Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-04
Suicide of q Little Boy.

The Philadelphia Press publishes an
account Of the suicide in the House of
Refuge of boy who was only IL years
old. 1t seems that he was a bright and
spirited lad named Harry Ackley, who
one day last November was found drift
ing around the streets, and his speedy
commitment to the House of Refuge fol-
lowed. The lad donned the uniform
of the reformatory institution, fell into
its ways and discipline as far as an i'm
pulsive boy who had enjoyed the wild
freedom of street Arabs life could,
and after time seemed to be as happy
and contented as was possible with such
surroundings. He was never gloomy,
but manifested fun loving disposition
which found an outlet in many an act
of mischief. He became q favorite
with the officers, and although guilty OF
few minor offenses against the disci-
pline Of the establishment, he was
never by any one regarded as incorrigi-
BILE.
On Monday week, when the line of
boys in the division to which Ackley
belonged was made up, the lad was
found to be missing, and a search was
at once made. In the partition wall in
the colored department of the institu-
ton pair of shoes bearing Ackley's
number was found and also board
placed against the wall, leading to the
belief that the boy had escaped that
way. This, however, was discovered
to be ruse, as soon after Ackley was
found secreted beneath pile of lumber.
He was at once taken and locked up in
SO itary conference.-the everest pun.
ishment inflicted for offenses in the in.
tuition. The cell in which he was
ced was on the upper or third-story
tt of the north wing. The apartment
was utterly destitute of furniture of any
kind. not having even cot or seat.
Into this room, the door of which VAS
then closed on the prisoner, the light
is admitted through piece Of cast iron
three feet high and about six inches
wide, closely fitting the window, each
about q fourth of an inch in diameter.
In fact the cell is 20 dark that even with
the sunlight streaming against the iron
shutter it would he difficult to read al
the door. Monday night passed and
young Ackley suffered all the tortures
which solitary confinement inficts. On
the next day he was given fifteen
minutes breathing spell and again
taken back to the cell. And so it con
tinued throughout the week until Sat
urday last. His food was bread and
Water three times day, and only once
during his imprisonment he was allowed
the full ra.ions given to the rest of the
boys. On Saturday last Mr.. Pearce,
the official who had charge of the boy
and who carried him his bread and
water, took him down for his daily
hiteeb minutes exercise. The boys
spirit was evidently badly broken, for
he said to Mr.. Pearce, Please ask the
Superintendent to let me out and will
do better in future" Mr.. Pearce re-
piled, to use his own words, Yes, I'll
see the Superintendent, but you are
bad boy, and this is the best place for
you until you do better" And then,
after ming in from the bright sun
shine, the boy heard the door clang as
his custodian left him in the semi
darkness. utter loneliness and profound
silence of his cell. He had nothing to
read, nothing to do; only the floor
upon which to sit, and only his thoughts
to keep him company.
Superintendent Buckley was out with
some of the boys at u regatta on the
Schuylkill and did not return until the
evening. As matter of course, there
fore, poor Ackley's piteous appeal for
release was not communicated. About
$50 Mr.. Pearce made his visit to the
cell, carrying with him the little pris-
| - vi hnfo,n
him alone for the night. As he opened
the door a shocking sight met his eyes.
Hanging by the neck to the bars of his
cell window was the poor boy dead anu
cold. He had been tired of waiting for
the release that never came, and mad at
last escaped from The House of Refuge!
The lad had used one Of his suspen-
ders as rope, and had put an end to
his life with deliberateness of purpose
which is appalling when it is considered
that he is q mere child. When found
his feet rested on the ground. his body
was slightly bent forward, and in that
condition the poor lad must have en-
dured all the tortures of strangulation.
By simply standing erect he could have
saved his life that he suffered as he
ala SHOWS now lrlSutIul muSG nave DeeH
the mental suffering that could impel
boy of IL to such mode of escape from
his misery.
There has been coroner's jury, a
verdict of temporary insanity, and to-
morrow the boy is to be buried from
the house'of his father, No. 107 Union
street. The latter, who is boot filter,
said bitterly to reporter " How was
it, they couldn't find my residence dur
ing Harry's life, they found it so quick
ly after his death? Why, it was only u
few hours after my boys death that 1
was notified of his suicide, aud yet dur
ing all the long six months he was in
the House of Refuge the officers say
they couldn't find where 1 lived. /
thought the boy was in Chicago he
had been to that city once before on
visit to his aunt"
Queen Victoria can amuse herself
any fine morning by inspecting $4,000
600 worth of royal plate in her castle of