The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-06
suPT. JOHNSON ExoNERATED.
With Few Exceptions the Institution
Has Been Well Managed.

With Few Exceptions the Institution
Has Been Well Managed.
The charges against Alexander Johnson.
superintendent of the Fort Wayne School
for the Predetermined. have practically coli
Iapsed. The report OF the committee on
benevolent institutions, presented in the Sem
ate yesterday by Senator Boyd, is in the
nature of an exoneration. The first part of
the report deals with the material condition
of the institution and the management of
the farm, which are commended. For the
better employment of the boys who are in
mates of the school the committee recon-
mends the appropriation of $4,000 for the
purchase of additional lands. That part of
the report referring to the charges against
Mr.. Johnson and the finding of the COM
mittee reads as follows:
Certain charges having been made
against the superintendent, Mr.. Alexander
Johnson, subcommittee went to Fort
Wayne and made a thorough investigation
at the institution. Most of the charges were
ever, desires to speak particularly of the ere re-
suits of inquiries made concerning the
charges in one or two instances. It was
shown and frankly admitted by Superin-
tendent Johnson himself that under provo
cation he had said and done certain things
in anger which, in the opinion of the COM
mittee, were unwise and unnecessary. 1t
is shown by the superintendents own state
ment that on one occasion he said to the
matron, Mrs. M. E. Orr, that she had lied.
Upon another occasion, in an impulse of
anger, Mr.. Johnson drenched feeble
minded boy, named Jack Frost, with water
from the hose and Immediately afterward
whipped him severely. In each of these
instances there is little doubt that justice
might have been done and discipline main
tanned in a manner more in accord with the
dignity and reputation of both the supern-
tendent and the institution. 1t was also
charged that on one occasion casket con-
tanning the body of a boy who had died in
the school was buried in the Institution
cemetery without the protection of a suita-
BILE box. In this instance it appears from
the evidence and from the statements of
the superintendent that the matter of MAX
ing suitable box for the casket was for
gotten until within an exceedingly short
time prior to the hour for interment. When
the matter was thought of a crude and in
sufficient substitute for a box was hastily
constructed and used. 1t would have been
better to have postponed the hour of burial
than to have resorted to this unsatisfactory
device. From the evidence it appears that
this particular instance was the only one
of the kind which has occurred Aside from
believes that the management of the School
for Predetermined has been capable and
efficient, and that the interests of the in
mates have been carefully and faithfully
guarded.
Because of the acknowledged ability of
the matron, Mrs. Orr, for the discharge of
the duties of her position. we believe that
1t Is highly desirable that the friction
which in the past has existed between her
fully avoided in future in order that it may
not be necessary for her connection with the
institution to be severed"
The report of the committee was adopted