Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-16

| were given Jail sentences and when the
others realized the board was not bluff
fing they changed their atttdue and
most Of them promised to be good
Judge Robinson remains in personal
charge for the present
Des Moines, March 16.-Eight girls,
leaders in the riot yesterday at the
Mitchellville Industrial school, were
sentenced by Justice Cope last evening
to serve ten days in the county JAIL
Each pleaded guilty to charge of
rioting and attempting to destroy
certain building belonging to the state.
They expressed themselves as delighted
at leaving the school under the super
fntendence of Miss Hattie Garrison,
and said they preferred going to Jail
to remaining The girls charge Miss
Garrison with many cruelties and have
asked the board of control to remove
Miss Garrison and give the school
new superintendent, preferably a man.
The names of the girls sent to Jail
are: Harriet Edgar. Iva j. Phelp, Lora
B. Adams, Fern NJ. Lunkley, Myrtle F.
Brewer Florence Ward, Dorothy Ray
and Nettie Seibert.
The jail sentence is the result Of an
investigation instituted yesterday by
two members of the board of control
General Investigation Ordered.
An investigation into the charges
preferred against Miss Garrison by the
girls is being conducted by the two
members of the board and it is report
al
instructions for general investigation
into the competency of Miss Garrison
to govern the school. Rumors are cur
rent in official circles that Miss Gar
rison will be removed and a man
placed at the head of the school.
Another rumor is persistent from OPP
posite circles to the effect that the
frequent outbreaks of the girls at the
school are being inspired by some hid
den foe to Miss Garrison who will not
reveal her identity. This is emphati-
cally denied by the girls who are fore
most in the outbreaks. They declare
Miss Garrison is unfit to head the
school and boldly say that, while for
mer Superintendent F. P. Fitzgerald
was far more strict and gave more Sc
we're punishments at times, he was
more just and that all were happier
under his superintendency. Miss Gar
rison is accused by the inmates of be-
ing narrow-minded and of using what
they call ''woman's spite to get even"
in petty things.
Complaints Made BY Girls.
Chief among the complaints made to
the board by the girls are the follow
ing:
They are not allowed to dance.
Orchestra practice is prohibited.
Privacy in the bath is denied them.
They are prohibited from talking in
the dining room.
Their mail is held up by the man
agement Of the reformatory.
They are whipped with a rubber
hose and are compelled to remove part
Of their clothing so the punishment
may be more harsh.
One girl was called before the board
in the presence of Miss Garrison, the
sheriffs and reporters, and asked to
tell of cruelties she had experienced.
She was bessie Witcher, over the
whipping of whom the outbreak re-
suited last Friday.
bessie slater that Miss Garrison once
sent for her and as she approached
the door of the superintendent office
a manner which greatly angered her.
Miss Garrison said, "Sit down in
chair or I'll knock you down." accord
ing to the Witcher girl. She admitted
that she refused and said Miss Garrison
seized her by the throat. choking her so
that blood was drawn from her throat
by the superintendent's finger nails.
bessie was cross examined thoroughly
but did not detract from her first
Statement.
In answer to the charges made by
the girls, Miss Garrison said she only
withholds letters which are improper;
that she does not believe in dancing for
dance hall when they are eventually
released, and that a knowledge of mus
ic only causes girls to seek their liv-
ing by playing pianos in cafes, which.
she believes, leads them into gay
life Miss Garrison spoke of permitting
the orchestra to practice church musH
Saturday. nights in order that they
may play at church on Sundays.
Many amusing Things occurred dur
ing the entire day the investigators
spent at the school All bonds of re-
striction severed. the girls danced and
played on the lawn, laughing and
screaming with joyous abandonment.
The happiest bunch of girls about
the place were the eight ringleaders,
when they were informed they were to
come to Des Moines and go to Jail.
They laughed and upon leaving in
charge of the officers, made faces at
rison.