Evening star., 1945-05-27
Ex.Prison Head
Asks 0'Conor
For Hearing
Maxwell Asks
Investigation Of
Correction Bourd
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, May 26.-Elmer st.
Clair Maxwell. deposed superinten-
dent of the Maryland State Penal
Farm, Roxbury, today asked Gov.
O'Conor for an open hearing on his
recent dismissal and to determine
whether there has been inefflciency,
neglect of duty or misconduct" by
certain members of the State Board
of Correction. ,'
The letter charged that the prison
farm never had developed resources
in limestone for State use as was
intended because several members
of the board were associated with
concerns selling stone to the State.
Mr.. Maxwell, acting through At
torney Willis R. Jones, former
chairman of the Board of Correc-
ton, asserted "the mere dismissal
without notice. of such an official
is sufficient in itself to carry a
strong suspicion that there is some
thing wrong in the Department of
Correction or there was just cause
for Mr.. Maxwell's dismissal.
Disclosure of Facts Urged.
Both Mr.. Maxwell and the public
are entitled to have the facts made
known"
Mr.. Jones' letter said some very
shameful threats" had been made
to Mr.. Maxwell "by or on behalf of
one or more members of the Board
of Correction"
The letter related that the penal
farm site had been selected because
of large limestone deposits which
prisoners we're intended to quarry
and crush for use on State roads.
Further investigation revealed
that this stone could be prepared at
the farm and loaded on cars or
trucks at cost approximately one
half the price being paid by the
State to other suppliers," Mr.. Jones
letter said.
Members Interested in Stone.
Unfortunately, these constructive
recommendations came before a
Board of Correction which included
at least two members who are heav-
lily interested in the business of
selling crushed stone to the State.
THE superintendent of prisons
(Harold E. Donnell, of Baltimore) is
also reported to be stockholder in
such a company of which one of
the board members is director"
Mr.. Jones letter said that Mr..
Maxwell was threatened by Mr..
James M. Grove, member of the
Board of Correction from Frederick,
Md, who is an executive officer of
a large contracting company which
sells crushed stone to the State in
large quantities, Mr. Grove telling
Mr.. Maxwell that if he wished to
retain his position as superintendent
of the farm it would be we'll for
him to forget about the stone and
lime business at that institution.
Prisoner Shifting Cited.
Il was told by Mr.. Edward Fore
man, another member of the board
and director of another large
company that supplies similar ma
terials to the State, that these pro-
posals would never be adopted and
it was useless for me to press them
any further"
The letter also asserted that the
0rlginal intent of the institution
vas to handle more trustworthy
prisoners whose progress and gen.
raj mental attitude justified trans
" to an institution of that char
ter"
However, the letter said, i'm
"ovement and untimely" transfers
ed been made to the penal farm
= the Board of Correction over
rotest of Mr. Maxwell.
More than 100 prisoners were
transferred shortly before Mr.. Max
Yell's recent dismissal, the letter
aid, without giving him a chance
o interview them or consider suit
able placements for them. Many
Of them, unsuited to "any available
assignment at the farm" had to be
confined in "demoralizing" idleness.