Evening star., 1946-04-10

fare wanted to get something
on me-" Howard B. Gill, sus-
pended penal superintendent,
declared late this afternoon.
Its members were not inter-
ested in his reports on the
November "a District Jail
break, although they later
charged him for insubordina-
ton for failure to submit
written report, he said.
Earlier Gill story on Page
A-4.)
A House subcommittee investi-
eating conditions at the District
Jail today elected from Supt.
Claude o. Botkin an acknowl-
edgement that James F. Nc
Glynn, former assistant superin-
tendent at the institution, was
fired "for graft" on recommended
ton Of an inquiry board in 1943.
This partially corroborated yester-
days testimony by Howard B. Gill,
suspended superintendent of penal
institutions, that the Engineers
Group, Inc, mail fraud was hatched
at the jail in the summer of 194l
and the story withheld from the
public. But Mr. Botkin denied that
other guards and Jail officials had
been involved in the graft"
McGlynn Dismissed by Huff.
McGlynn, it was brought out, was
dismissed by Ray L. Huff, public
welfare director, after report had
been delivered by a three-man
board, of which Mr.. Botkin, then
superintendent at the Lorton Re-
formatory, was member.
Mr.. Botkin said the evidence taken
by the special board OF inquiry dis
closed that McGlynn had made it
possible for James G. Fuller, who
appeared later as executive vice
president of Engineers Group, Inc,
TO leave the Jail at times to carry
on personal business. Mr.. Gill testi-
fed that Fuller and another prisoner
organized Engineers Group while
they were serving in the District Jail
Fuller and others. including Rep
resentative Curley, Democrat, of
Massachusetts, who also is Mayor
OF Boston, were convicted recently
of mail fraud conspiracy in connec-
ton with operations of the company
McGlynn had been separated
from the service" Mr.. Botkin said,
when Mr.. Botkin was transferred
from the superintendency at Lorton
to head the District Jail June /.
1914.
Simply Reported Facts.
Mr.. Botkin said the McGlynn
case was investigated by himself,
w. French Fleming, then acting
penal superintendent, and a DR..
Bishop, a psychiatrist at Lorton.
They were appointed by Mr.. Huff
Mr.. Botkin explained. and simply
reported the facts they found to
the welfare director, who took ac-
ton.
What did you find about Nc
Glynn?" asked Chairman Hebert.
That he had accepted gratuities. y
Mr.. Botkin replied
isn't that a gentle word for
graft?" Mr.. Hebert demanded.
Yes, it is" said Mr.. Botkin.
Then you found that McGlynn
had been accepting graft?" Mr..
Hebert went on.
"Wal, from whom did he accept
graft?" Mr.. Hebert asked.
Prisoner Identified as Fuller.
I'VE found that he had taken it
from a prisoner assigned to a spe-
cial place in the jail, where it was
possible for him to connive with
people outside the jail" Mr.. Botkin
said.
Mr.. Botkin later identified this
prisoner as Fuller. Mr.. Botkin said
Fuller was one of two prisoners in
volved, but he did not name the
other prisoner.
Our investigation didn't prove
what the operations of Fullers busi-
ness were" he added.
But there was a business going
on?" Mr.. Hebert pressed.
I would say yes" Mr.. Botkin re-
piled. But that was outside our
province. My understanding was
that Mr.. Huff was not concerned in
that angle, that was up to the De-
partment Of Justice-he was inter-
ested only in what had gone on
in the jail"
Fraternized With Others.
Prompted by further questions
Mr.. Botkin added: We found that
McGlynn was fraternizing not only
as to Fuller but as to other pris-
oners."
WAS there collusion also with
other guards?" the chairman de.
manded.
No, sir" Mr.. Botkin said.
Mr.. Hebert asked what about
James B. Murphy, a captain of the
guard, who Mr.. Gill mentioned as
close associate of McGlynn. Mr.
Botkin replied there was no evi-
dence against Capt. Murphy.
He said the inquiry board hac
learned that Fuller was supposed tc
be taken to Mount Alto Hospital fol
treatment but had been allowed tt
stop at the Mayhower Hotel.
1T was not definitely proved just
where Fuller stopped" Mr.. Botkir
explained, but we did learn thai
telephone calls had been made by
him from the Mayfower. AS I re-
member it, Lbelieve Fuller admitted
being allowed to stop at the hote
to make such calls. McGlynn ad-
mltted taking Fuller on some Of
these trips"
Mr.. Botkin said a Jail Officer
named Adams was mentioned ir
connection with Fuller's activities
put 1t wasn't proved to the salts
faction OF the investigators that
(See JAIL PROBE, Page A-40
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