When a governor visits a
State institution for an official inspection he usually sees it at
its best. Realizing this, canny Governor Charles W. Tobey of New
Hampshire, when he decided last March to investigate conditions at the
Manchester State Industrial School, asylum for 200 delinquent girls,
picked a day when he knew that the superintendent and matron would be
away. Subsequent unannounced visits convinced the Governor and his witnesses that the Manchester guardians were guilty of unbelievable
cruelty toward their charges. On one trip to the school Governor
Tobey locked two trustees in the solitary confinement coops provided
for inmates. When they were let out, one of the trustees admitted that
he would prefer suicide to remaining in the cell. What the Governor saw at Manchester was not disclosed until Charles S.
Emerson, board chairman of the institution since 1919, demanded to
know why he was not reappointed. The following facts, issued from the
State House last week, seemed reason enough to horrified New Hampshire
citizens: “I cite . . . details of the punishments applied at the school in the
past but which have since ceased on orders from me. “Whippings: Girls in the adolescent period have been laid on a bed, or
made to lie across a large laundry basket in the attic of the girls'
building, and had physical punishment administered on their naked
flesh by application of lashes from a piece of rubber piping or tubing
. . . from 100 to 250 strokes. In some cases so many strokes were given
that one attendant had to relieve another in applying the strokes.
“The Water Cure—so called: This was administered by placing the
girl in a shower bath compartment, stripped naked except for bloomers.
The cold shower overhead is turned on and a garden hose is used to play
cold water from a nearby faucet, full force direct upon the naked body,
the hose being held but a few feet from the girl. By testimony of the
attendant who usually applies this punishment, she plays it in the
girls' faces to sort of strangle them. . . . Testimony was given that
one girl fainted under this water treatment. It was also testified
that in at least one case where whipping or ducking had been given
the girl was unwell. “The Dungeon Treatment: Girls have been confined in two compartments, each about
six by eight feet in size. They look like shed roof hen houses and are built against the wall of a
rather dark attic in the top of the boys' building. The only air that
can get in comes in directly through a space covered by chicken wire at
the top of the front. It is about six inches by eight feet. One cannot
see his hand in front of him when inside. There is no furniture except
a blanket and pail in a corner. Girls have been kept in these dungeons
for as long as two weeks. . . . “I have been criticized for having
visited the School unexpectedly, without giving prior notice, and
investigating as I did. As to this I believe that this is better than
to go when plans have been made and the School is on dress parade. I
conceive it to be within the duty of the Governor to visit any
institution any time to learn first hand what is going on.
