Evening star., 1934-02-16
CITY HEADS ORDER
PROBE OF CHARGES
OF LORTON GRAFT
Barnard BIameS personal
Enmity" for Attack
on Prison.
MAKES OWN SURVEY
FOR WELFARE UNIT
Inquiry Caused by Statements Of
Former Inmate of Reformatory,
Wilson Says.

commissioners lOQdS
signed an order for a sweeping inves-
tigation Of charges of graft, immoral
ity. and insanitary conditions at the
Lorton Reformatory. aired on the floor
Of the House yesterday by Represent
ative Shoemaker Of Minnesota.
With the investigation impending,
Capt. NJ M. Barnard. 72-year-old
superintendent of penal institutions,
visited the Board of Public Welfare
Offices in surprise move this morn
ing. filed written denials of the
charges for himself and four of the
subordinateS, said the charges we're
inspired by personal enmity of for
mer Supt. of Lorton A c. Tawse,
and disclosed that he had known
the charges would be made and
what they alleged since Tuesday.
George S. Wilson, director of public
welfare. said Commissioner Melvin C..
Hazen had informed him the Board
Of Commissioners would order an in
vestigation.
Cause Of Inquiry.
The investigation was decided on
prior to Shoemaker's speech before
the House yesterday, Wilson revealed.
He said it will be based on a men,
oTandum received from the Depart
ment of Justice concerning allega-
tions made by former prisoner at
Lortop.
But we will not confine ourselves
20 these specific allegations, said
Wilson. We will consider all phases
of the administration of the reforma-
tory and since Representative Shoe
makers remarks we're published and
are public property We will extend our
investigation to include all of his
charges. We may even ask Mr.. Shoe
maker to appear as a witness"
Barnard explained how he came into
possession of the charges against his
administration by displaying a copy
Of the memorandum from the Depart
ment Of Justice. He said he saw the
original memorandum on Wilson's desk
Tuesday and had one of the stenog-
raphers in the Welfare Boards Offices
copy 1t for him.
The Commissioners order directs
the Board of Public Welfare's Com
mlttee on Penal and Correctional In
stitutions to conduct the investigation.
The committee, headed by Michael
Doyle. attorney, includes w. w Mil
Ian, past president of the District Bar
Association; Frederick w. McReynolds.
John Joy Edson and Mrs. Charles
Goldsmith.
To Meet Monday.
Mr.. Wilson said the committee
would hold a preliminary meeting
Monday to determine what its proceed
ure will be-
Capt. Barnard welcomed the inves-
tigation saying he wanted a show
down and complete airing of his ad-
ministration.
Former Prisoner Blamed.
Shoemaker's charges were based.
Barnard said. on information furnish
ed by a former prisoner, Edward
Bedell. This contention was backed
by a memorandum, bearing the sigma
ture of Frank M Parrish. special
assistant to the Attorney General.
referred TO the District Commissioners
and by them to George S. Wilson.
director of public welfare for the
District.
The memorandum states that Mr..
Parrish interviewed Bedell January
26. Bedell had in his possession va
riouS documents. a few which pur-
ported to be originals. and others
copies Of documents alleged to be
in the files at Lorton.
Il have the utmost confidence in
my superintendent Of industries,
J. c. F.. BiSchoff, and Col. William l..
Peak, superintendent Of the reforma-
tory" Cap. Barnard said. There is
not a thing either one of them has
done which can't bear inspection. I
would welcome an investigation, but
don't want these charges hanging
over me unanswered. This is the rea-
son I took immediate action"
The Parrish memorandum states
that "one apparent embeZzlement Of
funds of prisoners is now receiving
the attention of the United States
attorney at Norfolk"
Barking Up Wrong Tree"
To this, Barnard replied with a
grin, They are barking up the wrong
tree there. That charge must have
gotten in by mistake. It's not aimed
at u.s.
Barnard left with Wilson state
ments from Col. Peak, Bischoff, r.
P. McCollum. who has charge of the
commiSsary, and c. w. Hanger, chief
accountant at the reformatory. All
denied presence Of any irregularities
or miSmanagement.
Only for Col Peak had Barnard
a word of censure. That was for
Peaks action in removing from the
laundry l6 men whom Shoemaker
had claimed suffered from a social
disease and might infect persons
whose laundry was done at the prison.
Peak evidently got stage fright"
(Continued on Page Z Column II