The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-26
THO M AS in
II Is @ W N
DEFENSE
PRACTICALLY DENIES ALL THE
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
Several More Witnesses Testify In His
Fayor-Investigstlon Adjourn
ed Until Tuesday.

Is parole officer, and related
methods used by the parole commit
tee to obtain afidavits from the In
mates OF the school. He declared that
the questions were asked the inmates
and answered voluntarily and that nc
coercion was used in the matter.
Burdette identified the affidavit oil
Miss Ada SwensoD a former inmate
Miss SwenSon Swore that the state
| ment of Mrs. Halsted that she had
been asked improper questions in re-
gard to an escapade in the canyon was
entirely false The woman is now mar
ried and lives in Bingham canyon.
and claims that the domestic science
taught her in the state institution
has proved highly beneficial to her
as practical housewife.
An affidavit of Mr.. Anderson,
an instructor in elocution at the In
,, stitution, was next introduced. An
derson claimed that the conditions pre-
vailIng at the school were highly COM
| mendable and favorable.
| Af11davits of two former employees of
the school were read They showed
that several boys had been severely
| punished In their presence.
| W. II. ktCkdlGly WIZ Mdo CIV
| for four years in the farming detail
at the school, was the next witness.
| Ackaret entered the employ of the
| state at the institution before the ap-
pointment OF superintendent Thomas
He declared that he had from four TO
six boys on his detail. and that they
were whipped only when they attempt
ed TO run away or when they COM
mitted some unmentionable crime, He
assisted, he said. in the punishment
of two of seven boys, who were impli-
Gated in a disgraceful escapade at a
camp in the canyon last summer, but
added that the BOYS were not severe
ly classified.
On cross-eXamination Ackaret was
forced TO admit he was released from
his duties at the school on June lst
OF this year, but was reinstated on
June 18th bg superintendent Thomas
at the salary which he had been re-
ceiving before his dismissal. He de-
clared he did not know the reason for
his discharge, nor the cause Of his re-
instatement.
Ackaret stated that the boys were
not spared when punishment was
meted out He admitted that on one
occasion. seven boys who were to be
whipped, were forced TO run around in
a circle and receive their beatings IN
turn as they came past the manipula-
tor OF the whip, One boy, he testl-
fed, fell to the ground, apparently
from exhaustion, but he declared that
the youngster was taking" TO be ex-
cused from the whipping The school
band. Ackaret said, played popular
airs during these whippings.
The witness declared that one Of the
boys. lad named Hudson. spoke to
MI Thomas after the whipping, and
thanked the superintendent for the
beating, saying that he believed that
he deserved it,
Ackaret admitted that he used to-
bacco, profanity and whisky before the
boy inmates, but declared that he lee
tured the boys often on the ill-effects
of such indulgence. He was asked
if he had ever taken the Lords
name In vain, and said "he supposed
that he had,p but added that the boys
were beaten when they did either of
these things.
Mrs. n. ]. Ives Of Salt Lake was
called to the witness stand. She said
she had boy at the school some time
ago but he is now out on parole. Mrs.
Ives declared that he was taken i'll
with scarlet fever and she came to
see him on Christmas eve, 1907, While
the boy was sick he was given the
best of attention by the nurse and
employees, and Superintendent Thomas
did everything possible for him. She
observed that the sick inmates were
all well treated Her boy has i'm
proved 90 per cent. she said, as re-
suit of his term in the reformatory.
She said that from her observations
boys were we'll fed and had plenty to
eat The witness said that In her
opinion Thomas is a thorough Chris
tian gentleman and that his treat
ment of her son and others at the
school was unquestionably good. Wit
ness said she is Scientist
Mrs. H. n, Thomas, wife of Super
intendent Thomas. was the next wit
ness Had been the matron OF the
school since November /, 1905. Her
work is chiefly In the boys depart
ment. She explained her duties TO be
the supervision of the housework. |
looking after the clothing for the boys
and general supervision of the nurS-
ing, cook room, food supply and the |
household help. The menu was pre-
pared by her and submitted TO the |
superintendent for approval-butter
used on the tables OF the inmates the |
same as on the superintendent table. |
1t had been reported TO her at one |
time that the syrup at the school was
sour She ordered the steward TO put |
1t aside and use no more of it on the |
tables. This he did, Currants were |
wormy at times and When found so |
were destroyed. When she came to |
the school the bedding was very poor.
declared the witness. A number of !
blankets have been purchased because |
they can be easily Numbered Mrs. |
Thomas said she had some experience |
as teacher, having taught In the !
Third ward In what is now known as |
the Grant school. Very rarely had |
any trouble with tho boys. witness |
never had them whipped as the re-
suit oil any friction between them |
selves aDd the matron. The witness
said some Of them have to be taught |
That they can not run the institution
out the great majority arc tractable |
Whipping at the school, she said. was
rare For several months, some times
there is no whipping at the school
Witness says each of the boys are
given a change Of linen and are re-
quired to use the bath each week. Min.
isters OF the various churches Of tho
city are frequently invited to the
school on Sundays and deliver lee.
lures TO the boys and girls. Witness
said she considered Mr. Brown. for.
merly cook at the school, entirely
competent. but that be was high tenn
pered and extravagant.
Thomas Myers was recalled and +ao