The Portland daily press., 1882-11-06
Pepper as an Antidote for Profanity.

| IA1N
Pepper as an Antidote for Profanity.
| The commission appointed by the Governor
and Council to investigate the management OF
the State Reform School held their tenth SEES
sion Saturday afternoon at the office of Com
missioner Haskell, on Exchange street. Seven
sessions had previously been held at the school
The commissioners, Messrs, Fox, Gould and
Haskell were all present, and also Mr.. Far
rington, superintendent of The institution.
1t was expected that Col. Chas. B. Merrill
would be present to testify. The testimony OF
this gentleman is regarded of some importance
In making mp their report as his presence with
Gov. Plaisted has been frequently alluded to
by other witnesses; and it was upon the inqui-
ries and observations made at that time that
Gov. Plalsted based his charges of mismanage-
ment of the institution, and his subsequent re-
quest for an investigation, which was acquiesc-
ed in by the Council. Col. Merrill being alb
sent from the city, the commissioners proceed
ed to examine boy who is absent from tho
school on leave by the trustees The bog g
name Is Henry L. Milliken, and at present he
is living with his mother at the St. Julian Ho-
tel. Being duly sworn by Chairman Fox, he
testified substantially as follows:
Was fifteen years of age in November last;
left the school some two months ago: while
there saw boys punished with ferule by Mr..
Harrington and Mr.. Wentworth; had seen
Mr.. Owen Stat boys around, and one boy, PEN
dergrass, until he seemed to knock the wind
out of him; Owen had to take up the boy and
carry him out; took him into the entry; should
think that it was as much as fifteen minutes
before Pendergrass came round. The boy
said his stomach felt as though it had been
turned inside out; tn 1t he felt faint; Fender
grass went to his bench lin chair shop) about
fifteen minutes afterwards; Owen took the
boy up and threw him down; he was not a
large boy. Did not report it to Mr.. Harrington.
Witness had seen officer Owen strike the
boy Gillen and knock him over; thought Gill
len must have been hurt but he did not cry;
ne was knocked against witness and it hurt
MIN; Gillen was then locked up in the entry;
Had seen officer Freeze knock boy over;
boys name was Hartford; he was struck in the
breast; the boy wasswearing at hi.n.
Mllliken had seen boys punished by putting
red pepper in their mouths. aud also 5y put
ting in soap; witness never had been punish
ed with pepper, but had been with soa ); it
was Tor using profane or other bad language;
the boys SO punished drank water as soon as
they came out,
short time. He knew that the little boy PEN
dergrAss had pepper put in his mouth; knew
that Owen used TO take bis strap out and drive
the boys away from bis desk
To Commissioner Could Witness had seen
boys break ice in the yards and drink water
from puddles. He had done so himself bur the
puddles were not muddy. The boys broke the
ice because there was no water. MIR. Owen
would not give it to tdem- 1t would be at re-
cess; witness had had to drink water in that
way at the o'clock recess The soap was put
in his mouth by Mr.. Farringtons sis er. Wit
ness worked ia The domitory most or the time
for two years. when not in school. His grade
was first class honor.
Cross-examined by Mr. Harrington. Am alb
sent from the school on probation; had been to
the scool since he was ont on the wall and talk
ed with other boys. The washing out of his
mouth was for using improper language. Owen
struck Gillen for coming upon the platform
without leave; had seen boys there before;
Gillsn was after his cap; usually he had got it
by asking for it. Owen took Pendergrass by
the shoulder and arm and threw him down.
Witness never told the superintendent about
ii.
Mr.. Earring on stated that the witness Mill
ken when at tha school had spent large por-
ton of his time in the third class, but he was
finally raised to the first class; but that on the
very day previous he came to the school and
climbed up the fence and conversed with
the boys in the yard when he
knew il was against the rnles to do SO and
he was under parole to report to the authorities
at the school upon returning to Portland. 1t
was the act of the trustees and not his in re-
leasing the witness Mllken.
As to the pepper in the mouths of boys, Mr..
Harrington thought that no other officer in the
school had administered it but himself. For
using profane or indecent langage he had
sometimes taken piece of pepper as big as a :.
pea and put it into boys mouth.
To Co omission Gould-Never used half
teasDoonful.
Witness told the boys that was cleansing and
purifying, and that he administered it as re-
minder that they must not use profane, vul-
gar, or filthy language. He thought that he
had not administered it more than eight times
in all
This method OF punishment had never been
discussed by the trustees.
Mr.. Harrington had adopted this mode of
punishment simply for lis novelty. The boys
did not swallow the pepper but spit it out.
The Commission adjourned to Monday, No.
vember 18th, at ,'clock o. M, when it is ex-
pected that Col Merrill will be heard.