Jakowanis, "a, died early to-
day, the second prisoner to Succumb to
wounds inflicted by guarc= durtn. .he
short-lived riot Saturday.
Two other convicts were still in the
hospital with less serious wounds.
Inquests Are Called.
Warden Hill hoped to direct prison
routine back into customary lines early
tsa1s week, but the death of the second
convict was expected to cause further
unrest among the prisoners.
1nquestS into the two deaths were
called for tomorrow by the coroner.
Albert Yarbeck, %, died shortly after
the outbreak Saturday, and JakowaniS'
death today was the sixth in three
weeks to require coroner's inquiry.
Legislators, appointed originally to
investigate the death of Convict Joseph
Coakley in solitary" went through the
damaged portions of the prison, inter-
viewed officials and one unidentified
prisoner and returned to Springfield
yesterday. Chairman Roger F. Little
of Champaign has called for another
meeting tomorrow in Springfield, where
plans will be laid for thorough inves-
tigation. InaSmuch as the interviewed
prisoner was reported to have blamed
the Pardon Board for the unrest which
resulted in the outbreak, Little indi-
Gated that members of the board would |
be called into the quiz.
Warden Hill said six steel saws had |
been found Saturday night in cell of |
the new penitentiary at StateSVille, |
near here, and tnat joint riot and at |
tempted jail break probably had been
interrupted. A code message telling of