Evening star., 1952-06-13
Loudoun Official
Promises Fullest
Aid in Fox Probe
State Board Urges
Inquiry Into Charge
OfOfficioI Negligence
BY the Associo,ed Press


BY the Assoeioied Press
RICHMOND, Va. June 13.-
Gov. Battle had a promise today
OF full cooperation" from the
Loudoun County Commonwealth's
Attorney in any investigation to
determine whether there was
police dereliction of duty in the
county's triple Staying case last
month.
Prosecutor Stirling Harrison
said he would be happy to assist
in any way the Governor might
see fit"
From the Governor, there was
no immediate comment on wheth-
er he would accede to a State Hos
pltal Board recommendation that
the Loudoun County Circuit Court
be requested to investigate to de-
termine whether or not there has
been a dereliction of duty by the
Sheriff :"
The hospital board was called in
to conduct its own Investigation
because the killer, Maurice R. Fox.
80. was an escaped mental pa
tient from Western State Hospital
at Staunton.
Fox, using shotgun. killed his
father and two other persons Nav
rs at his fathers farm near Lees
burg.
Blame Aimed Three WAYS.
The board issued it's findings
yesterday. and distributed the
blame for the case three ways:
Cd 1t said hospital authorities
had not taken vigorous meas
ures" to see that Fox was returned
to Western State. (2) The police
were criticized for not apprehend-
ing Fox. 90 And Foxs family
was accused of failing to carry
out instructions" to return him
to the hospital.
The board, in its report to the
Governor, suggested that Lou
doun Circuit Court investigate to
determine possible police derelic-
tion, and whether any disciplinary
action should be taken.
The report said news of Fox's
escape May 10 was broadcast over
the Statewide police teletype. but
that Sheriff Roger Powell of Lou
doun denied knowledge of the es-
cape, saying hundreds of mes
Sages came in on the circuit daily
and he did not read them unless
directed to him by name"
In view Of the additional facts
that Fox was well known in his
community as a violent person,
that until gunf1re was heard on
the Fox farm. neither the Sheriff
nor deputy went there to look
for the escaped convict, and that
this was the logical place to look
for him, dereliction of duty is rea-
sonably suspected"
Loudoun Officials Silent.
Sheriff Powell declined COM
ment on the boards report.
MIR. Harrison said he couldn't
say much until I see the report, +"
but he agreed that somebody.
somewhere was grossly negligent
in the case"
He said he had written Gov.
Battle a long letter right after the
SIaylngs occurred in which he of.
Tered to do whatever the Governor
suggested. He reiterated that he
would help "in any way I can"
The board said Fox's escape was
que Chiefly to an act of Hospital
supervisor Lewis c. Dewitt, who
LETT his ward in the charge of a
substitute attendant. 1t criticized
lSupt. c. G.. Holland for not noti-
flying the police that Fox had re-
turned to his home.
Both men were described as OUT
standing officials of the hospital
and for this reason the board said
it was not recommending that
they be penalized.
The board also suggested that
appropriate steps be taken to
obtain more alert attention by
police throughout the State, to
escape warrants from the several
mental hospitals"
The board said there are indi.
cations of widespread tendency
to ignore such warrants for rea-
sons which local police deem
cogent but which can and should
be eliminated"
AS an additional regulation for
hospital superintendents, the
board proposed that they be re-
quired to notify police whenever
they learn the whereabouts of an
escapee.
No Penalties at Hospital.
No penalties were recommended
for hospital personnel in the Fox
case. OF DR.. Holland. the board
said: "He is a conscientious and
able psychiatrist and is devoted
to his work on behalf of mental
patients. While he was undoubt-
edly in error in the Fox case in
the particular cited, the State
Hospital Board feels that his suf-
fering in mind and heart over
the tragedy which resulted is a
greater penalty than any it could
enact"
Supervisor Dewitt's record was
described as excellent" The
board directed that he be repri-
manded, but said lit is unwilling
to order the dismissal of this VAL
ued employe, however tragic the
results Of his error proved to be-"
The boards report and recon-
mendations were sent on to Gov.
Battle, over the signature of E. w.
|Opie. chairman of the board.
Made more escape conscious by
the Fox tragedy. the board also
adopted a resolution that war
rants for each Of the 167 patients
now at large be written by the
respective hospital superinten-
dents and sent to law enforcement