Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-08
NOT FOR GOOD BOYS.
The State Board of Charities Com
mittee Reports on the
CHARGES OF CRUELTY AND FRAUD
Made Against the Huntingdon Reforma-
tory Management
MUCH MORE TO PRAISE THAN TO BLAME

alleged abuses at the Huntingdon Reforma-
tory were last night made public by the
Western Executive Committee of the State
Board of Charities, to whom the charges
were referred and by whom they were in
vestigated. The committee, while CRITICS
ing some minor matters speak highly of the
management as a whole.
The report has been accepted and ap-
proved at meeting OF the full board and is
now inthe hands of the Governor 1t is
very voluminous, embracing a condensa-
tion of 900 pages of typewriter testimony
The report is signed by James B. Scott,
Chairman, and George W. Ryan and George
w. Starr, who compose the Western Ex-
ecutive Committee. The substance of the
report follows:
On Wednesday, March 9, 1892 the members
of the board were informed regarding the
presence in Moyamensing Prison in Phila-
Ceiphia of ten boys who had been sent from
Huntington Reformatory as incorrfgibles,
being improper persons to remain in a re-
formatory. Messrs. Dickinson, Biddle and
Scott interviewed the boys and took state
m eEts IRON them regarding their treatment
in the retormatory. The board then de-
Cided to hold an investigation ut the insti-
tuition with reference particularly to the
discipline and treatment of inmates.
Prompted by Governor Pattison.
Before the board could proceed with this
investigation Governor Pattison sent it
letters which had been forwarded to him by
Senator Frank A. Osborn, of Philadelphia,
and from R. Bruce Petril1en, of Hunting
don. The latter contained charges against
certain members OF the Board of Manage
ment of the refOrmatory, to the effect
that thev had been using their positions on
nargOnnl
profit. Two Of the members so charged-W.
w. Jennings and Samuel McCamant, were
especially named.
Accordingly, and at the Governors re-
Quest. the board ordered an investigation by
the Western Committee which began March
p During these proceedings, which took
place al the reformatory and lasted three
days, there were present, 6. W. Ryan, DIR. G.
/ Mcleod, W. B. Gill, George w. Starr, Sec
retary Biddle and James B. Scott.
Senator Osborn was in DOsSession OF the
charges and conducted the prosecution. The
management WAS represented by George b.
Orlady. The Investigation covered a wide
scope, including inquiry into the meth
DDS of punishment, dietary, occupation of
inmates, instruction, system of oversight
and reports, medical attendance. and in
fact everything relating to the interior az
fairs of the institution.
At an early stage the matter of the charges
against two of the trustees was taken up.
ken. and he was notified to be present He
replied that if the board desired his pres
ence they must furnish him conveyance,
TO which reply the board paid no attention.
At the time designated the accused. Colonel
JENNINGS and Mr.. McCamant were exam
ined- Their testimony, which showed that
in no instance were they interested in any
transactions by which they could have been
benefited. was corroborated by several
other witnesses. AT one time Mr.. McCamant
had furnished limited amount of supplies
in emergency, but without profit to HIM
self The charge that the managers had i'm
properly requested appointments was en- |
phatically denied
A Day Too Late for the Fair, |
The day following Mr.. Petriken put in an |
Appearance and proposed to make general |
which he was not permitted to |
do. He confessed an inability to furnish |
testimony from his own personal knowledge |
The committee ascertained that there are |
two principal methods of punishment in use |
at the Institution One known as corporal |
!. .unishInent, inflicted by the paddle"
a piece of leather five and one
half inches wide and Is inches |
long, and the other the SOLITARY"
Special inquiry was made into the effects OF
I he of the former and the statements |
that the bodies or the inmates had been |
bruised by ''the spanking" process, was dis
proved by ocular observation. Sometimes !
lnma ties are allowed free movement IN the 4
SOLITARY - and sometimes their wrists are
fastened in rims in the wall, which keeps ,
the prisoner on his feet. 1t was found that
for many davs in succession-in one or two /
cases for great time as % DAYS. The |
system OF solitary would seem at first like
an exceedingly severe condition, but the 1
committee suggests that it Is difficult to e1-
cite special sympathy for any prisoner |
enduring such sentence when the oppor-
tuDity to have it discontinued is entirely |
within his own control.
in the course of the investigation it was
aSCertained that there are frequent cases of /
in cipient revolt and while it was shown that
a lp had at nrfSOn-
ers under what he considered circumstances
OF necessity. the committee finds fault with
the TACT that no records of such incidents ap-
pear on the books OF the institution.
One of the most serious facts connected
with the institution is the lack of employ
ment. At least one-fourth of the inmates
are without work of any kind. The instruc-
tious of the inmates in the matters of elem
entary education is confined to two general
divisions which is also Insufficient.
Don't Want to be Bosses.
The committee examined the reports as
made by the keepers, and found that the
persons referred 10 as monitors" have very
much 10 do with affecting the grade or stand
ing OF the prisoners. There appears to be q
decided repugnance on the part OF the aver.
age prisoner to any seeming authority on
the part OF fellow prisoner.
The second meeting of the committee was
held in Philadelphia April s. Several boys
testified a. to their personal experiences |
and treatment while at the retormatory. In
their cases no evidence to anything of
unusual severity was adduced, outside of
the spanking" or SOLITARY" The case of
Frank Dickerson, to which much promi-
nence has been given, was inquired into, !
and it was shown that his family absolutely
neglected him while at the reformatory. AL
though the Superintendent appealed to the
father, both in person and by letter, the
abandonment was disgraceiul until the Sun
day preceding the boys death.
A special inquiry was conducted with q
view to the hvEienic condition of the insti-
tuition and its locality, and it was found that
no special disease could be regarded as being
promoted or induced by residence within
the prison.
The committee then gives a synopsis of
the testimony taken at Huntingdon and
from which the foregoing
were reached. Then follow the
conclusions of the committee:
In view of the testimony, it is the opin-
ion OF your committee that so far as the
of the institution is concerned,
It has been well meaning, honest and COM
netent. That while there may have been
errors of commission or omission. it fully
records with the opinion and frank utter
lnCs,s of Senator Osborn, after the conclusion
II the investigation, that whatever or such
7ctions had occurred, ''had been done
through errors OF Judgment and not wilfully
oT msliciously and what the managers did
hev believed to be in the discharge of their
luty and was not malicious or wilfull." The
testimony of the gentleman, who gave his
ime and experience to an investigation in
he general interest, can be fairly accepted
IL candid statement in connection with |
.nything which may have appeared uncer-
ain or questionable regarding the treat
nent of the prisoners or the general con-
luct OF the Reformatory.
Not Home for Model Children.
Reference is made to the fact that this is
lot an Institution for tfmodel children I"