Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-27
MCrocken Begins Jail Term,
Assigned to Clerical Staff
Receives First Visitors
After a Hearty
Breakfast.
Persists in DeniaIs of
Link to Paper De.
StrUctiOn.

Inc prisoner ate q hearty break
fast-then received his first visitors
Thus did William P. MacCracken,
jr., former Assistant Secretary of COM
merce for Aeronautics, open the first
full day Of his To-day sentence in the
District Jail. Sentenced there for con-
tempt of the Senate growing out of
destruction of papers subpoenaed by
the Black Airmail Committee, Mac
Cracker surrendered yesterday after
noon to Chesley w. Jurney, sergeant
alarms of the Senate, and was re-
ceived at the Jail shortly after.
Although he declined last night to
be interviewed or photographed, Mac
Cracker relented partly this morning
Freshly-shaved and tastefully dressed
in brown suit. brown shoes. brown tie
and tan shirt, he cordially greeted
representatives of The Star in the
Office of Jail Supt. T. M. Rives.
Discusses Gravelly Point.
II don't want to be interviewed" he
smiled. but I'm not so timid that I
wouldn't come up from downstairs to
say hello to you fellows"
For a few minutes then. he casually
I cussed the chances of the Gravelly
Point site for District airport, on
which hearings are now being held
by House committee.
II hope they take some action
SoOn," he said. THE District GER
tainly needs additional aviation ia
cilities."
Asked if he would make any COM
ment on his prison routine. Mac
Cracker pointed out that any criti-
cism would be "undiplomatic" at this
early stage of his sentence. Super
intendent Rives agreed.
I'm not going to hand them any
bouquets now. either" the lawyer re-
marked. They might want me to
stick around a few extra days"
AS for the justice of his sentence,
the prisoner said he would rest his
case on the statement which he issued
al the time of his surrender. He de-
clined to be photographed at the jail.
Assigned to Clerical STAFF.
Upon his arrival at the Jail Mac
Cracker went through the usual re-
ceiving process Of being finger-printed
and filling out the registration ques-
tionnaire. Expressing willingness
to work, he was assigned to the cleri-
cal staff of the Jail and thereby be-
came entitled to the privileges of the
clerical TRUSTEES. These include better
menus and sleeping quarters in a dor
mitory instead of a cell. Also he may
remain in the clerical office late in
the evening to read or play cards and
may roam the jail grounds on Sat-
urday or Sunday under watch of a
guard.
For breakfast this morning he had
bologna. fried apples, cereal, biscuit
and coffee.
I'VE don't operate the Office workers
on a hard and fast schedule" Rives
explained this morning, because the
volume of work on hand governs their
hours. Mr.. MacCracken will be get
ting up by each morning and will
be expected at work about 8. Lunch
is served about 1870 and supper at
5. but the Office staff may quit in the
afternoon or work through into the
evening, depending on what we have
to do.
Mr.. MacCracken may have family
visitors on Sunday night. That is the
time designated for the clerical work.
ers. since We do not want to inter-
rupt them during the day. Other
white prisoners have their visitors on
Friday afternoons"
Since the day of arrival and day Of
departure are counted in a prison
sentence. the superintendent said
MacCracken will be released next
Thursday.