Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-02
CHILLICoTHE INVESTIGATION sTIRs
THE GIRLS TO ACTION.
'TWENTY.sIx ARE LOCKED UP
GARDENER yANDIvER CONFEssEs
TO PRoMIsCUoUs KISSING.
An Inmate Testiies That the Recen,
Riots Were Caused by Broken
Promises by Board of Con-
trol-Institntion Made
= Machine.

u
CHILLICoTHE. MO-. May 1.-(Special.)
DEVELOPMENTS at to-day's session of the
committee investigating affairs at the In
dustriai School for Girls proved bewond
doubt that Governor Stephens exercised the
authority of his office to convert the man
agement of the home into part OF his
political machine. The testimony to-day
showed that the governor used the board
of control here precisely in the same man
ner as he treated the board of managers at
the Fulton insane asylum. The committee
here learned to-day that Miss Gilbert was
removed from her position as superintend-
ent by Governor Stephens simply because
she was a Republican. This statement was
made by two witnesses.
The presence of the committee here has
caused renewed rioting among the girls.
Twenty-six girls out of 100, the total num-
ber of inmates, are now in close confine-
ment. A small riot was started at noon to-
day and five more girls were Immediately
locked up, charged with melting disturb
ance.
Miss Gilbert the former superintendent,
convinced the committee to-day that no
breach of rules was committed when the
life of Miss Mikesellas was insured. The
charge was made some time ago that Miss
Gilbert desired the speedy death of the girl
that was insured, but from the testimony
taken to-day. this charge was not sus-
tanned.
C. P. yandiver, the gardener whose os-
culatory exercises with the inmates OF
the home is largely responsible for the
legislative investigation which Is in
progress here, was the first witness to-
day. yandiver stated that he came to the
home to accept the position OF DAY man IN
october. 1897, while he was still president
of the board of control. He had come to
the home with his wife to fill his double
office after Governor Stephens had been
consulted in the matter and had given his
opinion that it would be all right. He
continued to fill this double Office until
February, 1898. Auditor Seibert refused to
nav him for his services as day man while
he was a member of the board, and he re-
signed the latter office. For his services as
day man he received s45 month with
board and room for himself and wife.
Mr.. Vandiver, how many girls in this
institution have you ever kissed?" asked
Mr.. Hall.
Not very many, Mr.. Hall. / have kissed
some of the little girls
Give the names Of the girls you kissed
and their ages"
.'OlIie Warren
How old was she?" !
Seventeen or eighteen"
She's one of the little girls you referred
to, is she?"
Yes, SIR"
Mr.. Vandiver then said that he had
kissed Emma Buttrick, who is grown; Liz
zie Bethel, who Is II or IS, and Susa Nc
Donald, who is grown. The latter two he
kissed when they went to leave home.
Didn't you know the character Of these
girls?' asked Mr.. Hall.
II thought nothing about IT," said the
aged gardener. 1T has always been my
custom to kiss my female relatives and
friends when 1 meet them"
well, none Of these girls are relatives
of yours, are they?" asked Mr.. Hall.
No. SIR
Are you in the habit of going about
kissing other peoples grown daughters?"
We'll, no, sir.
Mr. Hall wanted to know il Mr.. Vandiver
had ever suggested improper relations be-
tween himself and any of the girls, or II
any of the girls had ever made sugges-
tions to him. He claimed innocence on his
part of any such proposition, but said that
Emma Buttrick said to him that she
wished that he and Mrs. Vandiver would
take her away from the home, and made
known her willingness to sustain improper
relations with him.
Il told her We did not want her." said
Mr.. Vandiver.
Mr.. Vandiver was not certain that he had
never put his arm around some of the
girls. He might have been thus familiar
with Emma Buttrick.
He said he was 63 years old.
When Vandiver was asked If he knew
what occasioned the recent riot. he said
he knew there was dissatisfaction among
the girls. Other of the girls than those
who participated in the April riot said
that there was dissatisfaction among the
long. They declared they did not have tc
obey the officers. He advised them against
such conduct. Following riot which oc-
| CURED in July, 1887, the leaders said that
they wanted to be free to go where they
pleased. He as a member of the board OF
control promised them IL they would make
good records they would be released. Blu,
| when Miss Clark became superintendent
she would not recommend their release. Al
| this the girls who had been trying to make
good records became very recreant again.
ary. 1883, when one of the girls reportet
| that other girls had tried to whip her
Mrs. Slack, who has been member OF
| the board of control since it's organization
| testified that she had heard of several up.
risings among the girls in the institution
Do you know of any trouble in the
Yes; have heard that nine girls are
now confined, charged with having made
| a disturbance. Several have been locked
| up in the last hour.
I'VE have expended more money that the
appropriations that have been allowed us,
continued Mrs. Slack.
DO you not think that such proceedings
were eXtravagant and unbusineSsike."
Possibly So"
Olive Warren, an inmate of the home
testified that the riots had been caused
| by Misrepresentation on the part of the
board of control
| They told m&' said the witness, "that
I would be released, and this proved to bt
| untrue. This was one of the causes of the
| recent troubles in the home. Many of the
girls have grown worse instead of better
| / have made frequent attempts to secure
| my release, as my married sister has of.
| fered me home. could not get out anS
| have been unable to get a satisfactory
| answer from the authorities in charge NJ,
record shows that my conduct has been ex.
| emplary-"
girls were thrown in direct contact with in
4 nocent girls.
| At the night session McIlwrath testified
that the complaints Of mismanagement ha6
arisen during the past two years. There
| were no complaints under the old manage.
ment" said the witness. THE new board
OF. control placed several persons in charge
who were incompetent.
The committee will complete their task
on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning
The Democratic members have received
several kilograms urging them to return tc
Jefferson City. The messages. invariably
contained the phrase Party measures need
iyou badly"