The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-30
ATROCITIES IN A REFORM SCHOOL.

1hE IohtURES OF THE INQUIsITIoN REVIVED
HOW BOYS WERE PUNISHED IN MAssA-
cHusErTs INsTITu1IoN-AN INVESTIGATION
by LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
[DY TELEGRAPH TO THE uEnALD.1
BosroS. March 20. 1877.
Some most startling developments made yes
terday and to-day before legislative investigating
committee concerning atrocities practised upon tho
Maynard boys committed to tho State Reform School
OF Westboro. As the implies tho institution is
ono Tor reformation rather than punishment; but. II
onehalf what is told about is true tue management
IL o disgrace to our centennial civilization. One lad
named Thomas Garland, belonging to Charleston, was
so persserty and cruelty tortured for iDcurrng the
dispcasure of OF tho officers he sought relief
by hanging himself
INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE.
All sorts OF appliances and means for causing human
sunerinss seem to have been employed including the
ancient sweat box the shower bath and ndiscrminato
logging
Ono doctor, f. d. Harvey, who seems to BIO man
not very tender bearted, told tho committee that the
trustees were OF the logging OF the boys the
bare fiesh and said further that there limit to
the number OF blows which might be inflicted, and
that the aye OF the boys made difference. Some
times, he said boys were given tho choice OF tho
sweat box or logging, and they usually chose the box.
fANohiIE fuNlShMENT
Another fnvorito punishment seems to havo been to
strip tho offending Juveniles naked, take lhcm into
yard and play stream OF water on them with gar.
den hose, AL OF which DR. Harvey thought was very
proper punishment adding that It was sanctioned by
the trustees
one boy named Looncy, after six hours confinement
In the sweat box was made target TOR the garden
hose when taken out ono Of the gentlemen OF tho
committee asked DR.. Harvey II he thought that strip
ping the trousers irom boy eighteen twenty years
Of age and logging him upon tho bare person. keeping
ma
without food and playing cold water upon him were
punIshmcnts ot moral nature. Ho replied that no
thought all kinds OF punishment were IN somo
OF u moral nature.
AN
Francis Hincklcy, formerly officer In tho institu-
tton told the committee that one day nc counted lorty
two blows inflicted on boy named FitZgiDbons. A
few days aierward he talking with Mr. Chase, tho
clerk, about II, and on tong INN the number OF blows
counted no said:-
"Yes, and that only of three Aogginss he
received"
Mr.. Chase said tho boy tainted Tho assistant
perntendeEt told the that no had taken from
u boy who had been in the sweat box ihrco hours,
and whose clothes were thoroughly saturated with
perspraton
MEETING or THE OFFICERS
At meeting Ut officers of tho institution held after
the legislative investigation began MIR. Chase said he
had known boys weak after being taken from tho
sweat box to necesstate their being carried down
stairs boy named Miller, who was punished by the
superintendent for swearing, had hts back badly
marked by blows almost down to his hip One named
Kelly about years old, had back badly marked
by blows and another named Kelly and one named
sullivan were taken to the barn, stripped naked and
whipped upon the buck because they attempted to
take some meat from the kitchen while passing
through IA line with other boys.
These are only lew specimens OF the treatment
metcd out 10 the boys which Mr.. Hincklcy related,
and he added that such cruel conduct required of
him toward tho inmates that he resigned his position
Tho investigation has not yet been concluded.