The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-26
Questions Not Indecent.

At the opening of the afternoon session
1t was announced by Harry 5. Joseph
the president Of the committee, that it
had been decided to call and examine any
boys and girls on parole or inmates Of
the school that Attorney 7. D. Johnson
thought necessary for the investigation
but that the examination of all such
should be In private.
Joseph Burdette, the parole officer
Identified an affidavit from Ada SwensOn,
a former inmate of the school, saying
that she had read the testimony of Mrs.
Halstead about what pUrpOrted to be in
decent questions asked a number of girls
by Superintendent Thomas after the can
yon outing. Mrs. Halstead's testimony
was denounced in the affidavit I'M
true. The young woman, who gave an
assumed name, was one of the girls in
question. She is now married. living I'm
Bingham Canyon. and doing well. The
instruction she received in the domestic
science department of the school helped
her greatly in her home. Many other af-
fidavits and statements were presented
from employees and boys out on parole.
For the prosecution affidavits were pre-
scented from Brown and Bowen, former
employees. Affidavits were ruled out ear
l1er, but they were admitted yesterday.
W II. Ackaret testified that he had
charge Of the farming for four years and
had from four to six boys under him.
Boys, he said, were whipped for running
way. attempting to run away and for un-
mentiOna bic OffenSes. He assisted in the
whipping. He did not spare them. He
laid 1t on until Thomas ordered him to
stop. he is still in the employ of the
school. He was discharged June 1, but
was re-empl9yed by Joseph and Thomas
( June 10. He said Rasmussen, one of the
boys, went down under the lash, but did
not faint. He was taken out and whipped
later. Thomas lectured the boys before
and after the whippings. Hudson thanked
| Thomas for whipping him. The witness
admitted using tobacco, whisky and pro-
fanity-tobacco and profanity before the
/ boys. He had reported boys for pun
iShment for using tobacco and swearing.
Mrs n J. Ives of Salt Lake City testi-
/ fled that she had a boy in the school a
year ago. He is now out on parole. he
/ had pneumonia at the school in December
/ of 1907. He was sick three weeks She
went 10 the school to attend him. togeth-
er with Mrs. COlvin. The sick were well
I treated. she said. Her boy is 80 per cent
/ better for having attended the school.
She mace observations about the school.
f The boys had plenty 10 eat, more than
she had when she attended boarding
school.
Mrs. Thomas Testimony.
/ Mrs H. H. Thomas wife Of the super
intendent, was the next witness. She
I has been matron since Nov. l. 1905, and
/ principal of the boys department She
/ looks after the homework the boys
/ clothing. supervises the nurses the cooks
the food She said il was difficult to
/ keep cOOks-they were so incompetent and
/ unclean. The present cook is a good
one. Mrs. Tracy. she said. complained of
/ bones IN the meat and of tainted turkey
at one time The meat was the best to
be had in the market. and the turkeys
( were tainted because they were not prop
I erly cleaned at the school No milk was
used from the diseased HOlstein COWS
/ There was sour syrup once but il was
not used. They made vinegar of it. Cur
rants Were wormy once They were
Thrown away. The bedding was very Door
/ when she came. Blankets are now used
! I'M of frrfIfg because they
| Numbered The menu is adhered to gen
orally and an extra bill Of fare is given
on holidays She had no trouble with
/ the boys and had To report or demerit
! them but seldom Some of them. she said
| had to be made to understand that they
did not run the institution. The food
/ was plentiful. The boys went to the
plunge once week and changed under