The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-10
i; Ais FROM
HIS PEDESTAL
Astounding Developments in
Late Management of SD.
Reform School.
w. H. Tompkins, Former SUI
perintendent, Involved in
Sensational Scandal
Special to The journal.

Special to The Journal.
Aberdeen, S. D., Jan. 1O.-The state board
of charities and corrections in session at
Plankinton to-day, expunged from the
records resolution commencing the ad-
ministration of w. H. Tompklns Whlch
was adopted at the time Tompkins was
superseded as superintendent OF the re-
form school. This action was the result
of an investigation into the management
of the institution which was begun shortly
after Superintendent Young took charge
and which was Instituted at the request
OF several girl inmates, who claimed to
have been the victims of gross indignit1es.
The stories told by the girls in the form
OF, afidavits are unprintable and are OF
such a character as to appall the reaaer.
The scandal promises to become the
worst in the history OF the northwest;
and 1t is doubtful if such disgraceful
charges have ever before been made
against the head of a public reformatory.
He Wrote Letters.
The charges embrace moral turpitude Of
a grave character. Young girls, some OF
them of comparatively tender years, one
less than 16, swear that Tompkins fire.
quently made criminal advances to them,
sions and took scandalous liberties with
their persons, surprising them in their
sleeping rooms and in bathrooms. None
Of them would admit having submitted,
but their affidavits are explicit as to
other acts that cannot be described.
One of the girls produced letter which
she claimed to have received from Tomp-
kins after he had left. the institution, ad-
vising her that he would meet her at
Sioux City at any time and containing Pc
culiar references to other girl inmates
This letter, the girl swore, was in Tomp-
kins' handwriting, although it was not
sigLed The letter requested the girl not
to write to him direct, for fear of trouble
but to address her letters to q we'll KNOWN
lawyer and politician of Rapid City. who
would see they were safely delivered.
ssxnew All About MT. To-
Another young girl, under 10, who was
left an orphan in infancy, sWore that
while on her way back from Yankton asy-
lum to the reform school, Tompkins talked
to her in such shameful manner that
she compelled him to desist. Still an
other wrote ito friend, an eliminate,
that Tompkins had visited her in her
room and that before he left she "knew
all about Mr.. Tompkins." Superintend-
emit Young, who succeeded Tompkins,
says The was suspicious from the start
that things in the school were not as they
should be and little questioning drew the
af1dayits and statements now in possess
sion Of the board Of charities and corree-
lions. = 5als T.. E2.i".~E'
Members of the board refuse to be in
terviewed further@than to admit that tes-
timony, such as described, had been given
by the girl inmates, and that it was on
this testimony they based their action in
expunging the eommendatory resolution.
The resolution was pres nted \ by G. w.
Kingsbury, member from Yankton, while
the resolution to expurge was presented
by W. E. Upton, chairman of the board.
r. What VIII the Defense BET
What defense Tompkins will interpose
is not known but his friends throughout
the state hope he may be able to clear
himself. .z ..}r -
Graver charges could not we'll be mag
ined than those made by the girls of at
tempts to degrade them by man hired
and paid by the state to reform their
characters and raise them from depths to
which some, if not all of them, had de-
scended through lack of moral under
standing or adverse surroundings. The
girls were practically defenseless, having
been placed under the charge Of the super
intendent by process Of law. .-,. )