Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-22
SAMPSON A WITNESS.
THE REFoRMAToRY's sUPERIN-
TENDENT TEsTIFIEs.
Mr.. SCOTT WANTS HIS INJURED SON.
Charges Negligence I'm Supplying
Necessary Medical Appliances
Gauxe Undcrshirf Worn I'm Deccm-
bcr-Ladies Among the Witnesses.

The House Committee on Prisons and
Asylums met last night and again heard
testimony as to the management OF the
reformatory at Laurel. The Senate
chamber was filed with spectators, and
not few were In the gallery.
The evidence was not completed. and
when the body adjourned Mr.. Sampson.
superintendent OF the institution, was
on the stand. Or. Winston is conduct
ing the examination probably well as
any of his lawyer friends could do. and
is bringing out every point necessary to
furnish the committee with all the in
formation desirable for them TO have. In
order 70 thoroughly understand the stu
alton.
The members Of the committee present
were Messrs. Winston. Wilson. Sayer,
Quesenberry. Fitzpatrick. Palmer, Blan-
ton, Churchman, Clarke. Gwyn McClana-
han. and Passmore.
Mrs. NJ. L. Smith, who testified on We'd
nesday night, was put on the stand again.
She stated that the first time she ever
visited the reformatory was last Whit
Monday. There was a young lady with
her on this visit. They saw the boy
who was shot. and he told them that his
wound still prevented him from walkint
He was chained to bed, however. The
boy was about II or IS years Of age, she
thought.
Miss Edna Farmer and Mrs. Bevill
were next called, but neither lady was in
the chamber.
MR.. FOLKES TESTIFIES.
Mr.. Minetree Folkes testified that Mrs.
Smith had seen him and asked If he
could not help to get her boy released
from the reformatory. He endeavored
to secure the release Of the lad. but failed
in every attempt he made. He saw Mr.
Caskie and Mr.. Christian, and also jus
tce Crutchfield, but none Of them would
do anything for him. He asked the Judge
for a letter recommending the release OF
the lad. but Justice Crutchfeld said that
he had given the boy a fair trial. ana
could not do anything TO secure his re-
lease. Mr.. Folkes said after his CONVEX
sation with the Police Justice he was
satisfied the boy was guilty OF the Of
fence with which he had been charged.
Witness said he had the highest regard
for Mr.. Caskie and Mr.. Christian. The
witness was asked as to the character or
Mrs. Smith. He replied that he thought
she was a woman of good character, from
what he had seen of her.
SHE SAW THE STRIPES.
Miss Edna Virginia Farmer was placed
on the stand, and upon being asked 10
state what she knew of the institution.
replied that upon her first visit TO the
reformatory her brother showed her the
stripes upon his body. She did not Know
lust how man: stripes there were, out
there were more than three Her brother,
she said, was in his 18th year. and Ead
been there five years. As 10 her DrOtheI
character. he was Of sweet disposition
and had no bad habits. He was way
ward. however. When questioned as 10
the clothing her brother wore, MISS
Farmer said he had on jeans Jacket
pants. and a shirt Except the PANS
nothing else covered the lower llillDs. she
summer time or winter. The witness
knew Messrs. Sampson, King, ana LUZ
ner, officers employed at the refoTmatory;
When questioned as TO the food served
at the Institution, she said she thought
it was not prepared properly. turtner
questions disclosed the fact that her oniy
objection to the food was that 1t was nor
seasoned, and that 1T was not uohe.
was dinner, was composed of salad, peel
and bread. The officers of the institution
ate at the same table with the boys.
Mr.. Meredith questioned the witness
In reply to him. she stated that her bro
ther bad been released once. and remain
ed at home twelve months. but had to be
sent back to the reformatory
A MAGISTRATE TALKS.
Justice T. r. Darricott. who lives IN
Henrico county about TWO miles li,ts,od ron OH
the reformatory, said he often visited the
institution, and had been in the haDlt OF
doing so since the institution was es-
tablished He had committed four minors
to the school, three on the CrhhIs 49,
were about II or Is years or age. one
of these lads had no home; the others
lived near Richmond. AS 10 the treat
ment received by the boys az the re-
formatory he had seen boys in chains.
lie had never seen any small boys IN
irons The youngest one was at least 10
wears of age. He knew nothlng OF the
Shooting Of boy by one or the suaLus'
except what he had heard. When asked
whether he knew Tom Hill, who was en-
nlnved at the reformatOry. the witness
renIied that he did. and the person re-
ferred TO was a colored man.. lie uh1eL-
stood he was a night WalGniiian. nV
yyitness knew Mr.. Sampson. His acqualnt-
ance with him began when the superln-
tendent first took charge. The manage
ment of the school had been az thas
could be desired. but the witness opJecled
To the poor quality of the lahd. Soihe
one had once swOgn out a warrant
against Mr. Sampson, charging the latter
with whipping a boy. The case was ois-
missed.
WANTED HIS SON RELEASED.
Mr.. ]. A. Scott. n merchant living al
OIL east Main street, testiiled next. Inc
Iritness had boy at the reformatory,
Who was sent there when he was II years
of age The charge on which ne was
committed to the school was that ol
stealing lead out Of a vacant mouse. bytn .
Mr.. Scott and his wife had preferred tlla'
their son should be sent to jail in prefer
enca 10 the reformatory. Since his boy
had gotten hurt in the shirt-factory ne
had visited the institution quite ot.eI'
The lad had been injured at the scho9l;
and II was six months before ne Cvuio
truss upon him. The witness had sent
his family physician out there once. ana
the doctor had been refused admittance.
Mr.. Sampson finally had the boy sen. ~
Richmond. where a truss was fitted upon
him, The witness objected TO the jeans
which all the boys were compelled 10
wear. He thought this was a DISGRACE
10 the state. The boys worked from
o'clock in the morning until 40 i. NJ.
Tbe witness stated that his son had
never given him any trouble. the nelgh-
bors had complained that the poy "aS
noeddlesOme. once the lad had DeSn IL
rested for throwing rocks az NE hsis ~
train loaded with gravel. FOR TINS IA "a
fence the father paid Justice Crutchheiu
90 ar S25O he didn't remember when.
80 Should BE WITH MOTHERS.
,rhn ,yitness didn't believe that men
- 6t to reform boys 10 and IL years OF
ace. He thought their mothers were tlle
proper ones to guide mem az .i,,o
grba witness thought Mr.. Sampson was a
perfectly Just man, ana ne hau he,sa
heard him use any harsh words 10 ,ne
boys under his care. The GUARDS, hoWSver;
said the great trouble with the reforma-
torv was that there was no limit TO the