Evening star., 1952-08-20
Release Rules |
for
Juvenile Home
Change Ordered After
Probe Shows Loxity
In Boy Killer Case

FroDe Sn0wS L0xiry
In Boy Killer Case
Tighter restrictions on releases
from the Receiving Home have re-
suited from william Roland
unusual route to freedom
,wo months before his confessed.
Staying of a Government clerk.
White, II. left the institution
On the sole responsibility of the
Police Department, but in a.man-
ner that in most cases is routine.
Reports Of an investigation re-
leased by the Commissioners yes
terday showed that both the po-
lice and Receiving Home were at
fault in allowing White to leave
without written orders.
But the conclusion OF Police
Supt. Robert v. Murray's report
was that, with the facts then
known to police, White would
have been released sooner or
later-in compliance with District
law.
Unaware Of Long Record.
Police did not know that White
had a long juvenile record and
had escaped from a Delaware re-
form school. The lone mark
against his record, as far as police
had determined, was a warrant
for housebreaking issued in Ocean
City (Md.) in 1913.
If those facts had been known.
police say. White would have been
held. But under present policy,
juveniles without bad records
|are released by the Juvenile Squad
to parents and guardians who
|promise to bring them into court.
The loose method of releasing
Juveniles was revealed in the case
of White, who on August 8 adj
mitted stabbing and beating to
death Ralph T. Blake, Marine
Corps clerk. in a downtown alley.
Maj. Murray's report brought
out for the first time that the
youth was not turned over to his
Isister-in-law, Mrs. Lorraine White.
as was supposed, but to woman
posing as Mrs. White.
Held i'm Assault Case.
Arrested at 2:30 am. June 4
with four adults, White was held
in the robbery.beating Of an
Andrews Air Force Base sergeant.
In accordance with practice, he
was permitted to call his sister,
in-law and arrange to be placed
in her custody.
In their investigation police
learned that Mrs. White. who is
only 81. found she could not go
to the Receiving Home and asked
a friend to fill in. She told Miss
Margaret Connell. 81, of 1865
Macarthur boulevard, Cabin John.
to sign her (Mrs. White's) name
to the paper guaranteeing the
youths appearance in court.
This episode has led to a new
order at the Receiving Home. de-
manding that all adults calling
for juveniles properly identify
themselves.
Tells of Threat on Life.
Ironically, Miss Connell told po-
lice August ! that White had
threatened her life. That is why
they were searching for him the
night Of the Blake murder.
Although Maj. Murray said it
had been ascertained that some
member of the juvenile squad had
telephoned the Receiving Home
about Whites release, the identity
of the caller still was not de-
I termined.
I Mrs. Leola E. Bush, who re-
''ceived the call. admitted she
preached the practice of calling
back to confirm the identity of
the officer. She also released
White without the written order
demanded by the Welfare Board
since last September, she said.
i Release Approved.
! However, Pvt. Joseph Longo.
one of the officers who returned
White to the institution after a
visit to Municipal Court, told her
it was all right to release the
youth to his sister-in-law.
Maj. Murray's report pointed
out that White was taken to court
June 10, as Miss Connell agreed
to in assuming his custody. and
learned the case had been dis
missed.
Cases against the four adults
also were dropped for lack Of
sufficient evidence. In their con-
, nection. Maj. Murray pointed out
that one of the adults had been
released on bond and that others
could have had the same recourse.
Maj. Murray accepted full re-
sponsibility by the department be-
. cause arrangements for Whites
release were made about IL am.
and complaints against him were
not filed in Juvenile Court until
12:42 pm. After the complaint
is fled, the court has full juris-
diction.
! AS a result Of the investigation,
Maj. Murray has ordered the
supervisors of the juvenile squad
to sign and deliver to the institu-
ton all discharge orders. ....
4 Donald D. Brewer, acting well
fare director. who sent a separate
report to the Commissioners, also
ordered q tightening of regula-
ltionS.
| Written instructions were sent
jail Receiving Home staff mem
|bers. insisting that proper release
forms be used. He also directed
1.-THE superintendent to keep a per-
manent log, showing times in
mates are released, and the names
!of persons in whose care they are
trusted.
The practice Of erasing names
lof juveniles from the log book.
latter they are returned to the in
i~~As -