Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-04-09
Jail Probe
Continued From First Page


Continued From First Page.)
not discipline prisoners unless the
could put them in the basement,
he said.
Mr. Gill testified that, accord
ing TO the confidential memorandum
to which he had referred. McGlynl
had been rewarded for his favor
to members of Engineers Grour
Inc. by tickets and expenses +
the Baer-Louis and the Conn-Loui
fights in New York.
DO you mean TO say that a
present there is condition of in
Subordination in the Jail, with
small clique and not the superin
tendent running it?" pressed Repre-
sentative Combs, Democrat, of Texas
There is no question about it,
MIR. Gill replied.
Identifies Two Others.
In addition to Mr.. Sweeney an,
Mr. Murphy. whom Mr.. Gill identi
fed as captains of the guard, MI
Gill named De Wore and KidWell a
members of the clique. He did no
recall the initials of any of thes
men, but said they all held i'm
portant positions in the Jail.
(Thomas R. Sard, chief clerk
and assistant superintendent at
the District jail. told The Star
today that Edward F. McGlynn,
then chief clerk, was separated"
from the Jail in July. 1913, by
action of the Commissioners fol-
lowing an investigation
He said Benjamin E. Sweeney
and James B. Murphy. captains
OF the guard, were employed at
the tail in the summer OF 1941
and sall are employed there. The
same was true, he said, OF James
E. De Wore, cellblock guard. and
Charles F.. Kidwell, receiving and
discharge officer)
Mr.. Gill said he did not chsre
that Murphy, Sweeney. De Wore an
kldWell were guilty of any fraudu
lent practices, although he said the
had been willing to do the biddin
OF Deputy Supt McGlynn.
Il don't say the present clique
venal or dishonest" Mr., Gill EN-
phaslzed, adding that he did chare
that they dominated the lall super
lntendent and ran the place to SUI
themselves.
Cites Trial Testimony,
MIR Gill said the memorandum
describing the McGlynn episodes ha
been substantlated, in part, at test
mony at the trial of officers of En-
glneers' Group, Inc, although ther
had been little mention of the Dis
trict Jail in that trial. He adde
that the memorandum was sisne
in July, 1914, by convict at tn
LeWlsbus (PaD Federal Peniten
tiary.
The Federal Bureau of Prison:
the FBI and even some local news
papers knew about the assertion
which the convict had made. M,
Gill told the committee, but fo
some reason every one was afrai
to bring these charges into til
open
Even yesterday" Mr. Gill added
Mr.. Huff testified here that ther
had been no serious difficulties wit
personnel while he was in office
Mr.. Combs wanted to know no,
far the statements of the convic
had been correborated.
This man." Mr.. Gill replied. wa
an informant for the Truman Com
mlttee and, allowing for gossip an
preJudices, most that he said wa
proved true
Offered as Evidence.
Some of the prisoner statement.
Mr.. Gill added had been offered 2
evidence in the trial of Representa-
tive Curley and the other defendant
in the Engineers Group case.
The Truman Committee to whic
the witness referred was headed b
the President when he was a Sena
tor from Missouri and investigate
war contracts.
Mr.. Gill emphasized that he kne,
nothing OF any Jail clique durin
his II months as superintendent c
penal institutions. The informatio
all came to him after he was sus
pended, he explained.
Shortly after his suspension. M,
Gill testified, he learned that Cap
Murphy had called midnieh
meeting at his home of certain ia
officials who were close friends G
his. They signed petition, Mr.. Gil
said, requesting that Mr.. Gill be fire
from his position and not reinstate,
Had you had any trouble wit
Murphy" Mr., Combs asked.
"No Trouble at AL"
None at all. Mr.. Gill replied, ex
cept that he lectured Capt. Murph
after the episode of Medley's pack
age.
Then why did he want to &c
rid OF you?" Mr.. Combs pressed.
I don't know" Mr.. Gill sale
unless 1t was his own guilty con
science. They must have felt tina
they couldn't get along with me"
Shortly after noon the commit
tee recessed until 2 pm.
Early in his testimony today, M
Gill said conditions at Lorton Re
formatory are "just as bad as tn
disgraceful conditions at the Distrie
Jail"
Mr. Gill declared that officers a
Lorton are sitting on "keg of DOW
der, All the conditions are presen
for it to blow up"
Mr.. Gill charged that he had bee,
unable to get appropriations to cor
rect dangerous physical defects a
either Lorton or the District Jail.
Mr.. Huff gave him specific instruc
lions not to discuss his problem
with the District Commissioners, h