The Portland daily press., 1882-10-23

quested by Gov. PlaisJed.
In Superintendent Farrington's testimony on
Friday the accidental omission of sheet of the
reporters manuscript, gave less emphasis to
his denial OF the statements of the man Hig-
gins than should have appeared These state
ments it will be remembered, were quite start
ling, and were very generally published dur
ing the recent political campaign. Higgins
was painter who was employed a short time
at the institution. They were not only des-
ignated as generally untrue, as appeared in the
report, but being Rad separately by the saper-
intendent were pronounced severally false en-
tirely; wholly untrue; absurdly false
Mr. Wentworth, Assistent Superintendent,
was sworn, and testified substantially as to-
lows:
He stated that he had been connected with
the school since the 10th of M.rch, 1878, with
the exception of five months in 1890; dur
ing that time he had never known of any case
of severe punishment. The only bodily pun
ishment Inflicted had been by the hand. In re-
gard to the treatment and food of the Buys Mr..
Wentworth corroborated the statements made
by Mr.. Harrington. In regard to the state
ment of Mr.. Higgins, Mr.. Wentworth stated
that Higgins was employed by Mr.. Doughty
who had contract to paint the building Hg-
cling was offended because he was not allowed
to give an exhibition of ventriloquism to the
boys. The reason was because Higgins used
profane language and Mr.. Wentworth had
heard that his exhibition was indecent. Mr..
Wentworth further statedsthst he hal never
h,,to ito1 10 rho fahl
| with one exception, when he discovered some
| sour bread upon the table and he Immediately
| ordered it to be AIKEN away and fresh bread
| provided. He afterwards learned that it got
| there through the mistake of one of the en-
| ployees.
The pu ,ishments inflicted upon the boys are
| the same as one year ago. The class of boys
committed is the same, but the general senti-
| ment of the school is very much improved.
| That was attributed to the good management
| of the school. The most serious offence of the
boys committed was for manslaugbter. There
| were two OF such cases. Mr.. Wentworth re-
| garded the most serious offence committed by
boys in the school was when they made an as
| sautt upon the night Waterman, one of them
armed with a knife with which the witness had
no doubt intended to kill. That boy was turn
| ed over and dealt with by the courts. The next
| most serious was where some boys in May last
attempted to set fire to the tower inEthe sewing
room. He was punished with two weeks soli-
| tary confinement in the tower on bread and
| water; this boy had all the ted clothing he
| wanted. Perhaps more serious offence was
| committed by boy named Butler who set fire.
| He was turned over to the courts. And still
| another serious offence was recalled, where
boy named Noble was found with sharpened
knife concealed upon his person. The boy de-
clared that he had not meant to use it upon
the officer but intended to kill another boy
against whom he had grudge.
Examination of other boys convinced wit
ness that the statement was true, Noble hav-
ing revealed his intentions to several For
this he was confined three days in cell, the
punishment being light by reason of the mem
tai capacity of the boy.
Mr.. Wentworth did not go around with the
Governor upon his visit to the institution. The
boy that was very sick he thought he averaged
to visit at least half dozen times day. He
saw the boy spoken of by the Governor FREE
quently during the day of that visit The boy
was not delirious but his hands were cold and
clammy and he had every appearance OF boy
wasting away with fever.
The improvement of the school during the
past particular year has been marked very
physically, mentally and morally.
In answer TO question by commissioner Has
kell as to whether there was any organized
hospital force IN The school, it appeared there
was none except in general way, save that it
was special duty of the lady employed in tbs
dormitory, which was in addition to her re u
lar duties in that department. The medicines
prescribed were by the superintendent or assist
ant in light cases. If the patient proved seri-
ously i'll physician was called.
Boys are not allowed to coverse in the work
shop, school or dining room and received de-
merit marks for SO doing if the matter is MOTTO
ed By the officer. In the winter time boy
gets from between three and four hours of
pla, aday.
In the summer time they have five to six
hours for recreation. In the winter they have
six hours in the Workshop and four hours in
school, which leaves them about three and a
half hours for recreation. On Saturdays they
have the entire day. SUNDAYS they are read to
and talked 10 and receive about fifty papers
each Sabbath which are distributed to them.
Religious services are held in the chapel,
usually some Portland clergyman preaching to
them. They also change their clothing and
are allowed to visit The yards at certain peri
eds during the day. a.
The compensation of the men on the farm
| was $25 per month, except the engineer, who
sometimes gets $50. The lady teachers re-
| ceive 81 per week.
The drudgery of the institution is done by
| the boys under the direction of the officers.
| The work is not considered disagreeabe by
| the boys.
| In reply t. a question by Commissioner
| Gould the witness stated that ne had never
| found the atmosphere of the hospital in a fetid
| condition. The thermometer was usually kept
| at IS. His impression was that at the time
| the boy spoken of was sick it was kept little
| warmer than usual by direction Of the physi-
| clan.
| The boys in the school had become aware
| that the commission were at work investigat-
| ing the school.
| Superintendent Harrington testified that he
| was in the school when the Governor made his
| visit. 1t was just at noon He invited him 10
| go and see the boys at dinner as they were just
| setting down The Governor passed freely
| among the boys conversing with them, Mr..
Harrington purposels keeping away. hearing
nothing of the conversation. After dining, at
! Mr.. Farringten's suggestion, the Governor,
| Col. Merrill and Mr. Donahue visited the hos
/ pital Mr.. f. noticed nothing unusual in the
room or the condition of the boy. the boy
| was alone at the time, the nurse having just
gone out with the dishes from which he had
| eaten his dinner. Mr.. Farrington's son, %
yesrs of age, took deep interest in the boy,
so much soEas to attract the attention OF DIR.
| Webster, the physician. The Governor went
| ap to the boy aud / think he spoke to him.
| The boy not rolling about and did not
| complain. If he had certainly should have
| noticed it, The watchman was instructed to
! call me at any time the boys symptoms we're
! worse and the witness frequently got up in
| the night to visit him.
1t was from % to 80 days after the Cover
nor's visit before the boy died. The boy was
never delirious until two or three days before
| he died. DR.. Webster used to visit the boy
| very often, at least orce in every third day.
! In regard to the light in the room Mr.. Far
| r'ngton was advised and instructed by the
| physician to have all the sunlight IN the room
/ that it was possible without disturbing the pa
tient. On the day that the Governor was there
! it was simply impossible from the position OF
the bed and window that the sun could have
been shining into the boys eyes. Mrs. Far
rington frequently visited the boy. He was
supplied with fruit, jellies and other delica-
| oies
Mr.. harrington met the Governor in another
part of the institution subsequently and he is
| certain that he made no mention of the heat of
the room, the state of the atmosphere or the
sun. If he had he should have remembered
| it.
One of the boys talked with by the Governor
has gone home by reason of expiration of sem
tence; another is in the county jail the others
are probably in the school,
The Governor, after his visit to the hospital.
went about the building and a portion of the
time Mr.. f. was with him and at other times
he as by himself. He was accompanied by
Col. Merrill and Mr.. Donahue The Governor
made no complaint, but was unusually compl-
meDtary. Mr.. Donahue, however, said that
the Governor was not satisfied.
From recollection should think that the
boys with whom the Governor talked were in
the second and third classes. Afterwards he
was told by one of the officers that the boys
were talking and laughing among themselves
because they "stuffed the Governor" The
officer was Mr.. j. P. Owen, foreman of the