The herald., 1896-07-14
WHITTIER STATE SCHOOL
Nothing In the Sensational Re.
port Regarding II
ALL THE FACTS IN THE CASE
As Given Briefly and PointcdIy By w.
G. Patterson
The Trustee Thoroughly Informed on the
Matter and In . Position to Olive the
Truth - His Communication

Regarding the report Of unusual and
cruel practices in vogue at the Whittier
reform school, Mr.. w. c. Patterson,
trustee of the institution. man whose
word will not be questioned, writes The
Herald as follows:
Editor Herald: I have a well-defined
suspicion as to the origin of certain SEN
sational reports relative to the Whittier
state school. l have also an opinion as
to the motives of designing persons who.
for some weeks, have been trying to i'm
pose these exaggerations upon the press.
The grounds for these suspicious do not
care to state at present. The facts as to
the alleged abuses are substantially as
follows:
During the month of May whipping
was administered to a girl, who is re-
puted to be one Of the worst characters
ever sent to Whittier; who had served
a term in another corrective institution;
whose commitment states that she had
served two terms in the San francisco
Jail; and whose record of department Is
shown from the monthly reports of Mrs.
OHara, the head of the tailoring depart
ment, and other officers. to have been
uniformly bad since she has been an in
mate of the Whittier state school.
The whipping, which was for disobe-
dience and lying, consisted of ten strokes
across her back and shoulders with
thin leather strap; about three inches
wide and fifteen inches long. Most cred
ible testimony confirms the belief that
there was no blood drawn, nor could
there we'll have been with the instru-
ment used, and that there were no
bruises or abrasions of the skin.
Corporal punishment is never admin
icforpd a cti1y and without the
presence of witness. Corporal punish
ment could have been entirely aban-
doned months ago, or reduced to an in
consequential minimum, had not an
erratic teacher, aided and encouraged
by outside influences, transfused into
the school a maudlin, mawkish senti-
mentality, which threatened to destroy
disciplinetand subvert good order.
Some time in the month OF June the
same girl, for disobedience and for at
tempting to incite other girls to insub-
ordination, was placed in solitary con-
finement in room about 9x12 feet. with
a ceiling fourteen feet high, well lighted
and ventilated. with marble-top wash
stand, hot and cold water. and other
necessary toilet comforts. While in this
room she attempted to create a sensa-
tion by feigning an attempt at suicide.
She tied strips, taken from her bedding.
to window above, and at the time of
tic udliy NiSlt VI LIE plly SlCidtl, WHO is
required to visit at least once day those
who are in solitary confinement, she
was found standing on the floor with
this alleged rope wrapped twice around
her neck and tucked in. but not tied.
The physician and the principal of the
girls department, who We're eye-wit-
nesses, both swear that there was no
mark upon her neck nor other indica-
tions that she had suffered or had in
tended to do more than try to frighten
somebody or create a sensation
AS to the reports of extravaganza in
purchase, the fact is that supplies for
the year were bought through sealed
bids, after thirty days notice pub
lished in The Herald and five other Los
Angeles and San Francisco papers. Com
petition was so sharH that many of the
successful bidders are losing money on
their contracts.