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Show THOMAS IN HIS OWN DEFENSE PRACTICALLY DENIES ALL THE I CHARGES AGAINST HIM. . i Several More Witnesses Testify In His Favor Investigation Adjourned Adjourn-ed Until Tuesday. At tho Industrial school Investigation Investiga-tion Friday Joseph Burdetto was tho first witness called In tho afternoon session. He Is a i parole officer, and related methods used by the parole committee commit-tee to obtain affidavits from the Inmates In-mates of tho school. He declared that tho questions wero asked the Inmates and answered voluntarily, and that no coercion was used In the matter. Burdetto identified tho affidavit of Miss Ada Swenson, a former inmate. Ml C mrniinn cn;nri flint 1 Vi r . t ment of Mrs. Halsled that she had been asked improper questions In ro-gard ro-gard to an escapade In the canyon was entirely false. The woman -is now married mar-ried and lives In Bingham canyon, and claims that the domestic science taught hpr in the state institution has proved highly beneficial to her as a practical housewife. An affidavit of a Mr. Anderson, an Instructor in elocution at tho institution, in-stitution, was next introduced. Anderson An-derson claimed that the conditions prevailing pre-vailing at the school were highly commendable com-mendable and favorable. Affidavits of two former employes of the school were read. They showed that several boys had been severely punished in their presence. W. H. Ackarct, who was employed for four years in the farming detail at tho school, was the next witness. Ackarct entered the employ of the state at the institution before the appointment ap-pointment of Superintendent Thomas. He declared that he had from four to six boys on his detail, and that, they were whipped only when they attempted attempt-ed to rwn away or when they committed com-mitted some unmentionable crime. He assisted, he said, in the punishment of two of seven hoys, who were implicated impli-cated in a disgraceful escapade at a camp in the canyon last summer, but added that' the boys were not severely severe-ly chastized. On cross-examination Acknret was forced to admit ho was released from his duties at the school on June 1st of this year, but was reinstated on -Tune f,th by Superintendent Thomas at me salary wnicn tie had been receiving re-ceiving before his dismissal. Ho declared de-clared he did not know the reason for his discharge, nor the cause of his reinstatement. re-instatement. Ackarct stated that the boys were not spared when punishment was meted out. He admitted that on one occasion, seven boys who were to ho whipped, were forced to run around in a circle and receivo their beatings in turn as they came past the manipulator manipula-tor of the whip. One boy, he testified, testi-fied, fell to the ground, apparently from exhaustion, but ho declared that the youngster was "faking" to be cx- pald $20 and $10, respectively, from his own pocket for the work done and the time put in on ills residence was deducted from their pay rolls. Tho boys from the school, he said, were willing to assist on the house, as it was in the nature of a diversion for them. The witness denied that he had ever asked the vile questions of girls as testified to by Mrs. D. 1. Tracy, the former matron. The attorneys at-torneys for the citizens' committee did not ask the superintendent any questions ques-tions An adjournment was taken ua-, ua-, til Tuesday afternoon at 1 o'clock, when the arguments of the attorneys will be heard by the committee. The testimony of the accused probablv will close tae evidence unless two witnesses wit-nesses which are being sought can bo obtained by Tuesday. cused from the whipping. Tho school band. Ackaret said, played popular airs during these whippings. The wUness declared that one of the boys, a lad named Hudson, spoke to Mr. Thomas after the whipping, and thanked the superintendent for the beating, sayiug that ho believed tbat he deserved it. Ackarct admitted that he used tobacco, to-bacco, profanity and wbisloy before the boy Inmates, but declared that he lectured lec-tured the boys often on the ill-effects of such indulgence. He was asked if he had ever taken the fxsrd's name in vain, and said "he supposod that he had," but added that the boys were beaten when they did either of these Ihings. Mrs. X. I. Ives of Salt Lake was called to the witness stand. She said she had a boy at the school some lime ago but he is now out on parole Mrs. Ives declared that he was taken ill with scarlet fever and fho came to see him on Chiistmas eve, 1907. While the boy was sick he was given the best of attention by trie nurse and employes, and Superintendent' Thomas did everything possible for him. She observed that the sick inmates were J all well treated. Her bov has ini carpenter, who took eight or ten days to complete the work, could have been done by a capable carpenter in four to five days. Since the investigation began, the witness declared, the boys under him havo shown a rebellious temperament and have become almost unmanageable. Parley Griffin was recalled re-called and declared that Thomas talked kindly to the boys before and after they were whipped last summer. The spring wagon used to convey Ro-sctta Ro-sctta Coyle to the hospital, where she died of appendicitis, was at this point shown the committee. At the evening session the investigating investi-gating committee inquired if any member of the citizens' committee pressing the charges against Thomas desired to make a statement. Mrs. Kato Hllliard. chairman of the committee, availed herself of the Invitation and on behalf of the women's clubs of the state declared that the investigation was begun as a result of a mass meeting meet-ing held at the Weber academy several sev-eral weeks ago. This meeting, she saij. was called after Miss Luev Y:m Cott of Salt Iako had voluntarily offered of-fered to make an exposure of tho conditions con-ditions at the Industrial school, which she had visited a short time before. At this meeting, the speaker declared. Miss Van Cott ' flunked" and failed to toll what s'ie said she had found at tho school. Chairman Joseph then declared that the oommittee had attempted to get Miss Van Cott to attend the hearing hear-ing but that she had refused to do so. Mrs. Hilllard said she is opposed to capital punishment and that this, with the use of the cells at the school, should bo abolished. Competent instructors, in-structors, ladies and gentlemen, should be obtained to assist in t'.ie reformation reforma-tion of the Inmates of the school and tho lash and other moans of punishment punish-ment should be laid aside. Solitary confinement, the speaker said, will not reform any boy. Asked to explain what she meant by the term "flunked," as applied to Miss Van Cott, Mrs. Hilliard said she meant that a promise had been made which was not fulfilled". Dr. G A Dickson, tho present physician physi-cian of the school, tdnce Juno 1. said that the sanitation at the school is good: the fare is goo, but. not ideal, and suggested some chnnges. H. H. Thomas, superintendent of the school, was the last witness called. He said he had been superintendent since September. 1905. All experience proveii 90 per cent, she said, as a result re-sult of his term in the reformatory. She said that from her observations boys were well fed and had plenty to eat. The witness said that In her opinion Thomas Is a thorough Christian Chris-tian gentleman and that his treatment treat-ment of her son and others at the school was unquestionably good. Witness Wit-ness said she is a Sclentir.t. Mrs. H, H. Thomas, wife of Superintendent Super-intendent Thomas, was the next witness. wit-ness. Had been tho matron of tho school since November 1, 1905. Her work is chiefly In the boys' department. depart-ment. She explained her duties to bo the supervision of the housework, looking after the clothing for the boys and a general supervision of the nursing, nurs-ing, cool: room, food supplv and the household help. Tho menu' was prepared pre-pared by her and submitted to the superintendent for approval butter used on the tables of tho inmates the same as on the superintendent's table. It had been reported to her at one time that the syrup at the school was sour. She ordered the steward to put It aside and use no more of it on the tables. This he did. Currants were wormy at times and when found so were destro.ved. When she came to the school the bedding was very poor, declared the witness. A number of blankets have been purchased bemuse in thf work had been acquired since that time. In February and May, 190S. no had i.sited similar institutions of tho east and west to get ideas how to mn the scho -1. President T. B. Evans Ev-ans of the board of trustees was with him Ho exhibited teleerams from eight similar Institutions stating that in each fouio form of cordial punishment punish-ment Is in vogue. The witness said corporal punishment was administered at the school only for serious offenses, such a.' u.xIng tobacco, stealing and unmentionable crimes. Tho superintendent superin-tendent admitted that he directed the they can be easily laundered. Mrs. Thomas said sho had ome experience as a teacher, having taught In th Third ward in what Is now known as the Grant school. Very rarely had any trouble with tho boys; witness never had them whipped as the result re-sult of any friction between themselves them-selves aDd the matron. The witness said some of them have to be taught that they can not run the Institution but the great majority arc tractable Whipping at tho school, she said was rare. For several months, some times there is no whipping at the school." Witness says each of the boys aro given a change of linen and are required re-quired to use the bath each week Ministers Min-isters of the various churches of tho city are frequently invited to the school on Sundays and deliver lec- Za3 lh b?i's and Rlr,s- Witness said she considered Mr. Brown formerly for-merly a cook at the school, entirely competent, but that be was high tenv pered and extravagant iT1iom-as Myer8 was recalled and tes-titled tes-titled that tbo work done on Thomaa' residence by J. H. Scott, the SSo, punisnmont or the seven bovs for committing an unmentionable offense while on a camping trip. Said he thought then they deserved the punishment punish-ment meted out and thinks so yet. Noer heard until the investigation started of the injuries said to have been inflicted at the time upon the boy Bacon. Regarding tho charge, of graft preferred against him in building build-ing his residence with assistance from employes of the tchool. the superintendent superin-tendent said he obtained permission from the board of trustees to use Scott and Myers and Griffin; that ffev were |
