The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-30

The seventh session of the commission ap-
pointed to investigate the management of the
State Reform School, assembled at the usual
hour Saturday afternoon. The three commits
sioners and the usual company of trustees, re-
porters and others interested, were present,
with the exception of Col Bowers, chairman
of the Council, and Trustee Chadbourn.
At the opening of the session Superintendent
Harrington desired to know if he was the party
on trial, and if he was to be considered as de-
fendant.
Chairman Fox and the other members of the
commission said that there was no person on
trial, but their business was simply to investi-
gate the management of the School.
Commissioner Haskell said, sin my view the
object and purposes of the Commission are to
inform ourselves by semi-judicial public in
vestigation as to the treatment of the inmates
of the Reform School, and in order to do SO it
is our duty and province to call such witnesses
as we think will give us any light, and if the
officers of the institution, whether interrogat-
ed by us or by their own yolition can help us
to understand these m matters, it is their duty 20
| do so. do not understand that this is an in
vestigation against any particular person, as
defendant but it is to ascertain the condition
and management of the school and make re-
| port of our conclusions to the Governor and
| Council
| A question was made in regard to calling
| witnesses and Commissioner Haskell said, Sin
regard to that my views are these: While we
are in search of the truth, we say to Mr.. Far
rington have you any statements to make
| yourself, or can you produce any witness
| which will lead US to full understanding Of
the truth of the case. You have permission so
to do, and we take it as part of this examine
tion and it goes into the record"
Mr.. Harrington stated that he was not res dy
to make general statement at that time and
that Mr.. Wentworth also desired more time.
Commissioner Fox-Do you know of any
further information that the commission
should have?
Mr. Farrington-As to good or ill treatment?
All of the Commissioners-Both.
Mr.. Harrington presented list of the officers
of the school for the use of the commission.
Commissioner Haskell said: You have given
us general idea of the workings of the school,
Is there anything further you would like to
say?
Mr.. Farrington-The is, butt am not pre-
pared for it at this point.
HORACE f. WILEY,
Foreman of the third class chair shop, was
sworn. He had struck boy nomed Gillen!in
the dining room in the presence of Mr.. Far
rington. Struck him with the palm of his
hand in the side of the head. The boy attack
ed him first by elinching him and trying to
1,a hn,x
pounds. He struck the boy simply in self de-
fence and then handed him over to Mr.. Far
rington for punishment. Had struck none of
the other boys. Thought he had never pun
ished any other boy except by standing him
on line or stopping to touch his feet. Have
had trouble with other boys. One of them
he, took by thes neck and stood shim with
his fingers to his toes some twenty minutes
Never had him by the throat Left no marks
upon him. Galley showed no signs of faint
ness. Did not notice that he was unconscious
He claimed that stepped upon his finger,
but / did not. Don't know that the boy ever
complained to the Superintendent. Did not
report it, as the Superintendent had instructed
him that he was TO manage trihing affairs him.
self. Did not know at the time that he was
not permitted to take hold of boy. Had been
there but short time. Afterwards ascertain
ed that he had no right to touch boy. Was
in the yards at recess and held the boys at GER
tain hours in both. Could not recollect that
he ever used any violence except in the two
cases spoken Of Don't know that Galley was
examined after the trouble. The boy went
down against smooth wall and don't know
how he could have injured himself.
Galley's testimony was read. Mr.. Wiley
choked me so that did not know where was
and fell against the bench.
Witness-Did not take the boy by the arms
and did not touch him until he commenced to
sauce me and then I led him up to his bench.
Witness Galley is not o bad boy, but very
mischievous.
To Commissioner Haskell-Did not know
when he first came there that he was not al
lowed to lay his hands on a boy. He under
stood from his instructions that he could pun
ish minor offences by standing boys on line
or putting them with their fingers to their
toes, as the other officers did. Thought the
boys made more complaint against Mr.. Oowen,
because, as they said, they wanted to give him
the sc. B.n The prejudice against that officer
was universal throughout the school, He was
kind to the boy, witness had thought at times,
too much so. Owen had charge of the first
and second class boys Witnesses class was the
lowest in the school and supposed to be the
worst but he preferred it. The boys in his
class were not all small; some of them would
weigh perhaps 1876 pounds Thought he had
| some of the most vicious boys in the school in
| the third class
To Commissioner Fox Witness gave the
names of MCGOWAN, Pendleton and Nichols as
| among the boys who said they were going to
| give Owen the SC. B." The boys said that
| Mr.. Owen gave them too many dement's and
| they seemed to dislike him generally. Never
| heard boy say that Mr.. o. punished him un-
| justly.
To Mr. Farrington-Had read the rules il
| regard to the government of the boys by the
| Trustees but had been there but a short time,
| and could not just remember what they were
but understood that officers were not allowed
| to use violence.
| To Commissioner Haskell-Do not regard
standing boys with fingers to their toes as cor
| poral punishment.
To Mr. Donahue-Mr. Owen had exhibited
| his kindness to the boys by talking with them
| and giving them good advice. Witness pit
| led the next man that took his place.
| Wiley had had trouble with his boys since
| the investigation commenced. A boy named
| Grace, whom he had occasion to speak to, told
him that if he didn't look out he would get the
| sc. b."
Thought that the longest time he ever had
| boy down with his fingers to his tees was forty
| minutes, but as the boy would raise when he
was not looking he did mt think he ever held
boy in that position more than twenty minutes.
| The position of the class in meditation" is
| to stand with folded hands in front for half an
| hour and then reverse them by putting them
| behind. The boys are expected to stand up
| right and be silent.
| To Commissioner Fox-Never knew of an
| officer going armed. Some of them had revolt
vers which they used to fire at mark on the
| farm. He had one, but when he did not prac-
| tce with it it was locked up in his trunk.
THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
| Mr.. Wentworth was examined by Commits
| sioner Haskell. He said that no water was
| given to boys to wash with who were confined
in the cells or the tower. The same witness
said that the system of punishments had often
been discussed by the superintendent and HIM
self. The certainty of punishment was more
| efficient than severity.
Thought that the school as at present organ
lied could not be governed without punish
ment. Thought that good order could be OBJ
tanned among portion of the boys with very
little punishment with proper teachers. Mr..
Wentworth thought that if thirty boys were
| taken out of the school and some other method
be designed for their management it would be
better. Most of the larger boys are in the first
| class.
AS to the iron on the feet of the boys, Griffin,
who weighed 100 pounds and Travers, who
| frI,o d ahOuf witty