Evening star., 1946-04-24
HyattsviNe Lookup
Ordered Improved
As Prisoners Vanish


missioners have ordered immediate
and extensive improvements to the
temporary lookup in the County
Service Building, Hyattsville, fol-
lowing reports that conditions there
were almost as bad as in the Dis
trict of Columbia" and that prisoners
had disappeared in thin air.
The latest charges, coming on the
heels of complaints from the grand
jury, were from Trial Magistrate
Arthur P. Owens of the Prince
Georges County Police Court, who
told the commissioners, in letter
that prisoners were used to sweep
around corridors or wash police cars
without apparent supervision.
Such action or lack of it," Judge
Owens declared, mot only nullifies
the efforts and work of law enforce
ment officers, but makes our system
of justice look ridiculous"
Couldn't Be Found.
He added that because of the diff
ficulty in controlling and keeping
prisoners, one or two prisoners
couldn't be found when their cases
were called to appear before him
in Hyattsville Police Court last Mon
day. One man. the judge explained
was sentenced to so days in the
county jail in Upper Marlboro, but
had disappeared in thin air before
he could be transferred.
This man, it was learned, was VAL
entine A. Kaiser, 33, of Laurel. who
was sentenced in Laurel Police Court
on April ~ on charge of being
drunk and disorderly. Two days
later, Judge Owens disclosed, the
man walked out" of the Hyatts-
vile building after he had been
placed on cleaning detail, ano
had gone to the races at Havre de
Grace, Md, before returning las,
Tuesday night. He is now con.
fined in the county jail.
In an effort to prevent further
abuses, the commissioners placed
George Weisman, jailor- janitor fol
the lookup, who was ordered to ap.
pear before them yesterday, tx
answer charges made by the granc
jury, on probation for 80 days, dur.
ing which he is to improve condi.
tions, including a closer check or
prisoners, more frequent cleaning
and better and more sufficient food
Painting and Lighting.
County Supt. of Police Ralph w
Brown was given authority to have
the Jail repainted in lighter color.
and to install fluorescent lighting
system to answer demands by the
grand jury to improve lighting ia.
cilities
At the same time, the commits.
sioners ordered the lookup be re.
stricted to temporary use, as origin.
ally planned, and asked that prison
ers not be detained there for more
than 4S hours. If necessary to con.
fine them for a longer period, the
commissioners recommended the,
be transferred to the county Jail.
Chief Brown told the commission.
ers that prisoners. particularly thos,
arrested by town policemen to avail
trial on the regularly scheduled
court day in their community, wer,
detained 10 to Is days, sometime.
longer, in the temporary lookup
Others. who were classed as short
timers" s"-those serving abbreviated
sentences in the county jail-wer,
assigned to the Hyattsville Jail fo
cleaning purposes, he added.
Mr.. Weisman, who supervise
preparation of food for the prison
ers. told the commissioners he wa.
paid so cents a day per prisoner TO
food expenses and said he had beer
experiencing difficulty obtainin,
sufficient supplies. He said he hat
been feeding the prisoners "hot dog
every other day."