Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-02
WORCESTE R
WEDNESDAY,, Az
IN, state RAYS: "The Wo

the Westboro' dihable punishment occurred,
one case of lmdemned by the superintendent
which vettion forbidden" Our neighbor
and tidy claim that its inquiries can be re-
wiuas an Investigation" An investigation
,.1s something more than informal talk with
N Evans 1t is complained earnestly by Mr..
= Amson and the other compliments that inves-
cation seems to have been confined chiefly to
hch talk with the superintendent who is himself
charged with the responsibility of retaining in
the institution a man whose brutal temper
makes him unfit for employment there II this
charge against him is true, it is very certain tina
Mr.. Evans is not the man Of whom the trustees
should inquire concerning the temper and con-
duct of the person who is accused of misusing
the boys. We repeat again, that all we know OF
the matter is contained in the communications
made to us, chiefly that of Mr.. Samson; and
that we desire nothing more than such an lnves-
| tgaton as will show us the exact truth. We
are told that the charges, with tho names of wit
nesses who will testify to the facts, have been
placed in the hands of the trustees. 1t is added
that neither the accusers nor the witnesses have
had hearing
We understand very well that strict AM firm
The character of the boys sent there makes it
necessary. This, however, must not be used to
excuse and cover up brutality. 1t is reform
school, and the discipline should be adapted to
win the boys to better sentiments and secure
reform. We hear it said that "no one can get
so much work out of the boys" as the man who
is accused of beating them so cruelty; but, if
the business of securing reform is to be sacri-
feed to the business of beating and driving
them to do the greatest possible amount of
work, the institution may as well be abolished.
We think it should be used for the purpose in
tended when it was established; and we feel
sure that the people of Massachusetts hold this
view of it. Mr.. Evans has written to the Ga
zette to Correct some things in its report. We
reprint what he says, with notes on the several
paragraphs of the letter:
ON relation to the first paragraph quoted by
you from the Spy, have no knowledge OF such
scene happening either in the chair shop or Of
fee. What l did hear was this: George L.
Newton told me one evening as | was returning
from the depot that Mr.. S. B. Newton had been
whipping boy OF boys in the bathing room
while he was in cellar under a room adjoining
it; that he counted large number of blows
Upon inquiry of my assistant learned that he
had taken in several boys for miSdemeanors
and that blows counted, if, as Mr.. G. I. Newton
says, were distributed upon several rather than
upon one as alleged. 1t was about this time
became satisfied that there was too frequent
use OF the strap, and forbade its use"
Evidently, the whipping here referred to was
not the cruel beating of boy in the shop, TO
which Mr. George 7. Newton listened when he
counted the "fOrty-six blows" and which
reused so much feeling among the women in
1l,a oJiocap. co,v;pnr room, will add OY, he
authority of our informants, that the boy beaten
on this occasion was not the boy named Red
gate; and, also, that it was in consequence of
this brutal outrage, that Mr.. Evans forbade fur
ther use OF the STRAP"
"The strap described was not the one in COM
mon use They were mostly fiat, and made from
rubber betting. The one described was never
seen by me, nor did know of its use until after
J. II. Sampson left the institution. They were
both introduced without my knowledge or con-
sent.
"The boy Redgate was not punished with a
strap, but with the pith of rattan, the only
instrument allowed to be used at that time.
''When arrived home the following WedneS-
day was Immediately informed of it by Mrs
Evans. / examined the boy found he had been
severely punished, but not so severely as the ex-
agerated account in the Spy sets forth, but
too severely, and | called in the Of
Tending officer, and had him examine the
boy. He acknowledged he had whipped
him harder than he was aware of-was sorry for
it, and would give me his word of honor that if |
permitted him to remain that | should never
have occasion to find fault with him for severity
of punishment. Upon that pledge permitted
him to remain as the trustees were soon to
have meeting. l told him | should refer the
case to the board, and what the result would be
] thought doubtful. did refer the case to the
trustees, with the subject of punishment gener
ally, and they took action upon this case and
the subject generally. The boy was not pun
ished for the offence set forth in the Spy
"The boy worked in the halls and not in the
chair shop, and was punished for somthng
that took place when Mr.. Newton had the gen.
era charge of the boys"
Mr.. Samson states positively that the boy was
beaten for speaking after the parade was Or
dered. Mr.. Evans says he was beaten for some
other offense, but does not say what it was.
Mr.. Evans says, also, that this boy was beaten
with "the pith of rattan" Does he know
what kind of an instrument of torture the cruel
man had manufactured out of the piths of rat
tans? This instrument, we are told, was made
of four rattan piths worked together, and
wound for a few inches towards each end, with
waxed shoemaker's thread. 1t was not the old
''strap;" but, manifestly, it was something
worse. 1t was on this boy that Mr. Samson
a
places where the instrument of torture had cut
off the skin. Mr.. Evans admits that the beat
ing was cruel, but thinks Mr. Samson exagger-
ates.
''Your reporter makes me to say that Mr..
Sampson never reported to me any cases of pun
ishment; that is not correct. MIR. Sampson did
report this case of Redgate but not till after
Others had done So But what did say was,
that during the whole time he was connected
with the institution he had never TO my knowl-
edge complained 10 either of the trustees in
writing or otherwise, of any punishments. Nor
has he since be left asked them for an investi-
CATION or hearing"
Mr. Samson tells us that he reported the case
which occurred week previous to the whipping
of this Redgate boy; and he AYERS that he has
complained and asked for an investigation. We
understand that documents containing the
charges made by Mr.. Samson, with specifica-
tons and the names of Witnesses have been de-
lvered to the trustees. We are told, also, that
Others have entered complaints, and that a
hearing was expected. Meanwhile, there has
been considerable talk with Mr.. Evans, but
no investigation, and the man accused
is still employed in the institution. All this is
either true or not true, and the case should not
be allowed to remain as il is now We have not
published all the specifications of outrage con-
tanned in Mr.. Samson's communication; but
one OF those published that which describes the
knocking down and kicking of boy in the
dining room, is not noticed in the letter of Mr..
Evans Yet, as described to us, it was case OF
very atrocious brutality. We wish it could be
denied and dsproved
Whitewash'' or TruthS
In connection with every fatal disaster that
occurs, we usually see vehement attemnts 70
blame or vindicate somebody who is liable M
be suspected of being responsible Gov :. +