The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-15
INVESTIGATION is BEGUN
AT INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
F witnesses Testify Regard Alleged Msmanagemen by
uoher n Tbomas-NTrs Lottie B. Halsted Tells OF Cruel
Punishment of Gms-BIs Crosbie Relates Pitful Story

The Investigating committee recent
ly appointed by Governor Spry 10 icpn
into the alleged mismanagenfento ol Uue
Utah Industrial school by supellu
tondent Hebcr Fl. Thomas, began
their labors Yesterday morning, al GA
ecutivc and TWO regular sessions oe-
inc held But four witnesses were eX-
amined. three of them being former
emnlovee of the institution under Mr.
Thomas superyision. The inyeSuga-
Hon committee will hold the next reg
rlar session at either o'clock or lo
O'Clock Thursday morning
promptlv at IL O'Clock the mem
hers of the board, consisting OF y. y:
Nelson, state superintendent oil
schools, District Attorney Nathan j.
Harris Of Ogden; Judge Gowan. Ju-
vcuile court officer of Salt Lake; Rao-
bi Treund of Salt Lake, and thrce
school trustees. Harold Pecry. Fl. >.
Joseph and John walsh, met IN exec
rtivc session at which Harry b Jo'
,eoh WAS appointed to preside over the
meeting: Nathan ]. Harris was chosen
as examining committeeman. and Har-
rold j. Packer was given the positlon
of official reporter.
Beside the regular committee there
were present Mrs Kate S. Hilliard,
Mrs ]. M. Bishop and Rev n. S Ell
derkip. who are members of commit
teo appointed by the citizens mass
meeting held at the Weber Stake hall
and who drew up the resolution pre-
sented 10 Governor Spry, and q large
number Of persons VINO will be called
upon as witnesses. The regular ses-
sion was held in the class room OF the
school. The Investigating committee
announced that the resolution which
was passed by the citizens committee
last week at the Weber Stake hall,
declaring that Superintendent Thomas
was manifestly unfit to have Charge
of the school, did not make any spe-
cifc charges, and asked that The cItl-
zens committee draw up formal and
specific charges. Rev. Elderkin want
ed TO know what power the committee
had in regard to the calling Of wit
nesses and was informed that they
would have no legal power-that they
could ask witnesses to be present for
examination but could not Subpoenae
them. Chairman Joseph announced
that no counsel would be employed by
either side. Adjournment was taken
until o'clock to allow the citizens
committee TO draw up specific charges.
At o'clock the committee again
assembled and Mrs. Hilliard an
nounced that the citizens committee
wished TO submit the following;
Ogden, Utah, June IA. 1909.
Hon. Harry Joseph, Chairman Of the
Governors Investigating Commit
tee
Dear Sir: We. the undersigned, cit
izens of Utah, hereby, at the request
OF your committee and under the
statement on the part Of your COM
mittee that you would not hear evi-
dence against Superintendent H ii.
Thomas OF the Industrial school un-
less such charges were reduced to
writing and specifically specifying the
grounds upon which the committee Is
asked to take testimony. hereby
charge the said Heber Fl. Thomas, SUI
perintendent of said school, with in
competency and as being unfit to mold
such position, upon the following
grounds, viz:
That in his dealing with the inmates
OF said institution he has al various
times been cruel and treated the in
ner, in this: By confinement in the
solitary cell; by unnecessarily and
without any sufficient reason confin-
Ing the male inmates in what is known
as the cell and feeding them ONLY
bread and water; that the condition
of the cell and the condition of the
buildings where food is kept has at
various times been unsanitary and not
5NF0nor1T, -,
dealings with the girls confined in
said school been guilty of propounding
unnecessary and indecent questions.
and tnat the questions propounded re-
CURED, If they had been compued
with by the inmates, acts on the part
OF the girls which no gentleman would
nave asked or required OF such in
mates.
We further charge that Mr. Thomas
by temperament-and which has been
aouncantly demonstrated by his man
asement-ls an unfit person to have
charge oil such an institution, and that
MS management of the same has not
at all tended to the betterment or ele-
Vatlon oil those entrusted 10 his care.
and that for the institution to continue
under such management is a re6ec-
lon upon the whole state.
We submit as citizens that we
should not be limited to anv technical
rules In presenting these charges. and
we hereby state that if Mr.. Thomas is
taken by surprise by any evidence
which may be produced before said
committee tnat he ought to he given
such time as will enable him to set
witnesses to rcfute such testimony
with the like privilege given TO us In
presenting any testimony; and we fur.
ther submit that. owing to the nature
oi the institution In question. it ought
TO nave and should have the very best
talent, particularly fitted for sucn
work. that can be had.
Respectfully submitted.
After the charges had been submit.
ted, Chairman Joseph announced tbst
tne committee was ready to near the
teSumony OF witnesses and said that
ho douot much plain talk would be
required, and that while the public
was invited 10 attend the full session
or tne investigation, the ladies were ar
liberty 10 Withdraw at any time taey
Wished Mrs. Bishop noted the pres
ehce oil Attorney Hollingsworth on
Tue stand and asked wilat his position
was and was informed by Mr.. Joseph
tnat he had been appointed reading
clerk OF the committee
he first witness called nv the com.
mlttee was Mrs. Lottie b. Halsted
VINO resides at 40 Twenty-sixth straet
IN this city. She stated that sbo was
employed as teacher at tho inetI.
tu'lon Tor nearly two years bopinning