The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-17
Difficult Task of Making Good
Citizens Out of Quasi
Criminals.
MRS. MITCHELL IS AsToUNDED.
Punishment of Rhoda Webb Described
by Miss V. A. 0lmstead. the
Girls Principal.
Los ANGELES OFFICE OF THE CALL,
1871 West Second street, :
Los ANGELES, CAL, July Is.

the Whittier State School. W. c. Patter-
sons attention was called to it by the local
papers reporter, whereat this trustee
wrote in part as follows:
In my judgment, the Whittier State School
was never in so good condition. morally, as
now; its supplies were never purchased so
economically; its business affairs have never
been more carefully and Systematically admin
istered; its general discipline was never bet
ter, and it has never in its entire history done
better work than it is now doing in the way of
making good citizens out of quasi criminals,
notwithstanding occasional discouragements
and unwarranted attacks upon the manage
ment.
A CALL correspondent showed this state
ment to Mrs. Mitchell, who said:
"Of all of the many statements which
have emanated from Mr.. Patterson's pen
this is the most astounding. l shall enter
into no controversy with Mr.. Patterson.
This statement has decided me to let the
public know just what was testified 10 by
the different witnesses, and the public can
judge for ITSELF
The testimony which follows was taken
at an official meeting of the board con-
Quoted by Trustees Patterson and Mitchell
and written out by F. H. McAllister, Off
cial court reporter, all the witnesses hav-
ing been duly sworn by notary before
testifying. The following are extracts of
the stenographic report, selected impair
tally from the 400 pages of the record by
THE CALL representative:
Miss V. A. Olmstead, principal of the girls
department, who did the whipping and who
is accused of the excessive punishments
testifes:
Q.-You may state, if you please, just in your
cumstsnces leading up to it and all about it.
You may state when it was, as nearly as you
can, and the various circumstances A.-Wen,
can't think of the day now. If you will let
me look at my whipping record can tell you.
Q--Why, certainly. lWitness examines rec
ord.) A.-On May %, 1896, whipped Rhoda
Webb gave her ten strokes across the
shoulders. The girl had been very impudent
and insolent to Miss Jackson, who we were
having substitute at the time.
Q.-What did you whip her with? A
strap.
GA leather strap? A leather strap
that we have here for that purpose. She had
been giving her great OF trouble, and when
in the dlning-room, or whenever she would
take the gi1ls to the plungeroom, getting
ready for meals and washing, etc., she was in
subordinate and seemed determined not TO do
as she wanted her to do, and she would stir up
the other girls 10 well, 1 might say, to
mutiny.
Mrs. Mitchell-But that wasn't the cause of
the whipping. That wasn't what you whipped
her for? Ayes; 1t was partially that
Q.-What was the other cause? A.-Then,
aside from that, she created disturbance in
the plungeroom when Miss Jackson had the
girls in charge. / did not find it out right
away, but It came out right along that she
helped TO make the other girls disobedient and
was the ringleader in making queer noises
and being disrespectful to Miss Jackson.
Q.-That came out after the whipping? A
Oh. no.
Q.-You whipped her that day. the same day
she committed the offense? Ayes.
whipped her in the morning, and think the
offense was committed the night before, but il
had been going on for some time. 1t was not
just that one time that she had been to the
plunge.
Oft was not exactly for the disobedience
in the plunge altogether? Alt was not alto
gether that. It WAS general INSTRUMENTATION
and hatefulness and the very ugly manner in
which she treated the officer In charge; but
that was the thing that brought it on directly,
her demeanor in the plunge.
Q.-Were you alone when you gave her that
whipping? A.-No; l am never AsoSe when 1
give whipping.
Q.-who was with you? AIRS. siyder, the
matron.
Q.-The whippings that are given You pre-
scribe yourself? Ave never whip except
with my permission.
Q.-And do YOU give permission? Al give
permission.
Q.-To have them whipped? A.-Why if a
child needs whipping and it is an unusual
case, generally 40 it myself, but if it is SO
that think If would be better for the officer
10 doit have her do it.
Q.-But you don't prescribe it yourselff
You don't get your authority for doing that
from anybody else? You gene rally do that
yourself? A.-As general thing, AS a gem
eral thing take the thing in hand; but then
l have authority for SO doing from the super
intendent.
Q-At the time for each whipping? A.-No
OIL mean when you whip you simply do
not consult him, but you just simply whip at
your own discretion? AIT my own discre-
ton; yes.
Mr.. Pstterson-How severely did Won whin
this girl? Al took the strap and soaked it
until it was soft and flexible. The strap is a
hard, stiff thing when it is dry.
Q.-How long did you soak it; do you know?
A.-Why, / soaked it FIVE or ten minutes to
soften ii. 1t would be very severe if we would
lay ii on the bare skin dry.
Mrs. Mitchell-Don't you think It would be a
little more so after being wet? A.-No; il
stings more, but it is not so hard upon the
flesh.
Mr.. Patterson-At the conclusion of the whip
ping did you notice any marks or bruises? A.
/ Hooked at her back. 1 always do. Her back
was red. but there were no bruises. 1t was
very red, 1t was Redeemed all over where had
whipped her. / gave her ten strokes.
Q.-About down to her waist or from her
shoulders down? A.-Well, perhaps not so
low as the waist, should not think More
blades.
Q:-Did she make any outery? A-No
Mrs Mitchell: Q.-She didn't cry? A.-She
shed few tears, guess, but she made no
outcry.
Q.-Didn't struggle, or anything of the sortg
time, when she was ready for ii, and told her
when she got ready for the next one to tell me,
and when she was ready for the next one
gave it
q. Did she stand still while You gave 1T
Ayes.
Q.-In any position at all? A.-she leaned