Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-03-03
Frost Bitten Inmates.

We gather from reliable sources thVs
several Of the inmates, who arc colored
boys, iucarccrated in tie House Of Ref
ormatinn, Cheltcnham. Prince Georges
county. have been severely frost bitten
this winter, some to the extent that their
feet bad to be amputatel. How about
thisg The accommodations at Chelren-
ham are sufficient, MS to room, to com-
f1rtably care for all the boys confined
therein, and the appropriation from the
State is sufficient to fn .nish them with
necessary food and riinent, ami yet
cnmes the sad information that some oE
thea have suii rod so severely The
suspicion Of the fault lies with the man
aselncnt and no where else. II the state.
ments of the poor unfortunate boys. two OF
whom are now lying ieetless at hospit-
al in Baltimore city, are to be believed
the mauag ,ment of the institution have
been guilty ofthe most inhunan cruelty,
and if Gen Horns alleged statement il
to Be accepted as the fact the man
agemeut has been likewise cruel. and are
totally unit for the responsible position
they hold.
The two boys at the hospital state tn 1t
they had been compelled to walk bare
footed in the snow, AMI that each had
been confined in a dark cell for days
at a time, which was totally devoid of
furniture or any sesns u heating and
subjected to many other acts Of
cruelty. According to General
Horns alleged version of the
matter, both of the boys are o.
uasound mind; tina. one Of them
came to him through the snow in Janna
~ with but one shoe on. the other
through mischief he had hidden. for
which Offense he was punished by con-
fnement in a dark cell. Laying aside
the peculiar fascination the boy seem;
to have had for walking in the snow
with one shoe off as is reported, the
the statement Of Gen, Horn and those o.
his wards do not materially differ
Their respective statements show tha
the confinement Of The boys in an un
heated cell during the severe cold wealth
er for an unreasonable time was fact
and if as il is alleged they were Of unsoun
mind the accusation with which the man
agement is charged in so evcrcly pun
ishiug them only adds to the gravity o
the offense committed To punish
person. however wicked he may be, will
severe cruelty in revolving TO ever,
sense Of justice in this enlightened ant
humane age, but to punish, as it is re
ported those poor helpless boys. of un
sound mind to the extent of manning
them for life is very serious matter.
The news of the affair hivrn;
-..-L-l u ---s--,----ass,------ss.i s.sss'
tees OF the Institution. special commit
tee was sent down from Baltimore to i,
vestigate the matter. and while their q
hcIal report has not baen made public
1t is reported they st,te that the
investigation was satisfactory 1t ma
be to them, possibly they wore casil
satisfied; The glib tongues Of til
accused may have weighed heavie
with Them than the idle yaporiugs (?) {
fuotless idiots, but the statement III
subcommittee has male as preamble I
the report to follow does ,ot satisfy III
public mind \ just public cannot un
dersfand, and very lucid report onl
can explain how management
having charge Of such a r, formato
~ institution can reform people of IN
sound minds BY severe corporal torture
We await the Off ial report viii
anxiousness. but Investigation or MOI
We think the mex, grand jury of Prince
Georges coua'y or of Baltimore city
which ever has the authority ought to
box into the matter, and if it is true as
charged that the boys have bcen wiIlful-
ly ind so numerically punished or neg
lected the entire management of the in
ssitutiOn Should be indicted.