Manchester Guardians

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.

"The girls at the School will be released to go out into the world at the age of 21 or before. In my judgment the influence of such punishment as I have outlined cannot fail to brutalize and arouse prejudices and passions that will be of long standing."

Deposed Board Chairman Emerson replied by accusing Governor Tobey of playing politics.

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