Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-22
0. H.Berry&Co.,
Main and Tenth Streets.

school four times since his brother had
been sent to the institution. He was at
the reformatory the 9th of last Deem
Der. and discovered that the lad had on
only a thin gauze undershirt under a
jeans coat. When this had to be washed,
his brother told him that he had to go
without any. His mother had died seven
years ago of consumption. The charge on
which his brother was sent to the re-
formatory was that OF throwing rocks at
n wagon-horse. That was the first Of
fence with which he had been charged.
THE SUPERINTENDENT TESTIFIES.
Mr.. w. c. Sampson, superintendent or
the refOrmatOry, was then placed on the
stand. and gave detailed review of his
llfe-largely spent in teaching-up to the
Tune he accepted his present position, in
September. 1890. He said he now had l62
boys under his charge, the youngest :
years old. There were seven lads there Of
that age. one from Newport News. ana
the others from Richmond. Nagrancy was
the charge on which they were commit
ted The longest period "A boy had been
kept there was seven years. Perhaps four
had remained at the institution that
long. He had mono now who had been
there seven years. William CardOna had
been at the institution five years six
months. and thirty days This boy was
now between the age of u and -. The
lad was mischievous. but good-natured.
The boy started with sixteen badges. and
In nearly six years had only worked
of three badges.
The witness was not prepared to say
whether the boy had remained there
long enough to be reformed Whenever
they worked Off their badges and had
none against them they were released
These badges were given for stealing, at
feminine IN and for minor Of
fences. such as talking in line and in the
dormitories. Talking four times in a
month would be sufficient cause for one
badge TO be marked up against n boy.
The boy was reported by the family
father" The boys were only allowed to
talk i'm the dining-room when permission
was given.
When asked what offence called for
corporal punishment. the Superintendent
replied that it was administered when the
boys were disobedient defiant, and guilty
OF rebellious conduct They We're put In
chains when they attempted TO run away.
SHOT AND PUT IN CHAINS.
The boy who was shot got out OF the
dormitory. An officer was sent after
him and found him near Glen Allen.
I-pon being commanded to halt. and re-
fusng the guard fred, hitting the lad In
the leg. As he thought the boy intended
to again run away, he was placed III tne
hospital and a chain put on his leg. MIR.
samson thought the guard did right, UNI
der the circumstances, in shooting at the
how. If the wound had proved fatal,
however, he would not have thought so.
The firing was low. the night was dark
bit the how. The boy fired at was a
criminal. IS years Of age, and had been
committed for house-breaking. There
was no demonstration made by the boy
to lead the guard to think II ne came up
with the youth his own life would be IN
danger. There was no notice taken OF
fhis affair by the county authorities.
This boy was still at the reformatory.
and had recovered from his wound. NJ
AZ N was now IL o'clock and DR.. VIM
s.on had not finished his examination of
tho witness. the committee adjourned, to
meet again Monday at +. NJ