Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-09

To the Editors of the Worcester Spy:
The statement Of the trustees of the state re-
form school, published in your paper, does not
bring to view the case against the accused over
seer of the chair shop as 1t actually stands,
doubtless because their method of investigation
has not made them fully acquainted with It,
We have not at any time supposed the trustees
capable of tolerating the brutalities of this
oVerseer; and, in seeking to draw attention to
what we know of them, we are prompted only
by such feelings and aims as should influence
any other citizens of the state interested in the
character and usefulness of the institution. 1t
is great injustice to accuse the motives Of
those who make the charges. And, besides,
proper investigation will show that the charges
are true, and thatmore of the same character,
than has been mentioned, Is true.
The trustees mention distinctly only one case of
excessive punishment by Mr.. S. B. Newton
For this, 1t appears, he was reprimanded, and a
promise was exacted from him that he would
not repeat the offense. This is adapted to make
the impression that this case of excessive pun
ishment was an exception to his habitual treat
ment OF the boys. So far as il makes this i'm
preston, 1t fails to show the case as il Is. We
can not undertake here to describe all this cases
of brutal punishment, by Mr.. s. EB. Newton,
which came to our attention, during our connec-
ton with the institution; but we will mention
anew of which some or all of US had knowledge
while there.
Soon after Mr.. Geo. 7. Newton's connection
with the institution began, he witnessed, unex-
pectedly, the dreadful whipping of two boys, by
Mr.. s. B. Newton, in one of the lodges. The
spectacle shocked him, and the painful impres.
zion could not be shaken off for a long time
Being new to the Institution, be knew not
what he ought to do or say about the matter;
therefore, he mentioned it only to his wife. He
thought 1t might be something exceptional,
but learned, ere long, that this man was accus.
toned to intiict unmerciful whippings.
Last tall, or In the beginning of winter, the
same man knocked down boy about ten wears
old, three times in succession, and kicked him
brutally each time, until he rose again. This
cruel proceeding took place In the dining room.
and was witnessed by Mr.. Emerson, who ia still
an officer in the institution, and by Miss r. R.
Hodges, they being in the room on duty at the
time. Miss Hodges reported the matter to Mr..
Evans, who said, at first, that he couldn't be-
leve it. She asked him to make inquiry of
Mr.. Em9Son. He did so; and MFR. E. after
expressing disinclination to be mixed up in any
matter of the kind, told what he saw in the
dining room, fully confirming her report.
Sometime in the winter, perhaps as late as
February, Mr.. S. B. Newton whipped in very
cruel manner boy by the name of Rice. He
was beaten with the strap, and so numerically,
that the skin was whipped off in one place over
aspace as large as his hand The officer above
named was one of those who saw the marks on
TINS boy; and he described the wound to one OF
us. The case was reported to Mr.. Evans. and
this same officer said in the presence Of sew.
eral Others connected with the reform schoo,
that Mr.. Evans told him that be saw and az, ~
ined the boy in the bath, and was sure tho, g
the trustees had seen the boy, Mr.. S. b. New,on
would not have been permitted to remain In the
institution twenty-four hours.
In March occurred the whipping of the Ho
gan boy, concerning which the memory Of Mr.