The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-29
Investigation Of the Reform
School In Washington.
Comfy pa.

Pitiiharsh Leader.
Tie Investigating committee of the
board Of managera Of the MOrganra Re-
iorm.school, consisting Of MesssS. Cohen,
Anderson and Fetterman, met last night
at Morgahza to investigate the charges
preferred against Superintendent Shall
lenbereer by the several discharged off,
GERS. The examination lasted from 1850
until ] O'clock. After some wrangling
about thematter Of counsel it was decided
to allow Messrs. ]. NJ. Caldwell and J.
O. Young 10 appear for the discharged
officials. Superintendent Shallenberger
did not have any counsel. The first wit
meas WaS Mr., ]. P. Ross. BE referred TO
the non-yisiting proclivities Of the super
intandent, and said Colonel Shallenber-
ger had visited his school officially twice
In ten months, when he ought to visit 1t
twice q week. He called the attention
OF DR.. Alexander to the powdering and
painting Of the girls. The doctor denied
that tho girls we're allowed to wander
about the fields without apparent author
ity; saw girls converting with man one
evening near the female department; they
subsequently, disappeared in the woods
together. Mr.. Ross would not take the
boys near the girls building on account of
the girls gross misconduct; the girls
crowded around the boys when they were
haymaking one day, and exposed their
persons in an indicate manner and sang
disgusting songs. He stated that the
food provided while sufficient, was not
sufficiently varied, bread and molasses
and soup having been served continuous
y for eighteen days successfully; on the
occasion Of the legislators visit the boys
received sprig Of celery; they received
beans on three occasions, aud with mag
gots in them too; on rare occasions the
boys had pot.pie, and went crazy over 1t
with glee. On crosS.examinalion the
distinclness Of Mr.. Ross statement faded
away considerably.
Mrs. Parr, former officer in the ie.
male department was next sworn, and
said the girls bought powder with money
furnished them from home; the girls re-
fused 10 wear darned stockings, as they
sMd they could get new ones from the
matrob; heard one Of the girls swear in
the matrons presence; dancing was fire.
quentlY INDUCED in by the girls; they
talked indGeently about several officers;
Mary Cain, an inmate, was allowed to 20
out early in the morning under orders
tromthe matron, who said she was work.
ing In the laundry; the Waterman, MIR.
Fry, told me that tue girl went over the
hillto meet company, heard complaints
OF q serious character affecting Officer
Boland, a married man, aud Mrs. Welsh,
an officer In the female department, the
stories Of improper conduct by officers
came from girls that know to be liars:
the Improper conduct on the part OF the
officers took place before Col. Shallen-
berger had taken charge Of the school;
when notified about the bad behavior Of
the girls, Col. ShAllenberper tried to stop
~ never saw anything improper myself;
Annie Conn asked me one day for some
white skists, which l refused 10 give her;
abe came later with . note from Mrs.
VanMeler ordering me TO give her the
articles; Igaye them 10 her; The next day
abe ran aAay.
Alex, Gibson said he was discharged
for refusing to sign a paper, which Su-
perintendent Shsllenberger said would
be an approval Of his course, as we'll as
an acceptance Of Ross position; he re-
fused 70 sign Il, a. he knew the charges
OF Roes TO be true; the boys were poorly
clad; the girls conduct was often disgust
fnplV anandAlnnG
The committee adjourned at the con-
elusion Of Gibson's testimony. II meets
In this city on Friday evening.
Mr.. Morgan, the storekeeper, and sew
eral farmers residing in the vicinity,
came 70 the school 10 testify, but were
told by the Waterman that there was not
room for. them in the building. Super
intendsnt Shallenberger said they had
not said they were witnesses,
i