New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-10
MENTS STOPPED.


TIES ORDERS THESE PUNISH
MENrs STOPPED.
Albany Jan s--The investigation of the charges
against superintendent Tierce of tho Wesichester
Temporary Home for Destitute Children that he
created some Of the inmates Of the institution
cruelty has been ended by the state Board of Chart
It's commissioner Edward II. I.tchfeld. of the
p,arj and Inspector James Tanning looked into
.bs charges and inspected the institution. Commits
stone Iitchhell in his report to the Board. states
Eva, ;hore are now l59 inmates between three and
afeen wears old. He says:
The main buildings were destroyed by fire in
February las. The new buildings are "a yet in
complete and 1t viii probably take several months
~ maxi them tcnantable. In consequence OF this
some # the children are housed in two cottages, a
mile distant from the other houses. All the build
ings thus temporarily III use are badiy overcroWaea
AMI :hs beds ia the little temporary wooden hunks
poorly made up n n e ths p new
ent state II affairs it ought not 10 do So but should
ra,her b. dscharg.ng OF those il has in charge
The general health of the children appears TO be
COOL AMI they look we'll fed. although not quite as
Vel cared for in the matter OF clothing as couId De
So.i~e5 The management appear, however, TO be
Sesrou, 90 10 their best. and much allowance must
be made FOR the difficulties under which they now
At completing the inspection we sent for sew
Az nj the bows and examined them one at Tine.
In A private room. with nobody present besides my
self bat Inspector Tanning ana me stenogIaphisr'
AftcrWard the superintendent Mr. Pierce was
cal.ol ana examined privately as to the statements
mn" ms tha; The super!ntendent has been hf-
years IN the habit OF using a Tia, ,b s
Trimming away" The hoy wears TINS chaln con
,irmansiv nicht and day whether in his bed or at
his studies or going around the house or grounds
on examination. the instrument proved TO be
S5s"E S Sa aronn the boys ankle and padocked
sYneiv in place. The other end was similarly placed
S.n The Two feet was about twelve inches. The
Total weight Of the instrument varied IN qieren'
examples from two ana half to TWO ana three-
ouarfers OF three pounds. The superintendent
SSaimei tina, he ankles Were usually protected by
huckskir wrappings. He admitted that. in one case.
,bat Of William Yorke. fourteen years of age. this
rrecaution was neglected for several weeks. ON
bls ankles had become markedly oalloused in ring
running around them, but more especlay so ?, al
four points-namcy. the front rea; ana TWO sues;
These chains were taken of al bedtime lor me
purpose of undressns but Immediately repafeT
AMI the boy kept on his stockings ior protect.Sn
from them Another boy. one Patterson said the
chains made no sores anu ne so"e ny "aiher
On one occasion TWO BOYS "eIc LAM" as ant
by the ankles Tor At least couple OF DAYS ana
ware handcuffed at the same time, sleeping the IN
t.ryen.ng night on two beds, placed side by side
IN THE CHAINS FOR SEVEN MONTHS,
The superintendent Claims that only three boys
have beon punished by the of chains during the
last year being one Weeks who left the instltu-
ton few days ago Cdscharged). and Paters son ana
,bai tbev had Worn the chains for period OF six
and seven months. respectiNelN. IN. suptIlitei
Voru his chains for seven months In all but he was
positive that Patterson did not wear MS lot "'e
seems also that the children punished occa-
sjona.ly by the OF what they ca. me cat-V
njne-alls This. examination. proved 70 Cots.s.
Of what looked like light drums rck. ahon I
fourteen or hleen iRc9eS the midde FIVE brown
leather shoe or boot aces. making cat OF zen
,55Seh IT. IL must sting if We'll laid on. The boys
GAINED that 1t was sometimes applied TO me re
backs u the hands well as TO the palms: me
superintendent however, stated that II va ori,,
used on the backs Of me a nas 5' said that he
deserved the whipping he received-that he was
r. appears that the girls have. in at last two
instances punished by cda9 s but ns sha Near ne
They are now punished. when necessary, by the
cato -nne-tails on the PAINS OF the hands or py
have been in former years punished by whipping ~
with The aboye-descrioed ca ai,er De ih ebeet
ms practice has been absolutely discontinued
sT me snpeTjntendent justified the use of chains
81 being better in his judgment, than .ocking up
j. cell d x,i f1r se1 S as BY this system @
boy around The s as nsa that a he do
not the cat freguent ana asi no mas record no
Whatever V5sn w o. the punishments. and think he was
POSSIBLY mistaken in stating that but three boys
h1d r worn G@T' that the use Of Chains in any
form. whether as a punishment or as deterrent
that corporal punishment be discontinued In view
Of the very NO cbdren be- receyei
by the home until this STATE Of AFFAIRS is remeiled
dation or by making prompt. earnest and digent
efforts to place some of the surplus population.
NO MORE WHIPPING AND sHACKLING.
The Board having fully considered and accepted
the report and recommendations of Commissioner
Iitchfeld, made the following declaration Of is
opinion:
First-That the use of chains for either punish
ment or restraint. as shown to exist in ne home is
~, ne ara lrao and nerits severe contamination
second-That the Board re.terates the opinion ex-
he effect. ''tha; whatever may be sad in favor of
or dgans IL antics or in Common schools its toler
ance in corporate and'prvate institutions without;
FAMILY and OF p.bllc criticism in the common
school a tolei ance that cannot De divorced rom
oncn admitted as an exceptional or extraordinary
remedy. its use inevtapy eXtahds I and M,
f,miljaritv with this form Of correction leads to
cTqei brutality N I hoih ocaTs ana nms,es and in
the end detrimental, to the discipline. therefore,
Resolved That the secretary of the state Board
Of Charities be INSTRUCTED TO Home for
Children in writing. that the use OF chains u'o'
children in its custody fof psnd that CORPORAL
Punishment upon such children b" abahd0hed' an
further that upon ia NH issue SO eo mandate under
the Constitution and the statutes ana prooeeu ~
enforce the same
OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.
\ rsonest was received from the Board OF super
v,sors Of Westchester County to investigate 'he
,ra,asoment Of several charitable institutions
under private management. supported "hoIS ~ IN
rart by public money, and Conniss.eDn',u,
fci1 was requested to make the investisa1oni, In,
A resolution was adopted. authoTlzinS 80 ~
s.Hwart 10 appont a committee OF TWO nieihoels %
ne Road 70 confer with a like committee. repre-,
s@niinr the State Commission Of state ffs ,iture
fame and present a resolution 10 the Leg
Tor The amendment Of the Constitution ~ ', ~
reformatcries for shall be leil ui H
exclusive supervision Of the state Boara OF
t,es President Stewart appointed as such commit
Zee commissioners Bergen and smith
POSTOFFICE THIEVES II Cothi'
George Carson. alias Haywood and Albert "S"
Pol