Evening star., 1948-04-15
Prince Georges
Grand Jury Asks
ai|Safeguards
Three Specific Points
Outlined in Move
To Curb Escapes

Prince Georges County officials
today faced a new problem of TAX
ing additional precautionary meas
ures to prevent further escapes from
the county Jail at Upper Marlboro
Three specific recommendations
for improving the jail were noted by
the county grand jury yesterday as
the group concluded its current ses-
sion in the Prince Georges County
Circuit Court. Upper Marlboro.
The jury recommended that. a
public alarm be provided and that
direct telephone connection be pro-
vided between the Jail and police
headquarters, a block away. The
jury also urged that reasonably
high" physical standards for jailors
and guards having charge of pris-
oners be established at both the
Upper Marlboro jail and the tenn
porary lookup in the County Serv-
ice Building. Hyattsville.
"Such precautions" the jury re-
ported, would greatly discourage
disorder among the inmates and
reduce attempted jail-breaks and
the possibility of escape to mini
num-"
Judge Marbury 'In Accord"
Judge Charles C. Marbury, who
read the jury's report to the open
courtroom, informed the jurors he
was heartily in accord with their
recommendations.
IF carried out" the jurist de-
clared there should be no recur-
renee of such instances as occurred
during the last six months since the
last session of the grand jury"
Four male prisoners escaped from
the Jail by overpowering former
tailor last December, while 16-
year-old Rockville girl made her
way to freedom last month when
she obtained a cell key from some
unknown source. The four men
have since been recaptured, but the
girl is at large.
The Jail also was the target of
criticism by the Maryland State
Board of Corrections following the
first escape. The prison board, in a
report on Jail conditions throughout
the State, stated that morale OF
prisoners at Upper Marlboro was
very low" and that a revolt" was
threatened. Such conditions have
been cleared up, however, as the re-
suit of the resignation of one Of the
iailors shortly after the board made
its report. The resigned jailor was
the one who was overpoWered by
the four escaped prisoners.
Police Force Efficient"
Meanwhile, the grand jury re-
ported that conditions in the coun-
ty, otherwise, appear to be excel
lent"
The jury said the county police
mot withstanding the fact that the
force may possibly be somewhat in
adequate In number of personnel
appears to be doing an efficient and
very satisfactory job of law enforce
ment"
County officials and employees. the
jury added, generally appear to be
performing their functions and con-
Quoting the business of the county
efficiently and satisfactorily"
The jury said it had inspected
the county Jail, while subcommittee es
had visited and inspected the Coun-
ty Service Building, Hyattsville, and
the County Almshouse, near Ritchie
The report was signed by C. Nor
ris Hartman, foreman, and Howard
I. Beall, jr., secretary.
Judge Marbury told the jurors
that completion of their work in
eight days since being sworn in
April was Somewhat of record
He reminded the jury that it will
remain empaneled until october anc
that if anything unusual occurs,
i. will be subject to call.