The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-23
DR.. Harding Fears Her Reform
School WitnessesAre DESERVING.
Letter From Former Employe
Substantiates Charges.
CHARLES WAS SEVERE.
Would Whip Runaways Before
the Whole School.
Hearing Postponed Because of
Mr.. ElliOtt's Illness.

On account of the sickness OF Sher-
man Elliott, member of the state board
of control. it is likely that the formal
hearing of the charges against Super
intendent Charles of the Topeka Indus
trial school for boys, which have been
preferred by DR.. Eva Harding. will not
take place for a few days. It is likely
that the hearing will be at the Reform
school.
Meantime the evidence for and against
Charles is being put into shape for pre-
sentation to the board.
It is probably not generally known
that the law gives the board authority
to subpoena witnesses in this hearing,
the same as a district court. Witnesses
so subpoenaed receive $1.50 PER day for
attendance and mileage, the same as
paid by the court.
DR.. Harding says that some of those
upon whom she was relying for testi-
mony to sustain her charges are fail
ing to stand pat," and that several
former employe are begging her not
to mix them up in the affair, as they
are afraid they might at some future
time want to ask favor from the
powers"
Some new evidence, however. is being
brought to light, and it is possible that
| some dispositions of out of town people
DR.. Harding today received a letter
from c. 2. Pendergrast, of Abilene,
formerly an employe at the school Mr..
Pendergrast says in his letter:
'I see by the papers that you are
having a tilt with Charles. From what
know of Charles am prepared to be-
lieve every one of the charges, and es-
pecially the charge Of cruelty and bru-
tality. When I had charge of "A fam
| lily three years ago, a. little earlier in
the season than this, two boys of A
| family escaped about noon. They were
| caught and brought back about 5
o'clock. Charles wanted to line up the
| four families on the play ground, and
give the two boys severel strapping
/ before all the school. Mr.. Misner and l
| had hard work to talk him out of it.
We told him that such a public exhibit
tion as that would certainly get him
into trouble. So he finally gave up that
idea, but he did order all the families
to assemble in the chapel, and then or
dered large ball and chain placed on
each of the two boys, and marched them
up the center aisle to the rostrum
| where all the school would view their
disgrace. He then made a speech which
further humiliated the boys by pro-
nouncing the most diaboical 1nhuman
sentence On them. He decreed that one
of the bows should receive one meal a
day for so days. and the other boy one
meal a day for 80 days. And both were
compelled to wear their ball and chain
all the time, day and night.
.'If there is anything 1 can do to assist
you in any way shall be more tnah slao
to do So"
Pendergast down here to give testimony
in the hearing of the case.
Superintendent Hancock may also De
called as a witness. He is familiar with
the mana cement of the school unoer Mr.
Charles and can tell many important facts
about the case.
| A man who is in a position to know
what the attitude of the board OF controt
is likely to be concerning these charges
says; rrs, =,
| nothing to them, and the board will have
| to find this to be the case. Superintendent
Charles will be vindicated. DR.. Harding
is relying on the testimony of Eaton. a
former enploye at the reform school 1or
most of her evidence, and Eaton is not
likely to stand for everything he is sup
posed to.
II think it is likely that after giving
Charles clean bill of health he will de-
eide to retire from the position and go
back to his old work as high school
tea acher. He has had Troublesome ca
is said to be desirous of quitting the work,
provided he can do so without quitting
It can be stated on good authority that
the members of the board of control be-
lieve that Superintendent Charles is doing
| as we'll as possible under the circum-
stances. They admit that his administra-
ton is not perfect and that there are q
| great many things which ought to be
| changed, but they say that the laws are
Inadequate, the equipment is insufficient
and the salaries too small to make the
right sort of institution.
For some reason, however, there seems
| to have been much more complaint about
the way the school is run by SuDerfnten-
Tninistrations. There was a time when ev-
| erythiny seemed to run along smoothly at
| the reform school, but it was long ago.
in the days of DR.. Buck