Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-17

animation of the inmates alleged to
have been brutally treated, as well
recent brutality could % be found, although some
were Scared by blows inflicted long before
they entered the institution. The board has
thorough confidence in Superintendent Quay,
and say they do not propose to take any notice
OF the matter, but are willing to nave legis.
lative Investigation. They cannot understand
why Mr.. Reyburn and his colleagues did not
make personal investigation instead OF send
ing Wagenhurt When Thomas Wigatman
was seen Yesterday at his office, he said:
If there is any cruelty practiced at Nor.
ganza DO not know Of it, and think would
know it if there was. or course, the treatment
of some of the guards may be rough at times,
but that cannot be avoided. We try to get the
best men we can for the money the state allows
us. good guard is soon found out, and he is
wanted IN other places. II he is offered more
money than we can afford to pay we nave TO let
him go.
Takes Some Time to Find Out.
whenever man is put in, the boys try to
down him, and. of course, it takes us some time
to find out man. Last winter we dis
charged one of our Oldest teachers
because he was in the habit of whip
ping the boys unnecessarily. There has been
no abuse. We heard this was coming, and on
Monday we examined the boys and found
Them all right, although there were scars on
them, but they. were not caused by wounds
they are well fed The man said they got tea
In the morning. That is not so. We always
serve coffee In the morning. The boys are
better fed than they ever were before. As for
sometimes. Last year several of the boys at
tacked guard with a pick and would have
killed him if he had not protected himself.
Do you think there was any time then to go
for a permit? The boys are all right. and you
cannot find healthier lot of people in the
whole country"
Children Well Cared For.
DR.. Allison made practically the same state
ment. He said the children were we'll cared for;
that their perfect health was the best conmen-
tary on the good treatment they received. Said
he: I'VE have good set of keepers. OF
particular inmate. The boys who go to such an
institution have to be whipped. but those
whippings are not frequent. A broad paddle
made Of leather is used and not strap. l
would just as soon eat with the boys as with
the superintendent. The food is Of the very
best.
speaking of Mr.. Quay talking in mono
lenent. he never threatens the boys and he
never forgets that he was once boy himself.
1t is also said the boys 60 without shoes during
the summer. Why, can remember when
fought because bad to wear mine. AS for the
girl who told a story of cruelty she is the one
who set fire to the building and was sent to
the penitentiary for her otense."
the board, said be was present at the examina-
tion Monday night and found that everything
was in good shape. There were no marks Of
violence on the boys.
w. b. Lupton, another member of the board,
does not believe there is any foundation for
the report, but think the boys have been tell
ing Wagenhurt stories for the fun nf stufdng
him: He said they had room where they
confined fhe boys when they become un-
manageable. but they are released as soon as
they promise to obey the rules.
The Charges Were ForestaIled.
THE DISPATCH correspondent at Harrisburg
sawa number of Allegheny county Representa-
rives at Harrisburg yesterday in regard to the
charges made by Agent Wageahurt. Senator
Neeb, among others, said that the charges
were so evidently overdrawn that he could not
think anyone could seriously regard them. In
refutation of the charges, Isador Coblenz,
Secretary of the Board of Managers, has made
public report of the Superintendent to the
Instructive and Discipline Committee of the
Board of Managers, filed April Is accompanied
by report made by that committee to the full
board, signed by Charles w. Houston, j. II.
Gray, w. B. Lupton and Charles McKennan.
This report states that Superintendent Quay
stripped all the boys in the school, and found
42 marks of punishment. The committee
found at least three-fourths of the cases were
SO slightly marked that under ordinary cir
cumstances they would not be noticed. OF the
AZ before the committee 26 were marked on
the arms 6 on the body and on the legs Ten
boys said they had received their marks within
ished previous to that time. some as far back
as five years. "Your committee are Of the
opinion that there has been no cruelty in the
punishment inflicted upon the boys"