Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-02
THE PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY.

The committee resumed It's labors AT
o'clock in the Senate chamber. and b
request Or. Lorimer James was per
mItted to interrupt Major Stiles's testi
mony in order that he might fulfl pro
fessional appointment.
DR.. James accordingly took the stan'
first. He stated that he was physician
TO the reformatory. and had occupied
that position for over two years. III
stated that his duties as such had takei
him TO the institution at all hours OF thu
day and fight. and, I'm fact. at presen
he had an office there. He said all case,
Of sickness were promptly referred e
him. The hospital at the reformatorS
was well equipped, and trained nurse
was almost constantly in attendance. Al
present there were no boys who were
really sick. few were confined with
trhing ailments. The epidemic Of fever
antedated his connection with the insti-
tuition. but since that time there had beer
| epidemcs of other diseases, such as
measles and kindred complaints He ex-
| planned that there was a well-stocked
drugstore under his supervision. and that
through personal relations with the Medi-
| cal College of Virginia and the Old Do
minion Hospital he had the privilege of
| getting the best surgical attention of
| those institutions for inmates of the re-
| formatory without any cost TO the assoc
| citation. This included the services of
| ouch surgeons as DR.. George Ben Johnston
and others associated with him. All
cases affecting the eye. ear, or throat
were treated free of charge by DR.. Kuyk,
a specialist in those diseases. There had
been but one death since his connection
with the reformatory, and this case, he
explained. was one in which the seeds
of disease were found i'm time to pro-
duce death. These seed. he thought
were perhaps sown previous to the boys
coming to the reformatory, but he did
not know positively. He said he con-
sidered the treatment given the boys by
Mr.. and Mrs. Sampson very kind; i'm fact,
kinder than he himself would give under
the circumstances.
MIGHT BE BETTER CLOTHED.
In reply TO a question as to his opinion
Of the clothing OF inmates. Dr. James said
he did not think they were quite as well
clad as they should be. He had remon-
strated with Superintendent Sampson on
the point. but that official told him that
he was already up to his appropriation.
and that he could do nothing.
He said he received only $1,000
per annum for his services, and II not
interested in the work he would not
think of accepting that sum for he
amount OF work, which he was required
to do. He said that no boy sent to the
Old Dominion Hospital had ever been
used for clinical practice; in fact, they
were never placed i'm the free ward He
said he could not state whether free pa-
TENTS were not used for the trying of
experiments. He had heard of such
things. He did not think that the scanti-
ness of clothing had actually produced
disease, for, If he had, he would have
complained to the board Everything he
mad recommended for the promotion OF
heaith had been done. He next gave 4
description of each boys outfit. He did
not remember treating the Sterling boy
for boxed ears The Blackburn boy had
once complained of slight bruises on his
arms and shoulder. He had never seen |
boys excessively whipped. This closed
the Doctors testimony, and he was al |
lowed 10 leave the stand.
MR.. SAMPSON A GOOD MAN.
Mr.. Wright, Of the firm Of Stokes &, |
Wright, former contractors at the re-
1ormatory, said when he was first 20
Gated at Laurel he thought he could |
run the institution much better than il
was being run. After awhile. however. J
ne found that he was mistaken. and in
time he came TO regard Mr. Sampson az
really remarkable man, and possessed
OF remarkable degree of control over
those under him. He did not even in his
tlme, before underwear was given the
Doys' consider that they were UNDERGRAD.
me FOOD which they received was very
good, considering the money spent. one
Ihing he noticed was that some of the
boys committed for the greatest offences
were the first to get out One thing he
ild not consider quite right was that the
small boys did not have more study hours
Ihan the larger boys, but, nevertheless.
he told OF numerous instances where
great progress in education had been
made. He saw no excessive whipping.
The boys were not overworked under his
contract, as they only worked seven and
| half hours. He considered the officers
kind, humane, and intelligent. He re-
rendered a difference of opinion be-
ween superintendent Sampson and Dr.
Gordon during the fever epidemic of as
o whether all the patients in the hospital
'eally mad the disease. He seriously
ouDted whether all had the fever, but
was only his opinion. He said that
lie had no intention of renewing his con-
ract at the reformatory. and the reason
nat he left was that his firm went into
liquidation. He would like very well TO
20 able TO go back. AS to shackIing
4 the boy with the fever, he said that
lie believed II necessary. He was not a
10Y, Duc In almost every Respect a fully
eveloped man. He believed that the
10Y in question at times suffered tenn
orary attacks Of insanity, and cited cir
to show the sudden and pe-
uliar changes in his actions. He said.
reply TO question from Mr.. Wilson.
hat he did not doubt that there were !
outhern gentlemen who could take Mr..
ampson's place, but the trouble. in his
pinlon. was TO find one. He told. in
inclusion, OF boys who had left the re- :
and were not worthy citizens. /.
1AJOR STILES SPEAKS FURTHER.
Major Stiles resumed the stand at this S
ONT, and spoke briefly Of the Sterling
ase, which had been revived, and then a
ook up the statements of Mr.. Wright Y
I relation to Southal, and confirmed d
hem by what he had personally OBJ L
erved. He said the solitary cell had 4
cen tried in Schlagel, and found to be v
utter failure. In this case the inmate -
roke out Of his cell, and with a piece of j,
,antling I'm his hand defied any one 10 G,
pproach him, on pain of death. With a "
reat display OF courags Mr.. Sampson v
'nquered him and punished him. Charges
ere preferred against the Superintend- Il
II in this case, but after most tho II
'ugh examination in court the warrant L
as not only dismissed. but the associa- m
on. in measure, reprmanded for not II
lving made the punishment greater. He III
god absolute mo- -. l.