Evening star., 1934-03-16
CLOSE Of LORTON
INQUIRY EXPECTED
Shoemaker to Attend Today
in Response to New
Invitation.

Investigation of alleged irregu1ari-
ties in the management Of the DIG
trict Reformatory in Virginia was tc
be concluded this afternoon unless
some additional new questions were
raised at q final hearing, scheduled
to begin at 1870 o'clock at the Dis.
trict Building.
Representative Francis H. Shoema.
ker, Farmer-Laborite, of Minnesota
who precipitated tn investigation by
charges made on the floor Of the
House, was invited to make an appear
ance at the final hearing.
Members Of the Investigating Com
mittee sent the new invitation to
Shoemaker, planning to ask him if he
had any further statement to make,
or If he now was willing to give the
names of prisoners or guards at the
reformatory who could throw any ad-
ditional light on the investigation.
Says He Will Attend.
Shoemaker said he expected to at
tend the hearing. He declared: 1T
is the first Investigating Committee !
ever heard Of that didn't want to get
information.
Shoemaker also disclosed that he
had writtena letter to Judge Michael
M. Doyle, member of the committee,
on Tuesday, March l3, offering to
assist the committee. The letter fol-
lows:
1T has come to my attention from
the evidence given before your non
orable investigating committee re-
garding the Lorton penitentiary that
those who are doing the interrogat-
ing are somewhat unfamiliar with the
subject matter and the manner oy
which to get desired results. I DO
not say this with a thought in mind
of belittling the efforts Of the COM
mittee, but most of the questions are
in the nature Of a defense OF those
being Investigated. I sincerely believe
that I can render valuable service
to your committee and 1t is with this
constructive thought in mind that I
hereby tender my services to your
committee. and further request the
privilege Of questioning several wit
nesses and oficials and with further
knowledge in mind that II opportunity
Is afforded me I will be able to expe-
dite your entire Investigation and
bring out the information necessary
to cause indictments and convictions.
Trusting In behalf Of honesty and
Justice that you may see At to accept
my services, I am, sincerely and re-
spectfully-"
Names at First Denied.
When Shoemaker testified the first
time he declined to reveal the names
of prisoners and guards who, he said,
had provided him with some informa-
ton on the subject.
The investigating body, a special
committee of members of the Board
of Public Welfare, headed by w. w.
MILAN, had three other witnesses in
mind for this afternoons session.
They are Maj. Daniel J. Donovan,
District auditor; M. C. Hargrove,
District purchasing officer, and pat
ent attorney, George E. Muth. The
latter was asked to appear to give
testimony regarding the charge that
Edmund Rheem, former mortgage
banker, serving q term at Lorton, had
been permitted to leave the institu-
ton on several occasions. This charge
has been denied by Rheem.
Donovan and Hargrove were asked
to appear to testify as to accounting
methods and procedure Of purchase
Of materials at Lorton, as check
against statements made by J. E. C.
Bischoff, Lorton business manager.
Unless new evidence is produced at
this afternoons session, the commit
tee plan to proceed with an examina-
ton of the transcript of the hearings
and to prepare report to the Dis
trict Commissioners on their investi-
CATION. One member estimated this
might require three or four days.