Evening star., 1946-03-02
Wilson Renews Threat
To Ask kogod Custer
For Charge Gill Lied

Defense counsel for Howard B.
Gill. suspended superintendent of
penal institutions, today held over
the head of Fred s. Kegod threat
to demand his removal as a mem
Der Of the Board of Public Welfare
after close Of the case for dismissal
Of Mr.. Gill.
Il still have the intention of ask.
ing the Commissioners, at the ap-
propriate time, to remove Mr.. Kogod
for his reckless and unsubstantiated
accusations" John j. Wilson, de.
fense attorney, told reporters.
The board of inquiry hearing the
Gill case adjourned until Monday
after Mr.. Wilson charged yesterday
that Mr.. Kogod had failed to SUBJ
stantiate his accusation that Mr..
Gill lied" to members Of the Wei.
fare Board.
The defense attorney first threat.
ened Thursday to demand Mr..
Kogod's removal If he failed to SUBJ
stantiate the statement he made
Wednesday. Mr. Kogod emphatic
cally repeated the accusation yes.
terday.
No one probed the witness on what
he based his accusation. 1t popped
out during a heated argument be-
tween attorneys over Mr.. Kogod's
right to make what the defense
called "a speech"
Mr.. Wilson said the failure of the
Welfare Board to include it among
the trivial" charges "trumped up"
against Mr.. Gill proved it was with
out foundation. Assistant Corpora
tion Counsel Chester H. Gray, repre-
senting the Welfare Board, said he
would not be "stampeded by the
defense into expanding the charges"
When the hearing resumes next
week, the defense intends to show
that Claude o. Botkin, superintend-
ent of the District Jail, not Mr.. Gill,
Is the man responsible for admins
tration at the Jail, Mr.. Wilson said.
The 16 charges deal largely with
conditions found at the jail by the
Welfare Boards Institutions Com
mittee following the escape of fivs
prisoners on November "a.
THE Corporation Counsel's case
is shaped on the theory that Mr..
Gill is the active head of the JAIL"
Mr.. Wilson asserted. 1T is easy
to get the idea that Mr.. Botkin is
some Office boy and Mr.. Gill was in
charge. Mr. Botkin Is the man who
has been giving the orders"
His statement to the inquiry
board evoked another of the fire.
quent hareups between Mr.. Wilson
and Mr.. Gray. This time it ended
in a laugh. When Mr.. Wilson re-
piled to a defense objection with
the remark that perhaps he had
not been quite "articulate enough"
in explaining his reason for making
his statement, Mr.. Gray shot back:
IF you are inarticulate, I'd hate
to see anybody who was articulate."
Questioned by the defense, James
B. Murphy, captain OF the watch,
testified yesterday that basement
control cells, abandoned by Mr..
Gill, were put back into use prior
to the suspension Of the penal
superintendent December 6. One Of
the charges against Mr.. Gill is that
he discontinued use of the cells
for disciplinary purposes and failed
to substitute any effective method
of control.
Mr.. Murphy admitted that he
signed a petition circulated follow
ing the suspension Of Mr.. Gill which
asked the Welfare Board to remove
him. He said he did not know
where the petition originated and
denied that he asked jail employees
under his supervision to help him
prevent the return of Mr.. Gill.
Following the jailbreak, Mr..
Murphy said, he placed boys II
and 18 years Of age in the base
ment control cells under solitary
confinement, but they were taken
out after Mr.. Botkin conferred with
Mr.. Gill.
Where are juveniles held now?"
Mr.. Wilson asked.
The juveniles have been taken
out of the dormitories where they
were housed by Mr.. Gill and put In
regular prison cell blocks. he re-
ported
And we have no trouble with
them" Mr.. Murphy added.
Queried further. he conceded that
no games are provided for the
youngsters and the only room for
recreation is on a narrow ledge
outside their cells. Mr.. Gill is
charged with failure to discipline
juveniles after a "near-riot" at the
Jail.