The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-13

ination, we may wander somewhat from
the report itself and consider with it the
other article referred to, but mainly, we
intend to confne ourself to the report.
Another word, we do not suppose we shall
touch all of the points made, but only pro-
pose to 90 over with some of the more sa-
lent emitting, for example, such com
ments as naturally suggest themselves
when the fact is stated by the trustees,
without disapproval, that these poor boys
were allowed to take their hard earnings
with which to purchase a present for the
superintendent and wife. The fact is sug-
gestlve
There has been no attack made against
the Reform School. save what is contained
in the testimony given in open court and
in the editorials of the Standard and Age.
1t is assumed that-and, in fact, the ad-
dress distinctly statcs-that Judge Barrett
passed judgment of condemnation up
on the school" This is denied by the Judge
in published letter. lie did, however, if
we may infer from his action, come to the
conclusion that the school was not pro-
per place for this particular boy. The
school was not on trial, before Judge
Barrett, and was only incidentally called
in question. The boy johnson was on
trial, and the testimony was introduced in
reference to his case and his case alone. IS
there any question in reference to his case
We mean by this, is there any doubt in the
public mind in reference to his case? In
the report of the trustees it is stated that
he was delivered to the sheriff of
Windsor county in certain condition
which statement we are told is based upon
the testimony, whether sworn to or not we
arc uniformed of the officers Of the in
stitution We are, also, Informed that t0ll'
other persons, connected with the board of
management or instruction of the mstitu-
ton, will prove the same thing-that is,
swear to it. What was this condition.
We give the language of the report:
He was thoroughly washed the Saturday
evening before he went away, and at that
time had clean shirt and pair of stock
ings given him. On the morning of his de-
parturc he was taken to the sewing room
and there provided with pair of pants
both clean and whole, and his spencer was
also in good condition. There was no at
tempt made to 'dress him up" but his suit
was clean and whole, and such as is worn
by all the boys as an every day suit.
Is this, can this be true when we take
the statement of the sheriff of Windsor
county. sworn to in open court, that he
'cds dirty when he received him. The fact
of dirt and rags does not rest on the story
of the boy, but upon that of the sheriff and
Others
Another impression is sought to be con-
veyed, although it is not directly asserted
in this report to the effect that johnson
was new conner" This is not the fact,
because he had been an inmate of the in
stitution nearly ten months, as, also, ap-
pears from the report itself. There is an
attempt to show that "their clothes, that
is of the inmates, ''were good and warm,
their food sufficient in quantity and quality
and their beds in every way comfortable"
There never has been, to our knowledge.
any charge to the contrary thereof. The
boy johnson, himself, swore that il was so.
So far is unquestionable but il gives bad
look when so much time is spent, and space
occupied, in order TO prove an undspu,ed
fact. Can there be any doubt or question
in reference to the nits and lice found upon
the head, body, etc, of the boy? Call to
mind the persons by whom it was proved,
and answer if there can be the least doubt
in reference to it? The report, upon the
testimony of the officers and teachers, gives
in detail the method used in order to obtain
cleanliness. 1t is familiar to our readers
and need not be repeated here. We submit
whether ii is possible that such course
could have been pursued in this case and
the boy have been in the condition he was
proved to be when delivered to the sheriff,
or at the Windsor county jail? The
truth is, undoubtedly, that he was neglect
cd. He was disagreeable boy with
grabbed perhaps, kind of
lshmael-and il was hard to get along with
him. His fits and disgusting habits rem
dered 1t still more difficult, and he was let
alone as much as possible Human nature
is much the same everywhere, and this is,
probably, about the truth of the matter
1t would have been far better To have so
said than attempt to go counter to the
sworn testimony of such men as were ex-
amined at Woodstock. The trustees saw
that the boy was never in the first school
kept by lIealey" and consequently" could
not have been punished by him for uhtper-
ing lIealey, in his testimony quoted in
the report, expressly says that once he
'gave him few blows on the hand and
once on the seat with thin ruler" but
it was not for Whispering" The boy had
epleptic fits, which are known to impair
the memory, and il is not, therefore. won
dcrful that he may have mistaken the
cause but it certainly shows some foun-
daiion for his story. We look upon it as
an unfortunate report. We were in hopes
that there would be no attempt to gloss
over the evident neglect of this boy, but
That the trustees, with the people, would |
join in condemning it. 1t would have
been better for the institution and the |
state. We cannot afford to lose conf |
dcnce therein, and we trust and believe
that this is an exceptional case and, as
such, we condemn IT, We SEQ ma way IN |
which proper management of public in
can be obtained, except to con-
denim every wrong action, while we APP |
prove of the others. Let us unite in doing |
this, and not attempt to gloss over evident |
wrong doing.
a Card.
A large party assembled on Friday even
,.sr t.at 4