Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-06
SAYS WHIPPING IN
REFORMATORYD DID
NOT |NJURE BOY
Commissioners Wight Exoner-
ates Rev. DR.. Moore, Supt.
of Railway Institution.
fsreelal to the Newark ST.

-F1
TRENTON. June Estate Commits
sioner of Charities and Correction DIR
George b. Wight today made a report
to Governor Wilson, in which he exon
crates the Rev. DR.. Frank B.. Moore.
superintendent of the Railway reform
atory, on the charges of brutality made
to the Governor by c. &. Elliott, of
Menlo Park, who complained that John
Sheridan, of Hudson county, while an
inmate of the institution, was treated
brutally.
DR.. Wight says tina while sheridan
had a fine record for industry at Rah-
way, his conduct was exceptionally
bad, and that he can be classed as an
unusually unruly and refractory in
mate. While Sheridan was in the in
stitution twenty-seven charges of mis-
conduct were preferred against him in
eighteen months.
The complaint of Mr.. Elliott on be-
half of Sheridan was that last October
Sheridan was placed across a table.
his back barred and he was given forty
lashes upon his bare back by Edward
Crum, one of the keepers.
Unable to sit on Chair.
IL WAS ALSO Sldltu lildl 6llt DOy was
so injured by this beating that he was
unable to sit on a chair and that per-
manent scars were inflicted. After the
whipping it was complained that Sherl-
dan was placed in solitary confinement
for seven days and given four slices of
bread to eat and water to drink each
day.
This treatrr. It is held by Mr.. Elliott
to be responsible for a material decline
in the b~oy,sIealth. with a probability
of an early dG tn.
In investigating the Sheridan case
DR.. Wight went to the home of the
boy in West Hoboken. where he found
him i'll, but was unable to discover
traces of brutal treatment, and Sheri-
dan did not complain of having been
beaten. The commissioner then went
to Railway, where he received a report
that two special punishments had been
melted out to Sheridan, the second in
March, 1910, when the boy was placed
in the reflection chamber for several
days.
Boy Gained In Weight.
The reports at the institution, ac-
cording to DIR. Wight, showed that
Sheridan had gained in weight from 15S
to 10 pounds while IN the reformatory.
The whippings given Sheridan We're adj
ministered in the presence Of the SUI
perintendent, according to provisions
OF the law.
On March IS last Sheridan showed
signs of illness and was placed in what
is known as the sick line" as a tuber-
eular suspect. He was then given a
special room and special food. He was
also transferred to out-of-door employ
ment about a year ago. The case of
the young man became worse, and. on
Nav 3 he was released on sick parole,
This sort of parole was special in this
instance, as rules of the reformatory
do not provide for such liberty.
AS to the corporal punishment in
ficted upon Sheridan, DR.. Wight finds
that 1t was merited and properly APP
piled. and does not appear to be re-
lated to his present physical condl~
ton
Approve of Solitary Confinement.
DR.. Wight also heartily approves of
rem owing the refractory from the
Company of their associates ana IN Sc
clusion letting them determine which
pays better, obedience or ~disobedience.'
AS to the reflection chamber in which
Sheridan was confined, Dr. Wight says
the room is light, well ventilated and
heated. DR.. Wight closes his findings
WITH the comment that there arc no
dungeons or %unsanitary cells useu iur
punishment, and holds that The bread
given Sheridan vas wholesome and me
water good and that the combination
made a diet tina will not injure the in
mates. DIR. Wight expresses sorrow
for Sheridan's condition, ana says he
cannot find that officials of the institu-
ton are to blame.