Evening star., 1945-11-30
Medley Money
Held Big Factor
In Jail Break
Convicted Slayer
Called Too Hot for
Inclusion Otherwise

derer, probably played an important
part in the escape of five men from
the District Jail last Saturday.
Authorities close to the escape
investigation said that was a rea-
sonable assumption since Medley
sentenced to die February 4, was
too hot" to figure in a break con.
spiracy unless he had somethine
tangible to contribute.
Investigators have admitted thai
Medley and nine others plotted the
escape, which sent five men through
window of the outmoded prison
Saturday afternoon.
Pair Were Left Behind.
Medley and Earl MacFarland, an.
other convicted murderer figuring
in the plot, were left behind in theil
cells, although the agreement hao
been that prisoners having freedom
OF the recreation room would over
power two guards, seize their keys
and release the doomed men.
Only two guards were on duty
when the break was accomplished
Neither guard was armed, leaving
them vulnerable to a stealthy at
tack by the conspirators.
The inference, then, was thai
Medley, MacFarland and two others
locked in the adjoining east gal.
lery Of the cellblock, were ignored
when the break developed.
Although Medley was confined t.
a cell, it was an easy matter fol
him to communicate with the others
The death cells are located in thu
east gallery with those occupied b,
short time prisoners and have oper
fronts, it was pointed out.
Medley Had Opportunities.
Since last autumn, when h,
walked away from jackson
tMichD prison with $3.50 belonging
to other prisoners, the suave
smooth-working Medley had va
rious opportunities to increase hi.
bankroll.
Although much of it was spent il
his defense against the charge O.
killing Miss Nancy Boyer here las
March, Medley was believed to hav,
enough money hidden away to worl
with the jail-break mob.
Some of this money may hav,
been used for smuggling in from TIVE
to four sawblades the investigation
likely will show were slipped into tn.
jail. Authorities were trying to &C.
count for a $50 bill found wrapped
in a paper in the cell of one "old.
time" convict, who apparently wa!
not involved in the break. TIL,
money probably was dropped int
the cell week ago Saturday wher
prison officials were tipped of to /,
possible break.
Blades Washed Down Drain.
In the shakedown of prisoner
that followed that tip, the saw
blades were broken into small piece.
and probably washed down a drain
it was said.
/ One of the prison officials alst
admitted that Michael J. Quinn. on.
of the escaped prisoners, had re.
ceived periodic visits from a mar
listed on his visitors roster as ar
uncle from Philadelphia. Investi.
cation has revealed the man, who
visited Quinn day before the break
was no relation.
Thomas r. Sard, chairman of tn
three-man board of Jail officials in
veStigating the break, said he ex
pected the inquiry to continue a
least another day
Welfare Board to Get Report.
1t may be a week or more befor
the public is informed of the board
decisions. Its report will go to tn
Board of Public Welfare and thenc
to the Commissioners.
Howard B. Gill, District superin
tendent of penal institutions, an
nounced registered letter had beef
sent to Lawrence A. Howard, one o
the three suspended guards, urgin,
him to attend today's hearing.
Mr.. Gill has criticized Howard TO
failure to appear at the sessions
In the letter Howard was told
was his duty" to respond to tn
unofficial summons. He is free OF
81 900 bond pending arraignment OF
charges of attempted extortion.
Mr.. Gill said he expected to repor
this afternoon to the Board of Pub
lie Welfare on the custody and Sc
curity'' phases of the Jail.
He said he would recommend
among other things, that a 20-foot
high wall with "at least eight guar,
towers" be built around the Jail an,
that the number of guards be in
creased.
Mr.. Gill also disclosed that a
the time of the jailbreak only /:
guards were on duty throughout tn,
building, which that day held 49l
prisoners.
1--WE should have had at leas
twice that number" he said. Other'
on duty at the time were captain
of the guard, captain of the watch
lieutenant of the watch and chic
matron. Mr.. Gill previously has
referred to "low pay" of guards, ans
last night explained that they ar,
under the civil service CPC-5 desig,
nation and now receive between ST..
1858 and $2,364 a year. Guards wer,
granted increases approximatint
$500 year when Government pay
scales were raised July /, he said
Complement Of 68 Persons.
The Jail now has total compile,
ment of 68 persons responsible fol
security of prisoners, Mr.. Gill said
They are captain of the guard
2 watch captains, 3 watch lieuten
ants, a head matron, SO guard
and 8 matrons.
At yesterdays sessions of inquiry
Mr.. Gill and Claude o. Botkin, resi-
dent Jail superintendent, again CAV,
information. Others testifying wer,
Benjamin B. Sweeney, captain o
the watch at the time of the escape
G. F. Tucker, captain of the guard
Record Clerk George E. Stokes, VIII,
notified police of the escape, an,
Joseph Camden, lieutenant of tn
watch.
Rabbi Ira Sud to Speak
II Observation of Hanukkah, tn
II Feast of Tights will heoif, of th