The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-10
'TdE vEssrsONT REFORM SCsgoOE.
statement OF che E,.istces.
10 TIE People Of I'elMOnt :

fo"e topN " vermont g..
The undersigned, Trustees of the Yer
mont Reform School, beg leave to present
for your consideration the following state
ment touching certain statements made, and
reports circulated through the public
prints, calculated to create an unjust i'm
preston in regard to the management Of
the inmates of the school, thereby reflect e.
ing severely upon the trustees and officers
of this State Institution, which has been
considered, and justly. too, one of the
noblest reformatory institutions in all New
England.
boy by the name of Warren johnson
was committed to the school Feb 5, 1878,
20 await his trial at Windsor County Court
at its then next December Term On the
Goth day of December last, he was taken to
Woodstock for trial, and remained in Jail
at that place until Dec. 2ith, when he was
taken into court and plead guilty to the in
dictment found against him. On that oc-
casion, and before sentence was imposed
upon him, the following proceedings were
had, as appears from the Woodstock Aqe
of Dec. 18th
On the 18th day Of February, 1873, Warren
Johnson then about II wears OF are was sent
10 the State Reform School at Waterbury, by
one OF the justices at Plymouth, TO stay until he
had his trial at this term OF the Windsor county
johnson from Waterbury, and last saturday
left him here in jail. This afternoon he was
brought into court and plead guilty to the in-
dictment found by the Grand Jury. Before this
however. certain facts as to the condition OF the
boy when the Sheriff received him, became ne
ceSsary--so that the court were In doubt whe-
ther TO end MIN back TO the Reform School, UNI
less the law compelled them so to do; therefore,
several witnesses were called and their tcstl-
mony taken down by the court reporter. The
following Is synopsis of the testimony OF
Sheriff Stlmson, Nathan Bland, one OF the prls-
oners In the jail, Tailor Hewitt Joseph d. Dent
son, DR.. Sherwin and DR.. Robinson
warren johnson, sixteen years old the 18th
day OF next June, my hon is In Shrewsbury, |
have mother but no father, mother lives in
Shrewsbury. Father died ten years ago |
have heard from mother once since have been
ia the Reform School. She wrote me. Can read
books but not writing.
Sheriff Stimson Last week Wednesday /
wrote the superintendent of the Reform school
mat was coming down on the train from st.
Adams Saturday. and wished him 70 have the
boy at the depot The train was three or four
hours late and telegraphedhhm to be sure and
have the boy at the depot on the arrival OF The
tfaln. we stopped several minutes, but IL was
not until the train was IN motion that | saw
him. lie was with another boy. ] found him
III IL ulTty L examined MN NtstN riaN
for the first time. Mr.. Hewitt was with me.
Found him thickly covered with nlts and lice
without making close examination. Something
had been done TO his head before | saw him.
Nathan Bland Examined his head SATURDAY,
evening because he scratched 1t. lie had lice
saw about twenty cut his hair sunday-couid-
MT get line comb through his hair on account
Of the nits, put some tobacco Juice on his head,
then took on his shirt 1t was dirty all through
with lice. IL was Il cotton shirt. Put il In the
stove Examined his head last, yesterday. Lice
then in his head and some under his arms
., Mr.; Hewitt Examined him last evening
dozen lice. HIS hair was full of nlts. None of
the other inmates or the jail have lice
Joseph ID. Denison Examined him with Col
one.
Or. shcrwin Was called to see him yesterday
afternoon He was In a III OF epilepsy. Some
OF the Inmates said he had lice, but made no eX-
animation on account OF his condition Last
evening DR.. Robinson and myself went down TO
the jail to examine his head. lie found lice In
his hair and great many nlts. We examined
his arms, think saw nits In his arm pits.
Or. Robinson Went to jail with Dr. sherwln,
last evening; Found that the boy had lice. HIS
arm-pits.
Warren Johnson recalled Had lice about two
months. Knew that the boys scratched their
heads. Had no come ; wore the shirt a fort
night, washed me all over week ago last Sunday
Had no soap all, wash my hands and face
every morning and noon, none OF the boys have
soap. Sleep alone. lIeaey, one OF the officers,
would whip me till the blood would sometimes
h.J 'Nh'' iio NhiIptu mt WIN u SUCK.
lie whipped me because he said made the flts.
Had enough TO eat and Il good bed When |
whispered he would whip me.
Judge Barrett said they would not dispose OF
the case, but hold II for consideration.
COY. converse, being In the court room COM
mended the court In the action they had taken,
and requested copy OF the testimony OF the
reporter. we may here say that Johnson has
been subject TO hts for q long time.
Two otner papers published at Wood
stock made editorial comments, rejecting
in fnp Al.
ton and its officers. one of them styling
the former ga den of vermin,' and the lat
ter "little better than brutes," and this, too
upon the testimony and appearance of one
boy out of one hundred and forty, and he |
standing in the position of criminal about
to receive q sentence of five years confine-
ment.