The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-28
A BOY GIVEN 1i6 LASHES.
Statement in The Testimony Of a For.
mer Inmate Of th RefOTmltOry.
SAW SHACKLtS o. A BOY WHILE SICK
Mr.. w. U. Daniel Tells of His Experience
on Visit to the Institution The House
Committee on Asylums and Prisons
Continues the Investigation.


ate chamber last evening for the purpose
of continuing the investigation OF the
anairs OF the Reformatory School at
Laurel Station. quite number of wit
nesses were examined who had been sum-
moned by the committee. Alfred Dowdey,
a nineteen year old boy who had been
sent to the reformatory for stealing. but
IS now discharged. stated that he had
seen boy gwen as many as lis lashes
wlth a leather stIap ana a Mr. W. NJ.
Daniel, a iao0rer az the Richmond Loco
molVe Works, stated that while visit
ing the institution he had seen boy
ia the hospital VINO was down with typ
nold fever and who had shackies on his
feet while in bed.
The other testimony did not contain
any startling developments. When the
evidence for the committee had all been
given in, Superintendent Sampson was
again called TO the stand, who testified
up TO IL clock, when the committee ad-
Journed until Monday morning at 10
O'Clock.
RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD.
Mr.. Henry Lee Valentine was the first
witness called: Il was on the Board Of
Directors for about year he said. At
the last meeting which ! attended. the
case OF John Sterling was called up, who
had been sent 10 the reformatory school
for dlsobedience as 1 thought for sixteen
months, but he stayed there for three
years. His father had secured him an
apprenticeship with Messrs Scott * De-
laney. and asked for his discharge from
the school, which was refused | then
rendered my resignation. because | felt
l could not consclentlously remain on the
board under the circumstances.
The committee reported at that meet
ing that the boy had not behaved and
had not worked off any of the badges
which were put on him. when he entered
the school | don't remember what the
committee did, but ! know the case was
thoroughly Investigated. My understand
ing was that the boy I'm summer time
went over to the lake to bathe and that
his mother had frequently forbidden him
20 go there. / think his father was out OF
tho city at the time. and did not give
his consent 90 the commitment of the
boy. There had never been charge
placed against the boy J have no COM
plant TO make against the institution.
SHOULD NOT BE BRANDED.
Crutchheld. The board gave the matter
very careful consideration and none OF
the members of that body would counte-
nance any cruelty towards any boy.
suppose the decision was based on the
report of Alr. Sampson, but don't re-
member what means were 2dopted to ar
rive At the conclusion. | did not know
that children were taken TO the school
for disObeying their parents and / did
not want TO see the boy branded or class
od with others sent there for committing
crimes. IL was an understood fact that
the boy was committed by the Justice at
the request Of his mother | think Mr..
Sampson is a very Just man and he gave
the boy the demerits in accordance with
the rules OF the institution. Something
should be done TO the boy his parents
should whale him like my pa.ents did
Inc.
That boy hau been bringing nowspap-
ers into our of'ice for "a long time and
We liked him for being so nice and polite.
We did not know his name then and
called him McGinty I resigned but did
not formally call the attention OF the
board To what | considered n great per-
version Of the management / never stu
died the theory underlying the establish
ment OF such an institution. ! was act-
uated by feelings Of human nature. I think
when the father came and asked for the
discharge Of the boy. he should have
been let go. / understood Major stiles TO
say at that meeting that to discharge the
boy would be 10 establish a bad precedent
which would not encourage other boys to
behave. The record should show the Of
tense for which boy is sent there
I p d..
impression was that boys were sent to
the school only for committing a crime. d"
Or. G. w. T.. Brock stated that he had
been asked by Mrs. Scott to see her boy.
lie went out there but the physician OF
the institution not being present he did
not care to see the boy. However. he
made no request 10 the authorities of the
school 20 see the boy.
MIR. BUSSELL'S STATEMENT.
Mr. James r. Russell. a lawyer, OF
Henrico county. stated that he did not
know anything about the treatment OF
the boys. but he had tried to get one
or two boys out of the institution. One
of them was the boy of Mr.. d. c. Butler.
lie was found guilty Of disobeyng his
father. and there was no charge sulfi-
cient 10 hold the boy.
"Mr. Crutchfeld granted me an ap-
peal. but it had been decided just at that
time thar an appeal would have to be
taken at the same term Of the Hastings
Court | then went before Judge Well
ford, where / wanted 70 show that the
boy was not charged with any offence.
but the commitment charged him with
being disor1erly. So | did not know OF
any legal ground on which to proceed
In the matter. | went to see Mr.. Chris
tian and Major Stiles. and the latter
promised TO look into the matter. but the
report in regard TO the boy was not
satisfactory.
subsequently I went 10 see the Gov
ernor. who told me that ne had no pow
er to pardon the boy. but he would write
10 Mr.. Christian and Colonel HarwoOd
and ask them to bring the matter before
the committee. The committee soon ar
;erwards met and the boy was finally
discharged.
Il believe in Rescrmatory. but think
II should be a state institution. As long
as the State has to furnish the money
II should also run IL. | think the present
law is wrong. and IT has been miscon-
strued. claim that the boy must be
charged with a crime before he can be
brought before the Justice"
GIVEN rs LAsHES.
Alfred Dowdy. a boy nineteen years OF
age. was next sworn. II am an appren-
tice boy at the Richmond Stove Foun-
dry" he said. I was sent 10 the Re-
formatory for stealing and was sent
there for fifteen months. The inmates
were not treated any better than prison.
ers ought TO be. I have never been whip
ped. but have seen as many as l15
iashes given: the boys name was john