New-York tribune., 1909-11-22
TO ABOLISH SCHOOL
CALL FIRRELL BRUTE.
Report on Brooklyn Disciple
nary Institution Public.

nary Institution Public.
Albany. Nov. 2l.-Declaring that condi-
tions found to exist in the Brooklyn Dis
cplinary Training School for Boys are
so Immediately detrimental To the phys-
cal. moral and educational interests Of the
boys committed 10 IT," a special commit
tee OF the State Board Of Charities recon-
mends that prompt action be taken TO rem
edy the defects. The committee report
il on an investigation into complaints filed
with Governor Hughes and was made pub
lie to-day. after IL had been adopted by
the state board. The report recommends;
As ample provision has been made Is
the state ana benevolent societies f1- the
proper care and training OF the class uf
bows committed to this institution. meas
ures should be taken TO abolish the Brook
lyn Disciplinary Training Schoot ror Boys.
To accomplish these objects your commit
tee submits the following reconmenca-
Ffrst-The removal by the Mayor Of the
city Of New York Of the delinquent MEM
hers OF the present board of managers ana
the appointment OF competent persons IN
their stead. AT Ieast three of whom shall
Of New York
Second-The removal of the present Sd
I'eTintendent and house mother and the ap-
pointment in their places OF persons Ger
tined by competent testimonials to be
qualified for their respective positions
lAUu-lllaA steps De III 10 nave Allf
charter OF this school repealed at the
earliest possible date and the inmates
Transferred 10 the proper institutiOns-viz-,
the children OF Catholic parents 10 CRtho-
lie protecrories. the children % jewish par
ents 20 proteCtories for Jewish children
and those Of Protestant parents 70 Prot
cstaut Institutions.
REPORT SENT To GOVERNOR.
copy Of the report has been sent %
Governor Hughes and Mayor Mcclellan.
The Legislature has the power to abolish
the Institution. The report points out that
the abuses are Of a demoralizing charac-
ter. that the methods OF discipline are eX-
tremely harsh and cruel. that the indus
trial training Of the boys is entirely in
adequate and that the moral tone OF tile
whole establishment is extremely iow and
depressing.
Referring Ia James . Farrell the su-
perinteEdent. who was dismissed after the
investiga lion by the board Of managers o.
the institution. the report says that he
has been for long time guilty Of brutal
ity and inhunan conduct toward the in
mates Of the institution. We find that re
adopted a system Of punishment and called
/, the Star Spansled Banner which from
the evidence appears TO consist of taking
TIE boy 10 the armory. stripping him Of
his clothing and beating him on tue bare
hack with a stick. cane or large piece o.
leather"
The report continues
We find from the evidence that there was
4 system OF terrorism existing in the insti-
tuition, all the employees and all the in
mates being terrorlZed by The superinten-
dent. that he used his cane IN beating boys
over the head FOR very slight offences. and
on all occasions when his mood seemed TO
indicate that some punishment was nee
essary.
we hnd that the superintendent used. on
many occasions, insulting language u ths
employees of the institution. and that he
mortified them by disrespectful and vile
language IN the presence OF the boys We
nno that on many occasions he was drunk,
and Frequently returned 10 the institution
in drunken condition. On one particular
occasion he alChted from carriage IN
Ifcnt OF the schooi aho was - ofLhh ina
he fell down in The bushes before h'e could
reach the steps OF the school This was
witnessed 10y fifteen or twenty boys who
were az work where they could see the con-
dition OF the superintendent.
We find that since the deatls OF Farrell
wife lie has on meiy occasions left the !n-
sttuuon at "a ght and has taken with him
Miss HutcI7fHsuTT the house mo1hef' mus
leaving without any responsible head IN In
sttuUol containing 20 boys cohnieH IN on
Oid building, liable AZ any uIne 10 De con-
sumed 10y ure- We ma that both the su-
perintendent and Miss Hutchinson have
neglected 70 enter their absences in the
record book kept for that purpose. and
that they have been known on many coca
sious 10 return 10 the institution III a
We find that THE sO-callcd CaTTenter shop
80 beautifully described and illustrated IN
the report ~ The board Of managers for
the year 1875 IS a sham; that the main
sha fting u disconnected. that the lathes
are out Of order and have been for years,
and that this sO-cs.iled shop Il for adVer-
tiSing purposes only. II was testified 10
before us 10y large number ol witnesses
that the night Watehmau. Glennon- habit
Ually struck the little boys in bed with
club. IN the shape of "A Policeman club.
as punishment for whispering Or cutting
up' after they had retired that these
little boys are frequently taken out or D-d
in their niEhtclothes when the room =
cold and stood up against the wall and
kent There for hours as punishment for
some little offence committed after they
have retired. We find that the superin-
tcLdent has committed boys to the guard-
house OF bread and water and kept them
TleTc for long periods of time
NATRON ALSO CRITICISED
We ind that Miss Anna J. Hutchinson
las been the matTln OF house mother -Cr
about six and a half wears She was "A
witness before uS and from her own teSu-
mony il appears that she had frequently
been cut al night with the superintendent,
and that the only responsible person lett
d; tie institution during their absence WIS
one 40 the guards or watchmen. We found
among all tnc inmates "A feeling oi great
hostility 10 Miss Hutchinson
Me md that very little effort was made
ascertain the true conditions, always cN-
cel,tinE Manager Ryk, who did make ef-
forts and bv whose efforts largely the
facts iu this case were G~rerfained
We md that fh-re Is number ~ bog
In this institution. originally committed for
minor offences. who have been there from
cnts or guardians Wii" seem 10 care
whether they are transf -rrcd or not. We
find au utter lack of care On the part ct
the board Of managers tMdnager bNk eN-
Ceptedl I'm placing uut IN good homes ar IN
good places these boys Who have been
there so lorg.