The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-19
WITNESSES RELATE
HORRIBLE STORIES
More Light Is Thrown on Super
intendent ThOmas's Reform
School Methods.
SICK BOY IS GIVEN
BEATING WITH STRAP
Shameful Questions Put to Girl
Inmates, Says the Former
MatrOn.
Special to The Tribune.

cPecldl 10 Inc Tribune.
OGDEN, Jane 1S.-Tbc horrible
story of beating administered TO two
boy inmates of the State Industrial
school during the summer of 1905. as
related TO the committee investigating
the charges against Superintendent II.
II. Thomas Of the institution at to-
days session by Evan Carlson. at the
time employed as instructor Of black,
smlthing at the school, would make tho
story or Oliver Twists adventures
with Bill Skies and his other brutal
companions in crime read like diary
OF Salvation Army lass
Carlson was called to the witness
stand at the afternoon session. He
sand he was employed at the school
from January, 1905. until August, 1908.
A short time before he was discharged
ny superintendent Thomas, he heard
that two boys, Perry Bacon and Bird
Hughes, had been whipped The Hughes
lad was working with him at the shop.
The boy complained that he was un-
able 10 work and Carlson tolA him to
take off his shirt. The youngster could
not do so alone, Carlson said, as a re-
suit of the injuries he had received,
and with the assistance of Carlson the
shirt was removed. The witness de
clared that the boys back resenblcd
n piece of raw mcat-that il was fear
fully lacerated and that blood was all
over his garments.
About this time. Carlson said. the
other boy, Bacon, passed and he called
him into the shop. His shirt was re
moved and Carlson declared that the
boy S condition was worse than that of
/. Hughes. He declared that piece of
the flesh had been cut out of the back
aud 'pushea back into the sore.'
Hughes, he said, was not able to work
| for week. Asked If ne complained
to any of the officials about the con-
dition Of the youngsters, Carlson says
he called up. t. p. Evans, who was then
| chairman of the board of trustees OF
the school, and told him 10 come down
to the school and bring a doctor. To
this he replied: ''We will take the
matter up at the next sitting of the
board. = Carlson says he was given
notice to be present aud attended the
meeting, but the matter was not re-
fcrred to in any way. At this meet
ing, the witness says. DR.. F.. M Con-
roy, a member Of the board at the
time. remarked that the affairs of the
school should not be discussed at home
or on the streets by any of the Of
fcials in the employ OF the school.
| The witness was not positive that the
statement was made by DR.. CoDroy,
| Dnr declared Ihat Inls was MS impress
sion
Given His Discharge.
\ short time afterwards Carlson saws
| Thomas called him into the office, gave
him his check and told him that for
{hc best interests of the school it had
been decided that his services as black
smith would be dispensed with and he
was discharged without notice Why
the boys were whipped in this man
ner was not related today. but those
connected with the institution say that
evidence viii be introduced later show
ing why they were punished.
The sensation of the morning session
was furnished by Lamont Holmes. n
selfconfessed periurer. An affidavit
regarding certain Irregularities at the
school bad been obtained from him
hy the citizens committee last Satur-
day. Instead Of allowing the iutro-
surprise of all, Holmes appeared per
sonallv and from the time he took the
witness chair il was apparent that
change had overcome him since the af-
fdavit was signed. Attorney Valen.
tine Gideon, on behalf of the citizens
committee pressing tho charges, asked
the witness II he had not made the
affidavit in his Office and sworn to il.
He replied that he had, but since think
ing it. over decided to attend The in
vestigation to correct some statements
he had made. Holmes said he had been
employed at the school from August 4
1908. until May II, 1909. on the barn
detail and as tcamster: also at one
time for a short spell as steward. When
he left the institution he did so volur-
iarilv on account Of the salary paid.
He related an incident of a hoy named
King who escaped from him. but was
captured in less than an hour and put
in the Cecil on bread and water
diet for eleven or twelve days. Re
gardinq The sanitation of this cell, wit
ness declared that IL was not good;
King, he said. finally took sick and
after being questioned by Superin
tondent Thomas WAS ordered taken tn
the school hosnital. Before doing. so
Holmes saws that he was ordered tn
give the boy WINNING.
Refuses to Beat Boy.
The usual paddle or strap used for
corporal punishment of the school was
used and Holmes says he struck the
sick boy five times then handed the
strap TO Thomas with the remark,
think he has had enough A short
time afterwards, Holmes was gwen Els
salary. but was required oy
Thomas to return him $40 for allow
ing the boy to escape.
Regarding other affairs at the school.
the witness declared that five head OF
cattle had been purchased for
the school at 1910, When brought to
the institution they were examiner
and found 10 he suffering from tuber-
.ular troubles. rendering their milk un'
fit for table use. ln his aihdaylt pre-
riouslv signed, the witness declared
that when the bow was captured and
returned to the school Thomas
,ursed him and that when the witness
refused In continue beating the lad
Thomas declared that he was
standing in'' with the youngster
These statements were repudiated by
lie witness as being untrue in his tcsf'-
nopy today. He declared that when