The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-31
boys and that he secretly had the boys
fed in addition to the one meal.
Use the Dark Cell.

Use the Dark Cell.
s"Fhe dark room is still used when
necessary and the order of. the super
intendent is that two full meals each
day shall be given boy confined in
the same. One of the witnesses who
was employed at the school during the
first five months of Mr.. Charles super
intendency stated that one mode of
punishment was the dungeon, on bread
and water. The boys atlhe institution
tell US that if they behave themselves
while in the dark room that they re-
ceive two full meals a day, but that if
they do not behave themselves that
they are cut down to bread and water
for a short period.
"As to the food for the boys the
same witnesses against Mr.. Charles
testify that the food is about the same
as the food prepared for the employees.
We find, however, that while the en-
ployes eat from the supplies of the in
stitution that they have more different
kinds at one meal than the boys and
that this is true in all Institutions.
LAS to the brass knueks, the testi-
mony is that one witness asked the
laundry man in the presence of Mr..
Charles about some brass knucks that
it was supposed that the man in the
Charles both made evasive answers.
Another witness states that this former
laundry man, Mr. Russell, said that he
would not strike nigger with his fist
laundry one day to take charge and
took colored boy about 16 or II
years old into another room and that
when the boy came back his face was
all bloody, and that the boy said that
Russell had used brass knucks. Mr..
Charles said that when he heard this
he called it to the attention of the
state board of charities and that the
boy claimed Russell had used knucks
and Russell denied it, and that the
board, after an investigation, found in
favor of Russell. We find that Mr..
Russell is not at the institution.
"As to the standing of boys in line
in the dining room while other boys
committed in the dining room that
meal is taken away from such boy.
The order of Mr.. Charles is that under
no consideration shall more than one
meal a day be taken away from d
boy"
Charles Statement Taken.
Concerning the charge that a boy
named Barnes was compelled to work
in the hot kitchen while sick with fe-
yer. and died from the effect of this
treat tment' the noard sets forth super
intendent Charles own statement that
the boy was taken to the hospital as
soon as it was discovered that he was
sick.
In regard to the charge that drunken
employees were in the institution, the
board finds that four such employees
have already been discharged, and that
the same charge against one of the
present employees is not substantiated.
Concerning the use of tobacco, the
board says:
~As to the use of tobacco, some of the
witnesses against Mr.. Charles testify
that the officers of the Institution both
smoked and chewed in the presence of
the boys and in many cases left their
tobacco where the boys could steal it,
while other Witnesses against Mr..
Charles stated that the superintendent
did not permit the employees to use to-
bacco except in tFeir rooms, but that in
some way the boys occasionally get to-
bacco. AS far as we could learn none
of the officers smoke while on duty or
in the presence of the boys but that
some of the employees of the institution
chew tobacco We also find that the
known way, succeeded in getting little
tobacco. Whether this comes from a
careless employe or some thoughtless
visitor, it is impossible for US to de-
termine."
No Extravaganza Now.
The charges of extravaganza in buy
ing supplies, and the purchase of food
for Superintendent Charles family and
other employees, are not sustained by
the board. They constitute the third
subdivision of the report. The board
admits that the books purchased for the
library some years ago were suitable
for the employees and not the boys,
but that juvenile books are now being
purchased. Concerning the charge that
rags and iron were sold from the insti-
tuition and the proceeds pocketed by
certain employees, the board says that
"since the discharge of the old stew
ard the sale of rags and of old iron
have been properly accounted for.
That six gallon jug of whisky which
went out to the reform school for the
flood sufferers is found by the board to
have been partially consumed, and that
the remainder is now at the institution,
lin the fruit room, under lock and
key