Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-10
Hearing for Gill
Ito Enter Third
Week Tomorrow
Further Testimony
By Jail Custodiuns
Is Scheduled

The hearing on charges of in.
efficiency against Howard B. Gill,
suspended superintendent of penal
institutions, will enter its third
week tomorrow with additional
testimony by members of the GUS
todial staff at the District Jail.
Defense Attorney John j. Wilson
was halted yesterday in the midst
OF q question as to whether Mr.. Gill
ever had demonstrated inefflciency
IN supervising Lorton Reformatory,
by an objection from Chester H.
Gray, assistant corporation counsel.
The charges, Mr.. Gray pointed
out. developed from an investiga-
ton conducted at the District Jail
by the Institutions Committee of
the Board of Public Welfare after
the escape of five prisoners Novem-
Der "a.
Jail Guard Testifies.
Five members of the Welfare
Board have accused Mr.. Gill of in
subordination before the board of
inquiry hearing the case for removal
OF the penal superintendent. The
assistant corporation counsel has
questioned five members of the Gus
todial staff at the Jail on charges
that Mr.. Gill violated rules and
regulations governing prison proce-
dure. Two said they no longer
could work with Mr.. Gill, and a
third said it would be difficult.
1t. Joseph H. Camden of the
guard staff testified yesterday that
Mr.. Gill embarrassed one member
OF the staff by disparaging him in
front of his co-workers at a confer
ence on December 5. One of the
three main charges against Mr.. Gill
Is that he so disparaged his subordi-
mates at this meeting "as to prevent
any future cooperation between
the staff and Mr.. Gill"
The witness said he could work
with anybody. Referring to the
statement of an earlier witness that
he could not trust my life in Mr..
Gill's hands" Defense Attorney Will
son asked 1t. Camden if he ever
feared for his life under Mr.. Gill.
Cites Fear for Life.
Every Jail officer should be in
fear OF his life" 1t. Camden as
serted. He is dealing with GRIM
lnals." His was no more than the
normal apprehension of any guard
IN such an institution" he agreed
with the defense attorney.
Declaring that juveniles at the Jail
were "dlsrespectful" to guards, noisy
and troublesome during Mr.. ellis
regime, 1t Camden said their be-
havior has improved considerably
since Mr.. Gill was suspended on
December and the juveniles were
transferred from dormitories to cell
blocks.
The witness reported he had
objected TO Mr.. Gill because of
abandonment of control cells in the
basement for disciplinary purposes
but had not voiced his feelings to
Claude 0. Botkin, resident superin-
tendent.
Attorneys Take Issue.
why is it you did not hesitate to
put the question pointblank to Mr..
Gill but never asked Mr.. Botkin?"
Mr.. Wilson asked.
Mr.. Gill is supposed to issue the
orders" the witness replied. He said
he did not know whether Mr.. Botkin
ever issued orders on his own.
When Mr.. Wilson asked how the
witness knew that Mr.. Gill was sup
posed to issue the orders, Mr.. Gray
interjected:
The rules speak for themselves. 4"
Il challenge you to contradict NV
assertion that they do not" Mr..
Wilson retorted.
One of the charges is that Mr.. Gill
abandoned the use of control cells
without substituting other effective
disciplinary measures. Mr.. Wilson
contends that Mr.. Botkin is respon-
sibfe for the administration of the
Jail.