Evening star., 1934-03-06

itism is shown wealthy prisoners. An
ticipating the line the inquiry would
take, Capt. Barnard had a typewrit.
ten list ready when the question came
Edward Bedell, ex-convict. whose
allegations precipitated the investiga-
ton. testified last Saturday that space
on the porch was sold to wealthy
prisoners and that there they enjoyed
comparative luxury with four and five
blankets, two and three lockers, guam
titles of contraband food and the
privilege Of roaming about at will. He
said they were charged from $50 tc
Sl00, according to their wealth ane
ability to pay.
Claims Treatment Justified.
Capt Barnard denied this and said
the II inmates on the porch do work
at the prison which necessitates their
free passage in and out during times
when most other prisoners are locked
in their dormitories.
He said most of those on "the
porch were placed there by former
Supt. A. c. Tawse, who was ousted
by Barnard during the riots among
the prisoners last Summer.
Il put two men there recently,
though" said the witness. Both were
as poor as dirt and one was assigned
there because he is in danger Of los
ing his mind and I am trying to keep
him out of St. Elizabeth's Hospital ~
Those who sleep on the porch, which
adjoins dormitory formerly used as
hospital, are:
G. Bryan Pitts. former chairman OF
the board of the F. H. Smith Co.. who
is serving a 14-year term following
the Smith Co.'S collapse, which shook
the financial foundations of the city
Barnard said Pitts is the only man on
the porch with two lockers.
Locker for Papers.
you know, he had quite a large
business before coming here ex-
planned the witness. "and. of course
had to have an extra locker to keep
his papers"
Pitts is listed on the prison rolls as
banker and is employed there as a
clerk in the commissary.
Edmund D. Rheem. former execu-
tive vice president of the Swartzell
Rheem & Hensey Co. He was SEN
fenced in 1881 to seven years i'm
priSonment for concealment of rec
ords. He is employed as a clerk in
the office Of Col. William L. Peak
superintendent of the reformatory and
is listed as a broker.
Raymond L. Schreiner. former
president of the Bank of Brightwood
who was convicted of embezzlement
in 1882 and is serving a three-year
term. He is a clerk in Col. Peak s
Office.
George w. Bennett, youthful for
mer teller at the Farmers & Mechan-
les Bank of Georgetown. who pleaded
guilty to embezzling more than
100000 and was sentence in Febru-
ary, 1880, to serve nine years ir
prison. He has charge of the prison
canteen.
Boyer on List.
Charles D. Boyer, former cashier
of the old Federal-American National
Bank, who was sentenced in 1888 to
three years for embeZzling more than
S130,000. He is clerk in the stew
ards office.
Abner Siegel, disbarred attorney
serving 18 months on conviction last
year of attempting to bribe a guard
at the District Jail to furnish an alb
for one of his clients.
With one exception the others or
the porch are not so we'll known. The
exception is man serving life term
for murder Capt. Barnard requested
his name be withheld since he is saio
to be in precarious mental state.
The others on the porch were said
to be Henry Green, an electrician
serving 10 years for larceny, employed
as motion picture operator: Charles
Norris. a steam filter, serving 10 years
for housebreaking. employed as mail
clerk; Ralph Hollis, a college student
serving five years for grand larceny
employed as a clerk; John M. Kirk
machinist. serving six years fol
robbery, employed as a clerk in Col
Peaks Office, and c. Sessinghaus. a
salesman, serving two years for en-
bezzlement, employed as clerk In
the captains office.
Three Blankets Each.
Capt. Barnard said these prisoners
have three blankets each. Bedell had
testified that prisoners inside the
dormitories have one.
A few minutes after this testimony
Capt. Barnard surprised the commit
tee by changing from defense Of his
administration to a vigorous attack or
the prison facilities.
He said that when the group o1
buildings now under construction are
completed all men doing clerical work
will be placed in one building.
He said present facilities are entirely
inadequate since the plant was moi
intended for more than 750 inmates
and is forced to accommodate Pas.
The wonder is that they get along
as well as we do" said Capt. Barnard
No prison ever should have more thar
l 900 prisoners, while we have 1.24e
at Lorton and 300 at the District
workhouse at Occoquan-about 2,00t
men without walls.
"The time is coming and coming
shortly when you gentlemen will have
to ask Congress for a million dollars
to build another prison. If you don't
there is liable to be trouble.
when came here II years ago
hoped to build up a real reformatory
a place for first offenders. Instead
we have men of all types from nfers
down."
He said If the Districts prison.
were under the Department Of Justice
the present situation would not be
allowed to exist.
Denies Beatings.
Questioned by Judge Michael M
Doyle, committee member, concern
ing allegations there had been beat
ings of recaptured prisoners who had
escaped, Capt. Barnard said he knew
of none. He also said he had given
strict orders about two years ago that
no prisoners were to be chained to
bars as punishment.
T,,d0o nou1n oeLad hin, uphofhar hc