Evening star., 1946-04-15
Hearings on Jail
.C|oseAfterGiII
Defends Record
Says Parole Racket
Expose Cost Job
| At Norfolk, Mass.

Public hearings by the House
District Subcommittee investi-
eating the District Jail were
closed by Chairman Hebert today
with these developments:
Howard B. Gill, suspended Dis
trict penal superintendent, was
called back to the stand and asked
why he left the wardenship of the
State Prison Colony at Norfolk,
Mass, in 1884. He replied that he
was dismissed after exposing Gov.
Joseph B. Ely's parole and pardon
racket"
Mrs. Betty Mack, 2300 H street
NV, testified that a District Jail
guard called at her home with a
police character then under bond
and asked money for prisoner. She
named the guard as Mr. Howard"
identified by previous witnesses as
Lawrence A. Howard, former
guard at District Jail. She said the
man with him was Tommy English,
described by Chief of Detectives
Robert j. Barrett as awaiting trial
at the time on a charge of pander-
ing.
Executive Session Tomorrow.
Mr.. Hebert announced that the
subcommittee would go into exec
dtive session tomorrow with James
V. Bennett, director of the Fed
eral Bureau of Prisons, to seek
counsel in drafting its report. The
chairman said that, meanwhile, the
FBI would report on secret in
vestigation it had made of the re-
cent jail breaks.
Unless the FBI has uncovered
evidence calling for further testi-
mony, no further hearings will be
held, Mr.. Hebert added, but the
committee will draft the report it
hopes to make later in the week.
Called back before the committee,
Mr.. Gill was questioned closely
about methods of guarding the
deathhouse at District Jail. MIR.
Hebert then brought up for the
first time the penologist's record in
Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Hebert recalled that Mr.. Gill
had told the committee he was head
Of the Norfolk Mass prison for
about six years.
Why did you leave?"
Il left" Mr.. Gill replied, "as the
result of an investigation in 1894
Disagreed With Practices.
Asked the nature of the investiga-
ton, Mr.. Gill said it was ito see if
they couldn't find some reason
for removing me from Office"
why did they want to remove
you from office?" Mr.. Hebert de-
manded.
Because disagreed with certain
practices" Mr.. Gill explained, add
ing: I'm fact, I charged Gov. Ely
with running a pardon and parole
racket"
At this point Mr.. Gill asked per-
mission of the committee to file
certain papers. bearing on the in
VeStlgatlon of the Massachusetts, in
stitution and his dismissal. Mr.. He
bert said that was only fair, in view
OF the fact the committee had
brought up the matter.
There were two investigations of
the Norfolk Prison, Mr.. Gill ex-
planned, one conducted by James
Nawn, and Mr.. Gill described that
as "a political investigation" The
other inquiry, he said, was made by
w. Cameron Forbes, a former gov
ernor general of the Philippines.
This latter investigation, Mr.. Gill
said. resulted in a report that the
Norfolk Prison was 'the only cred.
liable chapter" in the penal history
of Massachusetts.
Says He Wrote Phrase.
Mr.. Gill explained that he remem-
bered the phrase because he wrote
it himself.
DO you mean to say that YOU
wrote the report?" Mr.. Hebert asked.
mo, but did write that phrase"
Mr.. Gill replied.
I'm proud of my record at Nor
folk,' Mr.. Gill said, land my dismis-
sal by Gov. Ely
The papers Mr.. Gill was permitted
to insert in the record cited reports
Of the Civil Service Commission, the
Massachusetts Pardon and Parole
Commission and the Boston Tran
script to support his contention that
Mr. Ely fired him for telling a public
meeting that member of the
Governors staff offered to parole a
prisoner for $500 in 1888.
A report of the chief examiner Of
the Civil Service Commission in
January, 1884, was quoted as saying:
THE results of the commission S
inquiry were such as to indicate that
Mr.. Nawn had been dishonest in the
performance of his duties in the
Prohibition Bureau or that he was
Ihopelessly incapable and inefficient. -
102 Charges Reduced to 36.
Yet, in April of that year, the
Governor appointed Nawn to invess
tigate the jail, Mr.. Gill pointed out!
Nawn submitted 102 charges Of
irregularities, which later were re-
duced to 36, he said.
Mr.. Gill also offered the final re-
port of the Massachusetts, commits
sion, dated December, 1910, charging
that the pardon racket" was oper-
ated from the executive chambers
during the four years of Mr.. Ely's
administration.
Mrs. Mack, in her testimony, said
(See JAIL PROBE, Page A-14D