Evening star., 1946-03-15
Welfare Board
Comp|etesCase
In Gill Hearing
Suspended Penal Head
To Testify Next Week
In His Own Behalf

as superintendent of penal institu-
tions was completed today after
testimony extending through three
weeks before a board of inquiry
appointed by the District Commits
sioners.
The suspended penal superintend-
ent will testify in his own behalf
when the hearing on 16 charges of
lnefflciency resumes next Wednes-
day.
Walter M. Bastian, Inquiry Board
chairman, advised Defense Attorney
John j. Wilson to confer Monday
with Chester H. Gray, assistant
corporation counsel, on his request
that the Welfare Board abandon
some of the charges for lack Of
proof.
Mr.. Wilson asked the Inquiry
Board if it would infer, from the
failure of the Welfare Board and
the District of Columbia to call
Ray L. Huff, welfare director, that
If Mr.. Huff were called his testimony
would be adverse to the Welfare
Board.
Will Permit Argument.
The inquiry board may or may
not indulge that inference and will
permit the opposing attorneys to
argue the law on the subject before
the close of the hearing, Mr.. Bas-
tian said.
Mr.. Huff was peculiarly avail
able" to the corporation counsel
because of his position as the
operating head of the Welfare
Board. the defense attorney con-
tended. Pointing out Mr.. Huff re-
fuses to testify although he has sat
Throughout the hearings at the side
of Mr.. Gray, Mr.. Wilson announced
he would have more to say on the
matter
The inquiry board ruled Tuesday
that the defense can call Mr.. Huff
but cannot cross-examine him un-
less he proves by his testimony that
he is a hostile witness.
One Charge Amended.
At the request of Mr.. Gray, the
inquiry board amended one charge
to conform to testimony that the
Institutions Committee, not as
stated in the charge, the Welfare
Board, instructed Mr.. Gill to sub
nit a written report On the escape
of five prisoners from the Jail No.
vember "a. Mr.. Gill is accused of
disobeying an order to report by
November 80.
Asserting the evidence also shows
Mr.. Gill was not expected to re-
port before December at the
earliest, and did report on Deem
Der i, the defense attorney COM
| planned against "piecemeal amend
ments conforming to only part of
the proof"
| Fred Scott, property officer at
the Jail, was recalled to the stand
for the third day for further cross
examination on list of property
he said was damaged by juveniles.
The witness, who had testified he
examined carefully five damaged
mattresses, admitted today he
looked at them closely for the first
time yesterday.
C. E. Tucker, captain OF the watch.
testified undi5ciplined juveniles at
the District Jail laughed at him and
told him, You can't do anything
to US
Mr.. Tucker said boy came up to
him and taunted: III see Mr.. Gill"
when he was reprimanded.
Mr.. Tucker said he repeated the
conversation to Mr.. Gill. who re-
marked: That's ridiculous!"
Mr.. Tucker was questioned extern
sively on charges that Mr.. Gill failed
to enforce discipline for juveniles
and granted special privileges to GER
tain inmates.
No Special Privileges.
He said he believed" that Mr..
Gill told him to LAY off" certain
prisoner but never authorized him
to grant special privileges.
The penal superintendent told
Mr.. Tucker over the phone that
a welfare worker had told him with
tears in her eyes that she thought
she might be responsible for a repri-
mand given the prisoner by a guard,
the witness testified.
Under croSs-eXamination. Mr..
Tucker said that he did not tell
Mr.. Gill that he had received a
disciplinary report on this same
prisoner three weeks before and on
that very morning had been told
that the prisoner entered the west
entrance in civilian garb against
prison rules. The prisoner, whose
name was not given, was detailed
to Mr.. Gill for clerical work.
Mr.. Wilson said he would not
ask the board of inquiry to return
a directed verdict because Mr.. Gill
wants the opportunity to give his
explanation of strife with the We'll
fare Board which resulted in his
suspension December 6. The inquiry
board will give an advisory opinion
to the District Commissioners, who
have final authority over dismissal.
Charges Lack Foundation.
Mr.. Wilson argued yesterday that
Mr.. Gray has presented no founda-
tion for two of the charges, that
Mr.. Gill allowed unauthorized per-
sons to visit and to correspond with
inmates OF the District Jail. Jail
rules define persons to whom pris-
oners are authorized to write, but
any one can write to a prisoner, he
argued. Therefore, a rule that
visits are limited to persons with
whom prisoners correspond is
meaningless, Mr.. Wilson said.
Chairman Bastian said the board
did not take seriously Mr.. Gray's
contention that newspaper reporters
visited inmates contrary to the
rules. The assistant corporation
counsel said he would offer no more
testimony on the subject, but did
not withdraw the charges.
.OPA Clarifies VoIidotion