Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-01
BOARD
TO USE PROBE
SCANDAL AT STATE SCHOOL
TO BE INVESTIGATED
GOVERNOR oiLLETT EXPECTED
TO ACT PROMPTLY
Trustee Desmond Says He Has Ma
teriaI to Prove Shocking Con-
dticns Existed at instl-
tuition

Trustees of the Whittier state school
yesterday spent most of their time in
Los Angeles discussing with FRIENDS
and others interested the exposure or
affairs at the school as printed yester-
day.
Shocking details in some instances
were merely limited at. They refer 70
the relations between sore of the Off
cials and some of the inmates. The
trustees have the testimony of scores
OF witnesses transcribed in shorthand
as to actual happenings inside the
walls of the institution, or scenes In
which inmates were prir roipals. These
will be reviewed by the state board OF
charities and corrections at the proper
time.
Several attorneys have already be-
come interested in the case, represent
ing different interests, and the battle
will be hard fought. Spice VIII pc
added by the probable Introduction or
former experiences in Whittier ana
elsewhere, in which principals IN tne
present drama had parts, facts wnlch
have never been printed.
Four Gone; Two to Go
So far Bandmaster L. Eugene Willes
and his wife, Mrs. Grace o. Willes, IN
structor in vocal music, and Head
Farmer A. L. McLouth and his wife
have been summarily discharged.
Superintendent ]. p. Greeley and As
sistant SUPERINTENDENT w. G. Coffin are
also slated to retire for the sake of
discipline.
On this point Trustees T. e. New1ir
and James Clarke on one side disa-
greed with Trustee c. c.. Desmond. The
former thought the discharge of four
instructors would prove salutary
enough and that conditions would
4ncidt0d
carving out mis- original program,
growing out of months inquiry and
preparation, which calls for the retire.
ment of the chief officers of the school
also.
AS. Trustee Desmond's term expires
on July 4, the action of Governor Gil
lett in the premises will be interesting.
If the governor were to refuse TO make
a reappointment the aspect would not
he changed. Mr.. Desmond has fortified
himself with af1davits and statements
and legal evidence of all kinds to sus-
tain his contentious.
Not Fighting S. p.
Trustee Desmond regrets that the
Southern Pacific organization has been
drawn into the controversy by impn-
cation, and wants it distinctly under
stood that he has not brought the cor
poration into the present case.
1--WE are making our fight solely on
the ground of the unfitness ana cruelty
of many of the present employees, from
superintendent down, though there are
exceptions" he said.
81 recognize the great work the rail-
roads have done for Southern Califor-
mia, and wish in no sense to be under-
stood as fighting these systems. When
/ came here Los Angeles was an old
Spanish pueblo, and have seen j
grow into the bright and sparkling
American city of today. Business men
cheerfuIly acknowledge the part the
big transportation companies have
played in the expansion of our terri
tory.
II believe that the governor will look
into the situation, and after an inquiry
will change the administrative officers
so that the school will again become q
great power for good for which II was
destined--a big character Factory 1or
young men and women"
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Willes and the
McLouths have left Whittier, and their
present whereabouts are unknown to
the trustees, 1t is believed.
Summer Camp Sensation
One of the startling features to be
unearthed in the formal inquiry by the
state board is the conduct of the sum-
mer camps for the boys and girls of
the school maintained at Catalina. Do
ings reported to have taken place there
will add q sensational trend to the
prospective testimony.
It Is believed that word will come
from Governor Gillett by Saturday
calling for a formal trial of the chief
Officers, so that the responsibility for
conditions can be fixed and an I'M
provement brought about.
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