New-York tribune., 1872-08-01
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.

INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE COMMISSION
TESTIMONY IN REGARD TO THE TREATMENT
OF THE INMATES.
The State Commission of Public Charities
and Corrections appointed TO investigate the manage
.nept of the House OF Refuge, resumed It's laOors on
Randas Island yesterday morning. The members pres
ent were O. S. Strong, President; Dr OrdOhauA' AS
sistant Secretary and E. H. Robinson, and N d. heruer
In regard to the charge Of brutal treatment oy oces
Of the institution, Leopold Rohmozin teshed that ne
was dashed on bench in the school ana whipped WIN
strap which the sn that his shirt adhered 10 e
wounded flesh II was shown. however that the marks
on his body we're bsters and not cuts, and that the
discharges from them were aqueous that Whe nc Was
an the bench he was struck with strap that he was
punished for disOrdery conducts that he had previously
been whipped several times on the hands.
T. II. Hallock, Principal OF the House OF heIuge
School testified that the boys received dement's for bad
conduct; that the former witness was one OF the worst
bows in the school previous TO the whipping for dsor
derly conduct on June 2O that since the whipping MS
conduct had Deen reported by his teacher as excellent
superintendent Jones testified that the recent Ie'ot m
the second division inspired by boys over l6 years
island -, ....o,,.su,on, IN ,se,
who mad been hOnOTably discharged, tesuned t1at e
boys were better fed than f0rlnery thaI ne Hau
never heard the chaplain attempt 10 lneulea'c seo~ ~
ideas. ,.,.. o, tho t7i-s,
Division, testified that ne was present Ne SONY vi @ ~.
boys were suspended by their thumbs but tey an couu
stand their feet ana were SUSPENDED IIotl VHee "
bve OF eight minutes till they promised TO DO better
and 10 tell what they knew Of the rebeIllous boys
that none Of them tainted that teey %eie Rg on oue
pened that this mode Of punishment had never Ueeh
nsed before or SINCE that e3CepuohaiS ooy pa MT NJ
the usual punishment was in the form OF demerlts
that he was committed last December and is now EN-
ployed In the steamroom to help the englheeF t9at
every other morning he has beefsteak ana cOnee Or
breakfast and eats with the boat boys never saw any
unsouDd meat or vegetables on the table Is Roman
Catholic and Chaplain never attempted 10 persuade
r. Randolph Robinson, one Of the Board Of Managers
referred 10 the action of the Supreme Court ana the de
cisiOn of the Court OF Appeals IN regard 10 aIRe mum
6er of commitments Police Justices, and testned tha
according the records 73 OF tue inmates nau Doen
taken out since April a. 1871 wrts OF haDeas corpus
and 20 of that number had been discharged that the
commitments OF the latter had been Improperly uraWh
except in three cases when the prisoners had been dis
chsTred Inv Judges Barnard and McCunn. Superinten
dent stated that prior 10 the dsturDshee ne
many articles had appeared nimca TO the INSTITUTION
and tending 10 create similar troubles NC hau 4eu "
nTeyent the newspapers from reaching them.
Otber witnesses testified that the boys were not over
worked printed rules were cOnspcuOusy posted
% maj The bovs could know they imposed upon
that m rare Instances boys could work for contractors
during hours after they had performed te ua
assigned TO them that tne money Ior tHe & ezra @
enter the aggregate earnings OF me House Onaes
Henry Grau (cOlOred) age 49, testlned that ne was
bnrnsher of shOeheels in the first division; that he
usually finished his task at p H. each day tnat SIter
thai 6onT he had been doing OverwOrk for the con-
tractor al the rate cents OF Shoes containing
10 pars that he could burnlsh that number ~ tnIee
days, working from p M until p M tlat he qua tnls
work willingly al the request OF the contractor who had
maid hm fairly for the work; that there were IA or l3
other boys who did the same thing; tnat ne had Dee1
whipped with strap and a rattan, Dut no DOou hau
heeh drawn and he went 10 his work the next day.
The Commission adjourned till tomorrow at 10 a. M
and desired II 10 be made known that any persons hav
ing knowledge Of the HhsInanagenent OF t1e
are requested 10 appear before them al ay 10 pe an
nsmes of Witnesses the commission win have suDpenas
Issued for their attendance