Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-11
Jail Break
Continued From First Page.)

found three pieces of the blades,
or inches long, in the band of
his hat.
Placed Near SkiskOwski.
Lloyd Immediately was trans
ferred to a control cell, where he
was held incommunicado from other
prisoners. In cell block No. 2, where
he was first held, he was in cell
next to that of Charles Skiskowski,
convicted payroll robber.
Claude o. Botkin, resident super
intendent of the Jail, who verified
other facts of the story, said he did
not believe that Jail officers had
threatened Lloyd if he told how he
brought the blades from Lorton.
Last Wednesday Lloyd told a guard
he had placed other pieces of the
blades under a table of the mess
hall where he sat while his cell was
being searched on Monday. A
search revealed two more pieces
laying on ledge of the table
Later high officials of the Metro
politan police. learning these blades
and three others in the Jail attic
had been found after their thorough
shakedown, came to the Jail to in
Quire into the matter.
While they were there Mr.. Botkin
walked over to the table where the
two pieces had been found earlier
and found another section.
Suggest Study by Citizens.
The committee headed by Leo A.
Rover, former district attorney who
made prison survey last year. pro-
posed to the Commissioners today
that citizens group be appointed
to study the advisability of separat-
ing the District penal institution
administration from the Board of
Public Welfare.
The survey might recommend
placing the penal institutions under
a new department of correction, the
Rover group said. The committee
emphasized its suggestion came as
the result OF a siX-month study OF
the situation and bore no relation
to recent difficulties at the District
Jail.
The Commissioners announced
they are taking the suggestion I'M
der advisement. Attending the meet
ing with Mr.. Rover were Wilbur La
Roe, member of the Board of Parole;
Bruce Baird, president, District
Bankers Association; the Rev.
Francis McPeek of the District Fed
Grafton of Churches, and Charles V.
Morris of the Correction Commit
tee OF the Council of Social Agencies.
Gill Not Discussed.
The Commissioners said they did
not discuss the District Jail situa-
ton in reference to Howard B. Gill
suspended general superintendent OF
penal institutions who has re-
quested a public hearing before the
Commissioners to determine wheth-
er he shall be discharged or retained.
Earlier, Commissioner Guy Mason
had pointed out that Mr.. Gill could
request a hearing on the Welfare
Boards suspension under a provision
granting that right to any District
employe hired by the Commissioners
or by an agency responsible to the
Commissioners.
Under the law, the hearing would
be held before the District Personnel
Board, of which Welfare Director
Ray L. Huff is a member.
Time to Ask Hearing.
Mr.. Huff said the Welfare Board
was prepared today to furnish the
Commissioners with the formal rec
ommendation for Mr.. ellis dis
miSSal, but it appeared likely the
Commissioners would not act until
the suspended superintendent had
been given every opportunity to an
swer the charges or request hear
ing within the 10 days allotted.
Mr.. Gill said he had encountered
some dificulty determining just
what he was allowed under the law,
but had reason to believe he would
be granted the public hearing.
The Welfare Boards Institutions
Committee which recommended Mr..
ellis dismissal and suggested trans
fer of Mr.. Botkin to another inSti-
tuition, met again today to investi-
gate the escape of two colored boys
Sunday morning.
Chairman A. j. Driscoll said the
committee would hear reports on
the break from William F. Fleming,
acting general superintendent and
Mr. Botkin and would interview
Ulysses s. Sims, the guard on duty
at the juvenile dormitOry when the
youths escaped.
B. E. Samples and H. F. Robinson,
two of three guards suspended after
the November "a breakout, have
been reinstated. The third guard,
L, A. Howard, charged with at
tempted sextortion, remains on the
inactive list,