Francis Cook Testimonial

Statement of Francis Cook, Indian, No. 2 (p. 100 of 126 pp. LI Inspection Report to Chas. Dickson) 1st page unreadable

p. 2

the skin had been cut open. Budrow was then put back in the lock-up, and Oliver Prue was made to strip, and then Mr. Jackson took him to the carriage house, and whipped him in the same way. I saw this also, and he screamed and cried.

Q. Did he whip Prue as long as he did Budrow?

A. Yes, sir about.

Q. Did you examine Prue?

A. Yes, and his back was cut and there was blood on him. After Oliver Prue was put back, Ray Harper was made to strip and he was also taken to the carriage house and whipped in the same manner, and I and the other boys saw it.

Q. Then after that came your turn?

A. Yes, sir; and I was made to strip in the same way.

Q. Have you any idea how many blows you received?

A. About ten lashes.

Q. Did you show your back to the boys?

A. Yes, and they said there were blue marks and cuts, and there was blood on my shoulders, for I saw it.

Q. Do you know how many cuts on your back drew blood?

A. About three cuts drew blood.

Q. Were you very sore from this bleeding?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. How long did you feel this soreness?

A. About two weeks I felt very sore from it.

Q. Have you ever been whipped before?

A. Yes, whipped on the hands. And I was in the lockup a half a day before.

Q. Mr. Jackson says he put you in the lockup because you were making cigarettes and whipped you because you assisted in breaking down the door - did you?

A. No, sir.

Q. Did Mr. Jackson tell you why he whipped you?

A. Somebody put a crow-bar through the window - it was about eight or nine o’clock at night when we were sleeping, and we did not know who put it there, and Mr. Jackson wanted to find out, and nobody knew who put it there, and so he whipped us all for it.

Q. Did the other superintendent whip any of the boys?

A. No, sir; he liked the boys and never whipped any that I remember of.

Q. Have you ever seen Mr. Jackson drinking, ever seen him going into the beer saloon to get a drink?

A. No, sir; I have never seen him, but have heard that he has been intoxicated.

Q. After you were whipped you were then put back into the lock-up?

A. Yes, for a day and a half. We were whipped on Friday and let out Sunday morning.

Q. During the time that you were in the lockup, after you were so severely whipped, did any one come down to see you and ask how you were?

A. No, sir.

Q. Were you left entirely alone?

A. Yes, Sir.

Q. If you had been taken suddenly ill how could you have gotten word to the superintendent?

A. I do not know - we could not.

Q. After this whipping ad your back was so sore, did they rub it with any ointment or anything of the kind?

A. No, sir.

Q. I understood you to say the boys looked at your back and you said it was cut; what do you mean by it being cut.

A. The skin was a little open.

Q. Did Mr. Jackson threaten you when he let you out?

A. No; we asked him to let us out - he said the next time you get into trouble you go in for seven days.

Q. I am told that about two weeks ago after chapel service 3 boys were whipped in the school room before the whole school. Is that true?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Give me the names of the boys.

A. Charles Williams, Arthur Pye, and William Madden.

Q. When you were in the chapel all of you were told to go into the school room?

A. Yes sir.

Q. Were you told why you were to go in there?

A. No, we were simply told to go in the school room.

Q. Were these boys stripped?

A. No sir; their top shirt, vest and coat were taken off and they had on a thin summer shirt.

Q. Were you told in the school room why these boys were being whipped?

A. Yes sir; because they ran away.

Q. Do you know how long these boys were away?

A. No, I do not remember.

Q. Do you know how old these boys were?

A. No sir; they were new boys - one was a big boy and the other two were small, about 15 years of age.

Q. Were these three boys put in the lockup?

A. No sir.

Q. Has there been any whipping there within the past ten days?

A. No, I never saw any.

Q. Now you tell me you have been there since 1892, have you ever been whipped by any one else?

A. Yes, by the other superintendent.

Q. Why did he whip you?

A. For fighting with boys - there were some bad boys who would fight anybody.

Q. Is Mr. Mercer kind to the boys?

A. Yes, he is kind to them.

Q. Are the rest of the teachers kind to the boys?

A. Yes sir.

Q. Are the boys afraid of Mr. Jackson?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Do you work anywhere?

A. Yes, in a baker shop near the school.

Q. How much money do you get there?

A. I do not know. I do not receive it.

Q. Where do you boys get money to make cigarettes?

A. The other boys get the cigarettes.

Sworn to this Eighth day of October 1896 William E. Gaunt, Notary Public

Document History

• Transcribed by HS 2025-07-27