Evening star., 1934-01-25
OverIords of Welfare Island
and Cohorts Are Sent
to SOLITARY"
PENITENTIARY is HELD
IN NEAR-MILITARY LAW
Warden Is Stripped of Power on
Revelation of Feudal Regime
and Luxury for Few.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, January 25.-The bleak
confines of solitary" in sharp contrast
to their accustomed luxury, today held
nearly 100 of Welfare Islands gangster
overlords and their cohorts who until
Yesterday ruled New York City's peni-
tentiary in vicious style.
Austin H. MacCorm. X, prison-Wlse
commissioner of corrections, who MADE
RAID" out of his initial inspection OF
Welfare Island, neld the penitentlary
in virtual military law with force OF
policemen, detectives and department
heads
He announced his intention Of re-
naming on the island until conditions
we're cleared up. narcotics and SPECIAL
privilege eliminated. and the feudal rule
of prisoner bosses broken.
Warden Stripped of Power.
Welfare Island. formerly old Black
wells Island. was incommunlcaoo. All
Manhattan and Queens approaches on
the opposite river banks we're gua[oeo ;
police launches patroled the East RlVer
about the island and the Queensporo
Bridge approach was uluet Heo'9
guard. .s -
Warden Joseph McCann, stripped OF
mower bv the commissioner. was taxing
his orders directly from MacCormlcK
The deputy warden, against "non
charges have been filed was replaced by
Headkeeper Lazarus Levy OF RlKer Is
land Penitentiary
Some 200 narcotic addicts nave a.
ready been removed from cells, ana 'le
commissioner expects to remove nor
/ to the prison hospital when the Snutlihs
off of narcotic supplies becomes enec-
tive Work was started on removing
startling fifth and debris in the cei
blocks. and remedying primitive sanl-
tary accommodations.
Books Used as Fuel.
| Learning that most OF the l'4oo uh'
privileged prisoners have been eatlnt
| cold food while others have been COOK
/ ing steaks and chops in their cells. tht
/ commissioner put workers on the Joo o.
building a large steam taple.
The raiding party found most OF IN.
l 600 books in the library had been uset
as fuel by prisoners for their cell Gull
nary work. Stocks of expensive ant
varied foods we're found In the Luxurious
quarters of the prison big shots"
District Attorney William c. Dodg
asked for evidence of criminal neglec
and said, Il don't care who it hits.
MacCormick, Mayor La Guardia'
specialist" appointee as commissions
of corrections for New York City, ha
only been in town fortnight iron
Chillicothe. where he was in actin'
charge of the Federal Reformatory. NJ
one had anticipated, so soon at least
such a coup as he directed yesterday
! His descent upon the island prisol
yesterday was SO well planned tina
neither the prisoners nor warden Mc
Cam himself was aware OF the purpose
Commissioner MaoCormick expresse
astonishment at conditions on tn
island, and after finding it reekln
with gang rule, narcotic addlcts an
ugly ViclouSneSS he called II tne "ors
prison in the world
Two Gangsters in Charge.
"Welfare Island?" commented one G
the members of the commissioner
visiting party" "A better name woul
/ be Devils Island"
Some of the conditions uncovered b
the commissioner and described by hir
as almost beyond belief were:
. The prison population was virtual
! under the thumbs of two gangster in
: mates
, These leaders had unnumbered spe
cial privileges.
They enjoyed valet service, specis
food special sleeping quarters, speci'
liberties.
i. They kept pets and even raise
flowers. Zone investigator said ths
whenever the warden returned from
, trip off the island his Office was pre-
| fusely supplied with blooms from tn
| gangster garden)
One of the leaders-the notorior
; Joseph Rao who was the unscathe
, target of the infamous Harlem "bat
= killers" two years ago-even had h
own monogrammed stationery. tWhe
MacCormick's men walked in yesterds
morning Rao was shaving. Ordered
, come along" he merely waved h
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