The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-01
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
Ninth Session Of the Investigating Com
mission.

The ninth session of the commission ap-
pointed by the Governor and Council to inves.
tigate the management OF the State Reform
School, met at Commissioner Haskells Office
on Exchange street, yesterday afternoon.
Inc hrst witness sworn was the regular at
tendant physician of the school,
DR. JOHN G. WEBSTER.
lie testified that he saw the sick boy, VIM,
who was spoken of by the Governor, and has
been repeatedly alluded to in the testimony,
quite frequently. The boy died of Tuburcu-
iosls. The attention which he received during
his sickness was kind and COED. He never OBJ
served that the boy was delirious until few
days before his death, Witness thought the
room room used for a hospital was very good for
three patients; he would not like to put any
more there The ventilation was satisfactory,
AS 10 the light coming into the room where
the boy was sick, he thought it beneficial. The
sun never laid upon the boy at all. So far as
2 witness was cognizant, the food OF the boys
was good, and they certainly seemed to thrive
upon IL. They were remarkably healthy for
30 many boys confined together. The general
health OF the school was better than when he
hrst became medical advisor of the school,
some Two years ago. Defective drainage had
been remedied soon after Mr.. Harrington took
charge, and witnesses suggestions in regard to
ventilation, especially in tks large school room
had been carried out
To Commissioner Fox-As to standing boys
with their fingers to their toes, witness Thought
boy might be SO stood twenty or thirty min
utes without dstriment to their health. He
should not recommend such mode of punish
ment.
Witness thought the standing of boys all
night In the dormitory and compelling them to
work the next day was little too severe. He
thought that the wearing of the iron bands
upon the leg of boy would not be injurious
but SIMPLY uncomfortable to the person wear
ing the iron. Did not think that it would
tend to inlure the muscles Of the leg.
10 Mr.. Farrington-Witness remembered of
visiting the boy VIM on the 9Th Of February
about o'clock in the afternoon. II he was un-
conscious, or had been, he would have been
likely to have noticed it. The boy died on the
18th OF March. The ventilation Of the room
and the condition of the atmosphere were sat.
isfactory.
The general good health of the boys was tes-
tilted to and the cause Of it attributed to their
good treatment.
To Commissioner HASKELL Witness gave
the dates OF his visits to the boy Winn, show
ing that they were quite freque Mt
MISS LUCILLA SWAN.
This was the lady who had charge of the
cooking room, and whose name has appeared
in connection with the quarrel IN the kitchen
between the engineer Griggs and the boy Ran
kins.
The boy was cross and when she accused him
OF stealing sugar he denied it and was inso-
lent. Rankins said that he would reportsher
and she replied'to whom? He answered to
my folks and she laughed. Directly after he
struck the engineer who seized him, threw him
down and held him down. Rankins said to
Griggs. "If you gvo me a chance I will kill
you."
Witness did not think the engineer choked
me boy any more than necessary to Gubdue
him. Rankins submitted quietly when Mr..
Wentworth came.
SUPERINTENDENT HARRINGTON.
In reply to an enquiry Of Commissioner Fox
as to the per centage Of reform accomplished
by the institution, Mr.. Harrington said that
about two years ago the authorities of the
school commenced to send out circulars to OBJ
tain knowledge upon that point. The replies
received were SO few that the effort was quite
discouraging, but SO far as they had received
answers, he should judge that about two
thirds of the boys who had left the school had
turned out we'll
When boy is to be discharged, by reason of
expiration Of sentence his friends are written
to and asked to furnish transportation, which
they almost invariably do Boys SO discharged
are furnished with recommendations OF q per-.
sonal character given to them according to
their merits. Two-third class boys had been
discharged without recommendations as there
was nothing to be said Of them. A boy ia nev-
or sent from the school without proper cloth-
ing and transportation to his homo.
The commission adjourned sto meet at the
same place on Saturday next at O'Clock p. m