Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-28

not know for what he was whipped. He
had never been whipped there He had
never been In jail, but thought the fare
about the same at each place.
Asked whether he had been benefited
by being at the reformatory, was II bet
ter than going to jail? witness replied that
II he had been TO jail he wouldn't want
TO go back, he didn't think: he knew he
didn't want to go back TO the reformatory.
Dowdy was not cross-examined.
THE GUARD SLAPPED HIM.
Mr. Samuel r. Ford. farmer residing
near the reformatory. took the stand.
and said he knew several Of the guards
at the reformatory. He knew q negro
named Hill, who acted as substitute
guard. he was told. Asked what would
have been Hills duties had one OF the
inmates attempted TO escape, he said he
supposed he would have tried to stop
him. He once saw a guard named Jeff-
ries slap boy very roughly on the play
grounds. but did not know for what cause.
he heard Jeffries say. when he had fin
ished. Now, when speak to you guess
you will answer" He had never seen
further instances Of mistreatment.
Several years ago he had butchered the
hogs for Mr.. Sampson, who was in Rich
sistant, gave him six boys to assist him.
The boys came out TO the pen in charge
OF a negro, who ordered them about in
such rough manner that he ordered
him TO desist. The negro, whose name
was Gray, appeared to be the guard in
charge Of the boys He had heard OF
boy having been severely whipped at
the Institution, but knew nothing OF his
own observation.
Mr.. Meredith declined TO cross-exam!ne
the witness.
A BOY IN SHACKLES.
Mr.. william Daniel, No. south First
street, Richmond, was put on the stand,
and said he was at the reformatory seve-
raj months ago, and saw boy In room
with several other boys. so i'll with ty-
phoid-fever that he couldn't have walked
to the door II given his freedom. He
gave the boy drink of water when he
discovered he was shackled. The boy
was so weak he could scarcely speak,
and could not raise his head. He went
out into the yard and asked a guard why
the boy was shackled. He replied that
1t was done by order Of Mr.. Sampson.
Continuing, witness said he did not
have but one son, but he would rather
take him to Hollywood tomorrow than
take him to the reformatory.
Mr.. SAMPSON ON THE STAND.
Superintendent Sampson then took the
stand, and was questioned as TO the num-
Der Of boys at the reformatory for burg
larry He replied that the number may be
twelve, may be twenty. or more. He
thought a guard would be justified In
shooting such a boy who was escaping,
provided he could not be stopped other
wise. He knew the boys that escaped
were armed, and anxious to use their
knives. He would not justify the shoot
ing of other than boys armed, determined
TO shoot their pursuers IL necessary. He
thought there were hardly a half-dczen
boys in the institution whom he would
Justify a guard in shooting. There was
no attempt made to keep these boys from
associating with all the others. There
was no branding OF the boys as crimi-
nails: their offence was never alluded TO;
they were all treated as just boys. He
did not think the object of the institu-
ton was defeated by not separating the
criminals from what might be called the
innocent class. The inmates did not
associate, except under the eye or the
guard. The term guard was used, but
he was never in prison, he assured the
chairman. and, therefore, said he could
not say whether the teachers in the re-
THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.
Regarding the colored men in the in
stitution, he said he had one named Gray
employed as teamster, and later as
baker. Boys would frequently be sent TO
the fields to work with him. They were
under his management and direction. The
negro was about IS years OF age. lie
had also had a night-watchman named
Hill in the employ of the association. He
did not carry a gun; his orders were to
arouse one of the officers If any noise
was made or an attempt to escape was
made He would not have endorsed HiIfs
action had he shot an escaping boy;
he was not a teacher.
He had once had a colored man named
Kinney employed as baker; one boy as
sisted him as helper. He had coiored
baker at present, who was also assisted
by one Of the inmates. If boy had
once been committed he could be retained
until q years of age, or he could be dis
charged Professionally, but would be la
ble TO be returned upon complaint OF
family or friends OF his misbehavior.
Witness said ne had now in the employ
of the institution q boy who had come
there from the penitentiary, being par
doned He had been allowed TO go away
three times, but had returned every time.
saving he could not make living ASKED
If he thought IT fair to subject the STATE
to the expense of maintaining these. Wit
ness replied: Certainly, they are our
bows. We have 10. under the law, look
out for them until they are q years OF
age"
The committee at this point arose to
meet Monday morning at 10 o'clock. 1t
was decided 10 also hold a session Mon
day night.
Lived n Century and "A Decade.