Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-21
MISS DAVIS ADMITS
THE USE OF SOAP
IN GIRLS MOUTHS
Testimony of Woman Who
Inaugurated Punishment
Method at Reformatory.

HEDFORD, y. =. December 20 The
Fiicticc OF washing the months nf in
hates o. the St1te Eoforma tory for
= o!Hen with soap and water - a Pan
, snment for iniraction Of rules vas in
augurated by Katherine e. Davis. who
was superintendent Of the institution
from 1901 to 1914. she testified to-day at
the hearing b"for" John g. Kennedy
vice president of The state prison
coInf!i iSSion. who is conducting an in
sfigation of the institution. Miss
Davis. ,vho is now connected with
he bureau OF social hygiene ri the
Rocllefeller Foundation. added that
on one or two occasions she SUPER
viseG the administering OF the soap
and water" care
III order to prevent the inmates
from playing 20 the gallery" sh" de-
clarcd that she had soundproof doors.
nicknamed "iceboX" doors, constructed
on the outside of the cells When
girls became historical. she said. they
liked an audience, and the doors were
pat in to make their outcries a solo
and prevent the other inmates from
joining in the chorus.
Miss Davis also admitted that the
hands OF inm?t es ana sometimes their
feet U-ere chained to their beds when
they became unruly. but denied that
they were placed in an ''uncomfnrt-
"ble position.
Why Penalty Was Enforced.
The g.rls. of course, We're not free"
she testified. "On one or two oc-
casions ! supervised the washing OF
tho girls mouths with soap and wateH
That was in the cases of girls using
obscene language.
Very early in the game I came TO
TIE conclusion that many of the girls
were not mentally normal. and I
needed Z psychologist. l had one for
Il short period. She was not paid by
lIf nf f,,-1
because 1 could not get amy money
from the state at that time. AS they
did not think it necessary.
Il hope tho Legislature is educated
by this time. interrupted Daniel T.
lays OF the board of managers.
Il would not send every girl who
mishehaEed to a psychopa ME wa rd."
continued the witness. IN my jude-
ment. it is Z waste of honey for the
state TO pay for an educational in
stitution and then commit girls who
,re Predetermined and mentally de-
dcient. For that reason / believe that
mere shonld be q separate institution
for those who are not OF normal men,
atty"
Handwriting "Not Objectionable.''
In answer to questions by Mr..
Hays. the witness said that she did
not consider Handwriting girls objec-
tionable when they will not submit
to persuasion" A girl was kept hand
2uffed. she added. AS long as she con-
;inued highly excited and yelled
sometimes three hours" The witness
Expressed the opinion that a girl
could no. harm herself when left
lone in cc:l.
The witness denied that inmates
we're ever handCuffed with their feet
on the floor during her regime 1T the
institution. and added that she con-
;idered this an Improper and ;nhu-
man hod of punishment
Miss Davis admitted that she ap-
piled the cold a-er treatment" to
prisoners by applying wet cloths to
their heads and on one occa sion
sprinkling a. girl with garden hose,
hut denied that she o. ducked their
water and Handwriting We're used as
last resorts, she said Many times,
the witness said she had sat on the
cot Of an inmate all night trying. to
quiet her.
Says Girl Attempted Suicide.
On one occasion. she said, a girl
ripped her uniform into strips and
was attempting suicide by hanging
from cell door when she was dis
covered. ..-. -, ...t
When l went to take her down she
kicked me and bit my hand" con-
.inued the witness, adding that it was
the only time in her thirteen years of
experience in institutions that she had
been injured in the performance Of
her duties.