The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-31
HAS REFORMED.
Board of Control Thinks Charles
Is Doing Better.
Not Guilty Now of Mismafaging
Reform School.
BALL AND CHAIN USED.
Diet of One Meal Day Was Also
Imposed.
Charges We're Probably True
Two Years Ago.
Will Be Retained as Head of the
Institution.

This morning the state board of con-
troll gave out it's verdict in the case of
| Superintendent H. w. Charles, which is
to the effect that the charges against
Charles were probably true during the
first part of his administration, but that
he has reformed" and that the indus
trial school is now being properly con-
Quoted. The conclusions arrived at by
| the board are as follows:
J In conclusion we find that Superin-
tendent Charles and Mrs. Charles have
devoted four of the best years of their
life in trying to build up the institution
and that they have succeeded to a re-
narkable degree and have the good will
and respect of a great majority of the
boys in the institution and we believe
that the best interests of the institu-
ton will be subserved by the retention
of Mr.. Charles as superintendent
The board reports that the use of the
ball and chain and the dark cell for
punishment of inmates still continues,
and in view of the fact that the super
intendent is endorsed. it is to be sup
posed that the board endorses such
methods of punishment.
! DR.. Eva Harding, who brought the
charges against Charles, called at the
| board of control rooms this morning and
said:
/ L understood that the report was
about to be made. and 1 wanted to ask
| the board to hear the testimony of ex-
Superintendent Hancock before taking
final action. The members of the board
| told me that all of my charges relating
to the condition of the school up to
| couple of years ago were well founded,
| but that they believed Charles had re-
formed, and was running the school all
right now 1 told them that I did not
iv,Ir xxy17n ho6 10 tr-afn TFTas a
taking such a position was TO be trust
ed
When informed that the board had ta-
ken action, and vindicated Charles. DIR.
Harding said:
4 hardly expected such action, and
| yet it may be that arrangements have
been made which will result in Mr..
Charles voluntary withdrawal from the
! school. If not, I expect to keep posted
as far as possible about the condition
of things out there. and Charles may
hear from me again"
The findings of the board are en-
| bodied in long typewriter docu-
| ment, in which the various charges
are taken up and reviewed. The
charges are considered under three
heads.
The first head relates to the charge
| that the boys were not given proper
schooling, and that Charles did not
| take enough interest III the work of
the school. The board finds that the
| intention is that every boy shall be in
| school half a day and work half a
day Boys who have completed the
! common school course are given no
more schooling, and boys who are in
| ca pable of learning are put to work.
| Concerning Mr.. Charles work, the
"As to the attention which Mr..
| Charles gives to the different depart
ments we find that he gives his whole
time to the institution and goes to
hot ~ Af ms
grounds where his presence is need
ed. Some of the old teachers testify
/ that Mr.. Charles was not in the grade
they taught during the time they
taught at the institution, and others
testify that he was in their grade fire.
quently and gave close attention to
the school work. The present teach
ers claim that Mr.. Charles is giving
good attention to the grades, attend
ing some oftener than others"
Ball and Chain Still Used.
Under the second head the charges
of mistreatment of boys, use of to-
bacco and use of liquor at the insti-
tuition are considered. Concerning
miStreat atment of the boys, the board
finds as follows:
1--WE find that at the time Mr..
Charles took charge of the institution
that corporal punishment was in
vogue, and also the of the ball
and chain, and the solitary room. Mr..
Charles did away with corporal pun
ishment in general and ordered the
employees to turn in their straps, but
for some time corporal punishment
was still resorted to in extreme cases,
and also the use of the ball and chain
and that sometimes shackles were put
on each leg and fastened together
with chain in place of the ball and
chain.
Some of the leading men in the in
dustrial schools of other states ad-
lvocated the use of a boot to be worn
in place of the ball and chain and Mr..
Charles obtained one of these boots and
tried the same 1t proved to be a
failure by bruising the boys leg and
did not prevent the boys from running
away. The last boy upon whom the
boot was used ran away with the boot
and the boot has never been returned
to the institution. The testimoney of
witness against Mr.. Charles shows
that the ball and chain was used at
the times these witnesses worked at
the institution. AS far as we can as
certain the ball and chain has been
used once and probably twice within
has been discontinued. We have ex-
amined into the charge of the two
boys who made their escape from a
family and find that Mr.. Charles was
being severely censured for not in some
manner putting a stop to the escape of
the boys. These two boys were caught
and were whipped, by employees of the
institution. ball and chain was
placed on each boy and it was an
nounced that they would be punished
in addition by putting one on q diet of
80 days with one meal and the other
of so days with one meal Mr.. Charles
claims that the punishment pro-
nounced in the presence OF the boys
was extreme and was for the purpose