Evening star., 1933-07-06
Wilson Says TaWse Was
Slated for Dismissal Before
Food Rebellion.
DECLARES FAVORITISM
SHOWN TO PRISONERS
Director Charges Inmates Were
Permitted to Leave Reserva.
ton in Violation of Rules.

steps to remove A. C. Tawse as SUI
perintendent Of the District Refcrna-
tory at Lorton, Va, have been taken by
the Board Of Public Welfare, it was re-
vealed today by George S. Wilson, well
fare director of the District.
Mr.. Wilson's disclosure came in the
midst OF an investigation by Capt. M
M. Barnard, general superintendent Of
District penal institutions, of the re-
cent series Of disturbances among the
reformatory prisoners. Capt. Barnard
is expected to complete his inquiry in
the next few days.
The move to oust Tawse, according
to Wilson, antedated the food rebellion
at Lorton, which started last Saturday.
and subsidized Sunday afternoon with
the temporary furloughing of the re-
formatory steward. The prisoners
blamed the disturbance on the poor
preparation of the food.
Ordered Before Board.
Wilson said the Prison Committee Of
the Welfare Board had been dissatis-
fed for sometime with Tawse's admin
stratlon OF the reformatory, and had
made plans to replace him long before
the outbreak among the prisoners.
Wilson explained the board wanted
Tawse to retire. Tawse, however, re-
fused to sign his application for retire.
ment for physical disability, but was
cited nevertheless on June 20 to appear
before the medical examining board of
the Veterans Administrati Thus far
he has failed to appear before the
medical examiners.
Tawse declared he had no intention
OF appearing before the medical exam
ming board. Moreover, he said. he had
not received written instructions to ap-
pear. The order. he declared, was given
to him verbally.
Wilson pointed oHt that Tawse Is
physically unfit to continue his duties
at Lorton, and unless be appears before
the Medical Board he may Be summarily
dismissed for insubordination for re-
tusing to obey an order Of the Com
missioners.
Wilson said two candidates for Tawse,s
post. both highly trained in prison work,
already have been interviewed and an
appointment could be made without de-
lay.
Prisoners Permitted TO Leave.
The chief complaint against Tawse,
according to Wilson, IS the favoritism
he has shown toward certain prisoners.
which naturally caused considerable re-
sentiment among the unfavored inmates
In several instances, he said, TaWse
permitted prisoners to leave the reser-
vation to come to Washington to trans
act business or see relatives who were
i'll. In each case, the prisoners were &C
companied by a reformatory attache,
but Wilson declared such action con-
stituted a violation of the rules and as
result the Welfare Board issued a
special order forbidding any inmate
from leaving the reservation in the fu-
ture without the permission OF Capt.
Barnard
Two Were Bootleggers.
Two of the prisoners who we're al
lowed to come to Washington, 1t was
said, were notorious bootleggers. One
of them was allowed to leave to visit his
wife who was sick. and upon leaving
policeman for arresting a friend
Another prisoner, Mr. Wilson said,
was allowed to visit washington to
transact some important business, and
while in the city stopped at bank and
withdrew more than 500 which was
taken form him when he returned to
Lorton.
Prisoners at Lorton according to Will
son, are not permitted to carry money.
All money, he explained, is taken from
them and kept in possession of the re-
formatory officials, and none Of it can
be spent without the approval of the
authorities.
Wilson said the welfare board was
satisfied that Tawse was actuated solely
by desire to "do a favor" for the
prisoners who have been given spe-
cial privileges, but that such humani-
tarism toward the inmates was in vio-
lation of the rules, and established a
bad precedent toward maintaining dis
cipline at the institution.
Brought Here From Richmond.
Tawse was selected by Capt Barnard
as superintendent Of Lorton because
of his long experience in prison work
He was a specialist in prison industrial
activities, and was brought to Lorton
from the Virginia State Penitentiary
at Richmond, where he had charge Of
the industrial work among the inmates.
Tawse has made quite an envable
Continued on Page 2, Column A.