Evening star., 1946-02-27
Kogod Testifies
That Gill Failed
To Keep Word
Attending Meeting
After Promise to
Stoy Away Charged

CuaTSeS CQat Howard b. Gill, SuS-
pended superintendent of penal in
stitutions, had not told the truth to
him about attending a meeting of a
committee investigating the escape
OF five prisoners from the District
jail were made by Fred S. Kogod, a
member Of the Institutions Commit
tee of the Board of Public Welfare
today at public hearing on the
superintendent's ismissal on
charges Of inef1ciency and incom-
petence.
Replying to a question asked by
Defense Attorney John j. Wilson
Mr.. Kogod said that Mr.. Gill had at
tended a meeting of the Investigat-
ing Committee after promising that
he would not be present.
Earlier, Mr. Kogod had explained
that when he testified yesterday that
Mr.. Gill had CRAZY ideas" he re-
ferred to the fact that the superin-
tendent was unwise in putting
emphasis on recreational activities
and rehabilitation when the jail
lacked sufficient personnel to secure
its prisoners.
Rover Report Brought Up.
Mr.. Wilson asked Mr.. Kogod if he
had seen Mr.. Gill between the date
that the Institutions Committee told
Mr.. Gill not to attend the meeting
OF the Investigating Committee and
the GATE when the Institutions
Committee learned that Mr.. Gill had
attended the meeting. Mr.. Kogod
said no.
Then when did he not tell you
the truth?" Mr.. Wilson asked.
Mr.. Kogod said that between No.
vember 80 and December Mr.. Gill
attended meeting of the Investi-
eating Committee which he had said
he would stay away from.
Mr.. Wilson aroused the strenuous
objection of Assistant Corporation
Counsel Chester H. Gray by asking
the witness whether he knew that
the Rover report of 1914 recon-
mended the use of the dining hall
at the jail for recreation purposes.
Mr.. Kogod said yesterday that he
thought the use of the dining hall
for exercising was crazy idea"
Wilson Offers to Pass Question,
mo charge at this hearing re-
motely touches on the Rover re-
port" Mr.. Gray said. Are YOU
going to let the defense attorney
continue without any limitations to
ask any questions which occur to
him to be interesting? Are YOU
going to let him go into every pos
sible ramification which his fertile
mind can conceive?"
Mr.. Wilson then noted that the
institutions committee of the Board
OF Public Welfare in August, 1914.
approved the use of the dining hall
Tor recreation purposes. But he
offered to pass the question until
he presents the case for the defense
Mr.. Kogod testified yesterday the
Welfare Board gave its Institu-
tions Committee on November 30
authority to conduct its own in
vestigation of the escape.
Special Meeting December 3.
The Welfare Board held special
meeflng December 3, "but Mr.. Gill
didn't show up at ALL" the witness
continued.
The Institutions Committee began
Its investigation following the De-
cember meeting, Mr.. Kogod said,
and discovered Mr.. Gill had dis
obeyed instructions to absent him.
self from meeting of the committee
he had appointed to investigate the
jailbreak.
Queried by the defense as to who
had issued the instructions for MIR.
Glll TO stay away from the NEE! ings,
Mr.. Kogod said 'it probably was my
own request" The charge is that
Mr.. Gill disobeyed the instructions
of the Institutions Committee.