The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-18


entirely disproved, and in closing they
entirely exonorated Mr. Westworth and his
management. The result will be hailed with
pleasure by all who have the good of the
school at heart. The investigation has bee
long and thorough, and the whole world has
been invited to come forward and tel what
they know of the alleged cruel treatment at
the school. Those who came forward have told
very crooked stories and all of them have ben
refuted.
The hearing yesterday was held in this city
in the directors room of the First National
Bank. The first witness called was Levi S
Pencil, who was formerly an ovsrseer in the
school, and man who Mr.. Hlllman named
as knowing all about the matter He said:
Was in the Reform School eighteen months,
aud had charge of the brick yard where the
largest and worst boys were employed. l never
saw Mr.. Wentworth or any other officer abuse
boy. Never saw a boy punished in a severe
manner. Have seen boys shackled. The case L
| think of now is that of two boys one named
| Winship, who were overheard talking about
running away. MIR. Wentworth heard of it
and determined they should not Accordingly
the shackles were put on them and they sawed
wood. Kennedy told me that he went to the
Argus Office with the articles accompanied
| to the Improvements made by MI Wentworth.
No new facts were brought out on cross
examination.
Mr.. Babbidge was recalled and answered
Mr. Hillman in the following straightforward
testimony:
The grading of the boys is actual and not
nominal as Mr.. Hilman stated. The third
class boys have very little to do with the first
and second classes. They have other schools
and other play yards. The boys who are
handcuffed are not safe without handouts on
as in the case of the boys after the Christmas
revolt. Handouts are always used for restraint
and never for punishment In the matter of
Ryan the irons were used 10 keep him in the
| school. He was large boy and weighed more
than several of the officers. York was also a
hard character and it was impossible 10 keep
| him without irons. After he was captured he
was desperate and threatened the officers
several times. knew of no better method Of
using him than he was used. In regard to
sticking fork into Bggns as was stated by
Kennedy L remember nothing about it. If L
did so 1t was accidental. and it must have been
very slight injury as L never heard OF it. l
once heard that boy was slightly injured by
fork but never heard who the boy was. The
handouts and ShackleS never were so tight
as to cause the limbs to swell in the least The
punishment is now much less than it was
when Mr.. Wentworth took the school. Three
years ago when the buildings were being
repaired it was necessary to be much more
severe for part Of the time there was little
to keep the boys from running away. Mr..
Wentworth has striven to reduce the punish
ment constantly and now there is no more than
is necessary to carry cut the purposes of the
school, There Is much less than under the
former administration Out of fifteen boys
who have run away the past year six have
returned of their own accord, Knight Guptill,
Carlin, Addition, Bisbee and one other. Never
knew Mr.. Wentworth to administer corporal
punishment to boy secretly, and
never heard such thing spoken of.
Never knew him to attempt to cover any Of
his acts towards the to5s. The temperature in
the dormitory is always comfortable. If not it
is the watchmans fault
The next witness called was Charles L. York,
formerly policeman, and man who knows
large number of the boys sent to the Reform
School. he was called to testify in regard to
the character of some of the witnesses and
instigatoIs in this case. he said!
Knew William p. Barry and arrested him
when he was sent to the school When he
escaped from the school | visited his mother s
house and asked for him, but she said she
had not seen him. | saw the boy frequently
during the summer when he tended his father
cows on the Promenade. He was in the habit
times took cold. Never heard that he con
tracted any disease at school. knew Hugh
McGowan. Heard of him when he ran away
| from school. After he was discharged from
| the school he went to Mr.. Chamberlain's at the
Cape, ibut had trouble and returned to the CITY,
That was last summer Since that time do not
| think he has done days work. He is COM
| mon loafer. Knew Daniel hyde. l arrested
him for stealing salt from team passing up
Centre street. Since he was discharged from
the school he has been loafDg on Centre street
constantly. Last fail l arrested him for steal
ing hat from the Dollar store, and a coat
from the Portland & Boston Clothing store on
Middle street. He was sentenced to sixty days
in Jail. 1t was intended to charge him with
being common thief, but by some mistake he
was simply charged with larceny. He is
notorious sneak thief.
On cross examination Mr.. EGould called
for q little light on Tim Kennedy 5
character. Mr.. York in reply stated
that he knew Tim as notorious liar and
o sneak thief for years. Has been loafer
ever since he was discharged from the school,
He also stated that he knew Ryan and went to
Lewiston after him after he escaped. He said
that he had often heard boys speak of the
difference in treatment when Mr.. Hutchinson
and Mr.. Wentworth had the school.
The next witness called was Thomas f.
| Collins, formerly an inmate of the school, He
| is now employed in the store of A. Little &
Co., ard is fine appearing straight forward
lad. He was discharged last May, and has
| since been employed where he is now. He
| testified:
Have been in the school four years. L never
| saw any cruel or savage punishment. No boy
| ever complained that he was ill used. Never
| saw any cruel or savage punishment on the
| part of any officer. The punishment for
escaping. before Mr.. Wentworth came was
on the line for two or three weeks. 1t has now
| diminished and since Mr.. Wentworth took
| charge the change has been very material.
Formerly any officer would whip pupil for
any offence. But since the present Superin-
| tendent has been there matters have been
different. He said that no officer should whip a
pupil. This order was generally known. My
place in the school was confidential clerk for
Mr.. Wentworth and also waited on the table,
| and had liberty to go where / pleased.
remember York and saw him when he was
| returned He was not safe to have around
unless he was handcuffed. At the time when
Ryan was returned he was very desperate all
| the time.
City Marshal Bridges was called and testified
that he knew Kennedy, but have known but
| little of him for the past two years. Used to
know him as thief, and never would believe
him. He was very bad boy. He also knew
| several times. MCGOWAN has been arrested for
| larceny. Both boys were considered bad
characters.
Nathaniel Davis, one of the under officers,
was recalled, and testified:
When York was returned he was desperate
and we considered it necessary to put on the
| handouts. While at work in the corn shop
| saw him leave his place and whisper to another
| boy. He said "you get sharp knife and it
will take but few moments" 1 heard him
| say these words. Ryan was threatening
| loudly when he was returned, and said be
could whip any officer in the school, He
| threatened to fight once in the shop, 1t was
noticed that he was making trouble and
| demoralizing the rest of the boys, and l
reported him to the Assistant Superintendent,
| who put him in the tower. He was frat put
| into the library, and did not do we'll and was
taken to the tower. Here he ripped up the
| flooring, and soon after escaped / reported
the case to the Superintendent. The shackles
were found beneath the floor, but the hand
| cuffs were carried off. He was locked up for
| safety, and to prevent him from injuring the
| officers L never knew shackle or handcuff
| to njure limb at all. Barry and Dyer were
| handcuffed for attempting to escape from the
| yard with four. other boys while two officers
were in charge of the yard. The discipline is
not as severe as formerly. The punishment is