Evening star., 1946-08-11
Most Of DC. Jail
F FauItsCorrected,
Warden Says
OverIode Lists Work
Done, Says Progress
Permits Him to Leuve
By Henry A. Muslin

Far-reaching personnel and
plant Improvements at the
ridden District jail and
other District penal institutions
have reached a point where his
presence is no longer necessary.
Federal Warden J. Ellis Overlade
has told his Superiors.
Warden Overlade has been "on
loan to the District since last May,
when reorganization started after
the escape of murderers Earl Nc
Farland and Joseph D. Medley on
April 3. Mr.. Overlade said, in a
report to Director James v. Ben
nett of the Federal Bureau of Pris-
ons, released last night, that the
following steps have been taken to
reduce escape hazards and improve
penal administration here:
l. The local guard force has been
nearly doubled by the addition OF
So men and three matrons to the
jail custodial staff, while Al male
guards and three matrons have been
divided between the Occoquan Work
House and the Lorton Reformatory.
2. Interior dial telephone and ra-
dio communications systems, the
latter connecting with the Metro
politan Police radio, have been in
stalled at the Jail; also central
radio receiving unit with connec-
tions to all cell blocks and dorrni-
tories, and public address system.
Closer Check on Inmates.
3. Jail inmates are now counted
six times a day-twice as often as
beforehand posted activity
sheet shows the whereabouts of
each prisoner.
4. More careful and more frequent
checks are made for such escape i'm
piements as knives. forks, razors,
surgical instruments and tools.
5. Training courses, including In
struction in the use of firearms and
employment of jiu jitsu holds have
been given all guards, and will con-
tinue
6. The custodial force is being
subjected to severe "weeding-out"
process. Misfits will be discarded
and those retained recommended
for pay increases to build morale
and encourage better brand Of
recruits.
| Sleeping Guard Fired.
| So far, Mr. Overlade reported,
only one guard at the jail, caught
sleeping on duty, has been fired.
Having recommended increasing Of
starting salaries from s2,243.52 to
S2,69498, however, he indicated that
disciplinary infractions might meet
with harsh treatment In the future.
Warden Overlade reported extern
sive improvements, including install
lation of double. chain-link fence
topped by barbed wire entirely
around the Jail, tool-resisting sashes
for its dormitory windows, guard
towers at the east and west en-
frances and remodeling of the ven.
tilation system.
! 1t was through a ventilator in the
jail's death house that Mcfarland
and Medley made their escape in
April. Though both were recap
tured and Mcfarland later electro
cuted, they were among nine per-
sons escaping from the Jail between
November and May.
Relating to personnel changes
was the reports revelation of the
appointment of Capt. Sam A. Ander-
son, Federal penal official who has
been assisting Warden Overlade, to
the post of assistant superintendent
of the jail. He will work under Col.
Curtis Reid. who was named super
intendent last May.
Week Reduced to 40 Hours.
| Likewise revealed was the ap-
pointment of another Federal penal
man. 1t. Alfred c. Faison. to be
assistant superintendent of the Re-
Iformatory.
The custodial staffs of all three
penal institutions are now on a 40
hour work week. the hours having
been reduced from A, Warden
IOverlade said
In an effort to better morale
among penal inmates, a new cafe
terial system has been installed at
the Jail, and similar set-ups are
planned for Lorton and Occoquan.
tSee JAIL, Page A-10)