Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
The Reform School Case.

We published last week statement Of what
seemed to us to be a particularly unjustitiable
case Of the sending of sick boy from the Reform
School to this place, his former home. The fol
lowing letter from Superintendent Fairbank has
been received: -
vKRGESsEs April II. lsJ9.J
GRxrs-I noticed the item In the wAronMAS relating to
The scndqg Of The boy Henry Heath from ne he Ee a,,ap
nsea further 'S, he seSo hS SgeIb 70 snd
had been for some time we doing ali that could for him
both by allowing him liberty about The house anS giving
bad cough fer time and believed him inclined 70
Snss Il View " h. HI p Ss Se nnd VIII my
self believed he should he cared for by the town where ne
nue in the school as an expense the had he
been IL health he woud have been iurlgnEe ne ssvy
for his reformation. Another boy by the name q Bruce
uis eonshpie IN The very small hospital which we have
for the accommodation Of the sick Bruce Mas Troubled
Inherited the disease from his mother lie had not been
We kept hin during hs entire sickness. as he had
home The trustees with the Governor believed That boys
Otherwise they might leave the schoo-bu, should rather
sSe ey have o e Sr ~ who are able to care for them
We Thoughtful better that Heath should reach MonipeeL IN
in order to this the boy start from here on The
Re excitement sU case by The Anticipation Of going 70 Mont
pelieI prevented his sleeping much during the hg 80
up goi breakfast for him aud two other boys We say
him well bundled up and started for the depot IN care OF
al officer who accompanied him to Burlng,on and h 81"
Heath told officer that he did not feel tired 1T burlington
We wrote MIR. llinkey twice In regard 70 MN, and the
last time stated the time we would send nm TO MSnpee
and requested him 10 meet him at the depot which ne u
promised to do in previous letter TO u.s. By ihs you VIII
esTney eo s lie was R6ou, the house took
meals table, and Indeed quite comfortable when
he left We think the fatigue caused by ms Walk from
the depot in Montpelier at time when he must have been
occasioned had more to do with his sickness which iie-
datey followed than anything else You are az pery 70
". O. fAmBAsK, Superintendent
We give this communication place, but do not
see that II puts the action OF the authorities oil
the school in any more favorable light. The boy
is still alive, with, however, but little chance OF
his recovery. That kind OF economy which dis
charges sick boy from the Reform School for
the purpose OF throwing his support upon the
town where he formerly resided, at the risk of
the life of the boy, is one which we apprehend
the people of this state will hardly tolerate. A
great many people have Travelled rs far as from
Vergennes to Montpelier, and after that have
walked from the depot as far AS Hinkley & Bests
store without suffering such sickness as befel
this poor lad, and that explanation of his illness
seems to be particularly unsatisfactory. It should
he stated that Mr. Hnkley was sick In his house
on the day named for the arrival of the boy, and
mistook the day. But no possible cause for the
boys sickness could be found from this fact.