Evening star., 1946-05-19
Naming of Reid to Head Jail
Is First Reorganization Move
AtIonto Penitentiury
Official Selected
To Succeed Botkin

personnel at the escape-ridden Dis
trict Jail, Acting Penal Supt. j.
Ellis Overlade yesterday brought in
Col. Curtis Reid, veteran of the
custodial force at Atlanta Peniten-
tiary, to become resident superin-
tendent of the jail
Mr.. Overlade, warden at the Fed
eral penitentiary at Terre Haute,
Ind, was borrowed by the city from
the Federal Bureau of Prisons of
the Department of Justice to su-
pervise the revamping of all three
adult penal institutions after the
dismissal of Howard B. Gill as gen.
eral superintendent last month.
Col. Reid, 46, returned to Federal
prison service from Army terminal
leave May l. He succeeds Claude o.
Botkin, who left Washington yes
terday on 20 days leave, but will
not return to District service.
Mr.. Overlade, who took over the
Jail, the Occoquan Workhouse and
Lorton Reformatory May 2, made
his first progress report to Commits
sioner Guy Mason and introduced
him to Col. Reid yesterday.
First Key Replacement.
Although the new Jail head is
the first key replacement in penal
personnel, Mr.. Overlade admitted
yesterday that he has about five
other Federal penal experts work
ing with him in a survey of per-
sonnel, program and capital i'm
provement needs. He did not, how
ever. name them.
Mr.. Mason said official appoint
ment Of Co. Reid would occur to-
morrow or Tuesday as soon as the
Board of Public Welfare can make
of1clal recommendation and the
Commissioners as a board approve.
Mr.. Mason said he had already dis
cussed the details with Vice Chair
man A. Harding Paul of the welfare
Board and Commissioner John Rus
sell Young and the way was cleared
for the formal action,
Until this occurs, however. Mr..
Mason said, Chief Clerk Thomas w.
Sard will act as resident superin-
tendent of the Jail but take his
orders from Col. Reid.
| Botkin Still Holds Post.
Until Mr. Botkin's leave expires
and he is formally separated from
District service either by resigna-
ton or dismissal. Col. Reid cannot
be appointed to the specific post of
resident superintendent and draw
the salary. Mr.. Mason said he
would be given an identical title.
however, and paid from funds avail
able through lapsed salaries until
The entire administrative detail is
complete.
The new jailer said he had been
mere about 10 days and been briefed
on the Jail problems by Mr.. Over
iade. He is staying temporarily at
the National Training School for
Boys on Bladensburg road NE.
Recommendation for dismissal of
Mr.. Botkin was contained in the
report Of the House subcommittee
which investigated the jail after
the escape Of two convicted mur-
derers April 3. The former resi-
dent superintendent said at that
time he was ready and willing to
accede" to the recommendations Of
the subcommittee with respect to
his removal. He has as vet SUBJ
mitted no formal resignation.
Rose from Ranks
Col. Reid entered Federal prisons
service as a guard at Atlanta In
1925. He rose through the Gus
todial ranks to captain when in
l940. as an Army reserve captain
ne was called to active military
service. He served as provost mar
shal in various camps In Georgia
and Tennessee and also as assistant
executive of the disciplinary bar
racks at Fort Leavenworth, Kans.
In February, 1914, he was sent
overseas as public safety and prison
oncer OF the military government
IN France and Germany. He re-
turned to this country last Janu-
ary and was released from the
Army as a lieutenant colonel last
month.
He Is also a veteran of World
War I. enlisting in 1916 and sery-
ing overseas with the 7th Division
He was honorably DISCHARGED in
1920 and worked with his father in
Georgia. For about two years, pre-