FDLE REBUTTAL BY STRALEY

I found the report fair, in the following respects: that they did mention staff members,  who had witnessed beatings or
saw the results, stating that they felt the beatings were extreme, and /or , some had seen blood on the boys clothes,
or bodies.

However, I found the report to be extremely bias and composed to favor the State. Much attention was given to the
beatings as being: "acceptable for the time" that it was legal at  the time to punish boys with the whip, and played
down the tone of the beatings themselves so that the reader would assume that the allegations of 50 to 100 lashes 
were merely embellishment on the victims part.

Flogging with leather whips was banned in 1922 by Governor Hardee when Martin Tabert, a young man of 22 was
whipped to death in a Florida labor camp. It was labeled "Florida's Disgrace" and the uproar it caused resulted in the
Governor's ban. However, the same instrument of punishment was used on boys as young as nine to
seventeen years of age in the Florida School for Boys for the next 45 years. It was finally stopped in 1968 by
Oliver J. Keller, head of the new State Youth Services Agency-- he banned the strap and paddles. Note: This was
done under Governor Claude Kirk's administration.

One has to bear in mind that the Florida  Department of Law Enforcement is an entity controlled by the state. The
state also is funding  the defense of Troy Tidwell, one of the most notorious Whip Masters. How can we  expect that
an investigation, carried out by the state's own entity would result in a  judgment or charges against the state?

They have done the same thing they did in the investigation of the 32 unmarked graves.  Not one grave was dug up,
no ground penetrating radar or cadaver dogs were used, it  was merely explained away on paper. Even so, they had
to admit that at one time the  crosses have been removed and then placed back in the graveyard by guess work only.

In a St. Petersburg Times report by Ben Montgomery and Waveney Ann Moore:

According to the school's records, at least 50 more boys who died here remain unaccounted for. In the end, the
FDLE determined that 81 people died there, but the official records placed just 31 in the cemetery on the hill. For 60
years, the school had a black campus and a white campus. In the first half of the last century, it was uncommon for
blacks and whites to be buried together. But FDLE found no records to suggest there was more than one cemetery.
"We're basing our findings on records, family members, former students themselves," Perez (of the FDLE) said.
"Without the evidence to support it, we just don't know."

Without a way to see underground, without proper headstones or a reliable body count, there is only speculation.
Perez said the FDLE published the names of the other 50 boys in hopes of generating clues about their
whereabouts.   END REPORT

Note: It is now determined that another graveyard exists as reported on this site: As well there are two
reports of a third graveyard located near a small creek that runs in back of the Chow Hall and the
"Whitehouse" building. If this was public knowledge why was it not reported with 50 boy's bodies
unaccounted for?

Cemetery notes and/or description:
This small field is located in the woods on the present grounds of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a state
juvenile correction facility. Originally known as the Florida State Reform School (Established in 1900)
and later the Florida Industrial School for Boys, the institution has a notorious reputation as an abusive place in its
earlier years, complete with a torture chamber known as the "White House". The cemetery was active from about
1914 to 1952. Since death certificates were not required prior to 1917 and subsequent records are not complete, it
is not known how many people are interred here. State Investigators believe at least 81 are buried here and
at another location about 500 yards to the north. The argument for two locations is bolstered by the fact that it
was not the custom in the days when the cemetery was active to bury whites and coloreds at the same site (The
races were segregated at this facility). 31 metal crosses were erected at this location near extant shallow
indentations in the ground in 1996 to replace concrete/rebar crosses from the 1960's that had been removed and
stored near the site...It is believed wooden crosses or no markers were originally employed...

This report follows in the same thread. The report smacks of being superficial and trivial  in nature, there is a huge
omission of testimony and facts, not to mention the history of  the school, in which these abuses are well documented
all the way back to 1903. In that  time in which we were there, in the 50s and 60s, there were many visits by senators,
 judges, governors, all which reported that the school was the worst example of a reform  school in the nation, called
it a monstrosity, 1400 acres of hell, all in all there are 22  newspaper archive reports that have been open to the
public since at least 1958 and are  listed on our web site: http://whitehouseboys.com   Many back up our
allegations to the hilt. The only archive material I found in  this report was the history of the school and a picture of
Mr. O. J. Keller, holding one of  the straps and a paddle that the boys were punished with.

It was well known for years that boys were being abused in a harsh and extreme manner at  FSB. Many people in the
town of Marianna had this knowledge as well, however, due  to their collusion with the school over jobs and money,
the citizenry has remained silent. The simple fact is that no one in the  town of Marianna has found the courage to
stand up and acknowledge that the stories are true. This gives me the feeling that they are responsible as well, their
silence alone is a collusion to the abuse that occurred there.

While in Marianna I was invited by Robin Gaby Fisher to go with her while she followed some leads on former
employees. During the course of the day we visited five houses. At least two people confirmed that boys were taken
from their cottages, loaded on a truck and transported to farmer's fields in the local area. There they harvested,
melons or whatever produce was being farmed. This was a day long job, at the end, when the boys were loaded
back on the truck, money was paid to the driver for their services. It was against the law to take boys off the FSB
campus and hire them out.

After searching the article, as to the beatings, I find there is no mention of any other  boy/man other than the original
four White House boys, Roger Kiser, Robert Straley,  Michael O. McCarthy and Dick Colon. There are probably 75 to
100 men that received worse beatings than the above mentioned. Donald Smith and Jerry Cooper,  each received
well over 150 lashes, yet they are not mentioned. Jerry Cooper, at his  own expense, took a lie detector test to
confirm that his allegations were true. He  passed the test and challenged Troy Tidwell to take a lie detector test as
well. In Tidwell's statements of the beatings he says: "I never gave more than 10 gentle blows."  The fact that
they only mentioned the original four White House Boys shows that it is only an attempt to destroy our character and
credibility, especially due to the fact that we each control web sites with much information concerning the abuses.

Superintendent Lenox, Williams stated that the students received 10 to 12 licks at the most. Former Home Life
Supervisor  William Mitchell stated that he was present during  the spankings and students received 5 to 10
licks at most. Troy Tidwell stated that 10  licks were the maximum for even the most serious offenses. In his
deposition Tidwell  describes the lashes as being 10 gentle lashes. The same as he would use on his own  children. I
personally, did not receive any of those gentle lashes. I have not spoken with any other FSB child inmates that did.

Even though the report contained statements by several former cottage fathers that the  beatings were extreme and
there was blood on some boys, the repeated statements of  the number of licks as being 5 to 10 is the most
outrageous and outstanding lie in the  whole of this document. To trivialize these beatings is the worst mistake
that the FDLE  has committed thus far. This will only anger the men who suffered these beatings and will only cause
them to be more resolute in their efforts for justice. Having read many  comments at the bottom of news stories, the
bulk of the comments were negative where  the FDLE's report was concerned, so the citizenry of Florida are not
necessarily buying  their story.

RESIDUAL SCARING ISSUE

The FDLE leans very heavily on the phrase "residual scaring."  In my opinion, except for some of the extreme
beatings, such as the 100 lash beating for running away, at our  younger age then, I believe the skin would have
healed, so as to leave no scarring. I  think a physician or specialist should be consulted as to whether or not a
beating given at that age would have left any residual scarring. I notice that there was no mention of  this particular
aspect being investigated. Where is their medical evidence or statement by a certified physician in this subject? Why
were other men who reported scarring not tested?

IGNORE THE LAWYERS ?

I also notice there was no reference whatsoever to any of the six items in the lawyer's  letter of January 19, 2010,
which included 12 client affidavits, numerous newspaper  articles, a 1958 Senate hearing transcript in a 1943 letter
from Dozier her to a parent  acknowledging the use of corporal punishment at FSB.

A STATEMENT THE FDLE WILL NEVER PRINT

I noticed there was no acknowledgment of this statement made by Sheila Wexler, who was Dr. Wexler's daughter. His
daughter remembers helping her father, who had poor eyesight, when their family lived on campus. Sheila Wexler
says she occasionally treated boys who had cuts or welts on their behind. "But if they needed a stitch, It
would only be a few."  Would you beat your child until they only needed to use stitches? A casual, horrific
statement shows the mind set of the staff at Marianna, as openly stated by Dr. Wexler's own daughter. A statement
that supports the victims allegations of savage beatings.

THE STRAP

As to the allegations that the strap was weighted with sheet metal, I cannot say that I  saw this personally, I did hear
from other boys who stated that they did see the metal.  When I was beaten the force of the blow drove me down at
least one foot into the spring  mattress, and I made the mistake of looking to see what in the world was hitting me with
such force. For that I received an extra 10 lashes.

AN UNBALANCED REPORT

In a report, several boys were quoted as having to have said that they got what they  deserved, or were in no way
traumatized, or that no student was ever sent to the White  House without a specific cause. In the report there are six
comments of this nature.  When the story broke, I received phone calls from over 100 men, out of that I can only 
remember three that said they were not traumatized by the whippings. If you take the  five examples that the state
notes in the report and put that up against 294 other men,  one can see that there is a very large discrepancy. Yet
somehow, the writer of this  document seems to be able to almost balance this out, yet again lending a trivial
slant  as to the severity of the beatings. It is so obvious, one has to ask if the writer of this  document sees all
people as uneducated and stupid. Six out of 294 men does not  represent a majority, yet the document
presses this issue as if it did.

As to Robert Straley's experience in the rape room, it is what was left out that was the  most upsetting to me. I
consider what they have to say, as well as Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey, to be a personal attack on my character,
and testimony. They made no  mention of the fact that when Tidwell was on my back with his knees, that I was unable
to breath and passed out, or that I told them I felt that the men were afraid they have caused me grievous harm and
took me immediately back to the cottage.

I told Mr. Tom  Berlinger right up front that I could not remember every detail of that night. The remark: "I'm sure they
did something but I really don't know what, it was" was probably an offhand remark. To use that one remark out of a
three hour deposition, I consider to be most  underhanded.

During the three-hour deposition, only 10 to 15 minutes were recorded. Nearly everything I had to say about the
rape room and Tidwell was off the record, I  am assuming, since they did not have the recorder on. My deposition
was taken by Mr. Tom Berlinger.I found him to be most courteous and understanding during what was an emotional
and trying ordeal. I do not believe that Mr. Berlinger is the type of man that would have prepared this statement 
where my testimony was concerned. I believe it was done by somebody else in the  department. I also turned over a
copy of my database, unedited, a years worth of work, so as to help them in any manner in their investigation.

I cannot comment on the death in the laundry room section. I was not there at that  time.

FOUR DECADES OF BACTERIA, MOLD AND WATER
As to the White House, building  forensic analysis, I believe the rooms in which the  beatings occurred would have
been pressure washed long ago, when the beatings were stopped. One former inmate who visited the Dozier campus
after the Sealing of the Whitehouse Ceremony found there was at least 3" of water standing on the floor. He was told
this was the result of a rainstorm. Bacteria, Mold, of which was certainly present in the whitehouse building and,
combined with water, would possibly render any findings of blood residue nil. I would like to hear some other opinions
from forensic experts as to the water, mold, and passage of time issue.

BLOOD EVIDENCE WAS SEEN
From the St. Petersburg Times Oct 1, 2008
State Senate President Louis de la Parte

Blood was observed by the Florida Senate President: when the director of the state's reform school for boys in
Marianna was fired for whipping children, then reinstated by a powerful politician, Florida Senate President Louis
de la Parte drove to the school and found the blood-splattered shed where the abuse had occurred. Tampa
Bay Online - Oct 2, 2008

From the St. Petersburg Times Oct 1, 2008 (about Louis de la Parte)

His messages were sometimes unpopular, always sincere. Once, when legislation didn't go his way, he was quoted
saying this of the others: "I'm sorry that they feel in their hearts that this is the best we can do."

"He's (Louis de la Parte) one of the finest persons ever to serve in Florida government," said former Florida Gov.
Reubin Askew. "He was very bright, courageous, and fought often for causes that weren't otherwise popular. He was
really one of my all-time favorites in state government."

INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS

As to the last article entitled investigative findings: There was an area of  disagreement between the students as to
the severity of the beatings. This is white wash in its purest form, as they are putting the testimony of six men
against 294  men, which is certainly unbalanced. Some students stated that mentally they suffered no  harm, yet
others attest they suffered greatly, and do so to this day. The same  unbalanced view is presented in these
statements, six students, who suffered no harm  against the word of 294, who say they did suffer harm.

All in all, they did throw in a few negative facts in order to create a seemingly balanced  statement. However, the
extremely biased and self-serving report is a slap in the face to all of the men that suffered the beatings. Why has
Tidwell not been charged with abuse charges when there at least 100 men who will testify they were beaten
bloody by him? What is wrong with this justice system? How could the State of Florida ban whipping for hardened
adult convicts yet use it on children for 45 more years? What is wrong with this picture?

These reports are in no way going to impede our movement towards justice. Hopefully, if we do receive justice, it may
create a piece of legislature or change a law that will benefit children that are currently institutions. Even if we lose
legally much has happened that has had a positive effect. The abuse at Dozier has been cut down and abuse at
other institutions has declined as well as no other institution wants to find it's self under the same scrutiny as Dozier.
Daughters, sons, wives, sisters and brothers of some of the victims have found insight into why their dad or husband
acted as he did, was unable to express love or maintain a healthy relationship with his children or, in some cases,
abused them. Many have found relief and closure upon finally, after many years, discovering why their father
or husband was haunted by something he would not talk about. Most of the men I talked to, after the nationwide
news broke, had never mentioned Marianna......

The real driving force behind my journey to expose the truth at FSB is the fact that the  State of Florida banned the
flogging of male prisoners in 1922, yet let that punishment be doled out to children for the next 45 years. This
seems legally impossible, yet the statute of limitations and sovereign immunity stand like iron gates---refusing real
justice. Terrible things done to children in the dark and the guilty walks free.

I cannot understand how the State of Florida or the people of Florida, or the Government of Florida could let this go
on for as long as  it did. It's simply flies in the face of reason and morality. The children of Florida, even in that time
period, did not deserve this abuse. I was there in 1963, Kennedy was in office,  it was an enlightened age yet
children in this era were treated no better than slaves in the 1800's, imprisoned and flogged without mercy, hidden
from sight in a small Florida panhandle town. The boys just called it Marianna. Since the State has failed to render
justice in any manner it is left to us to continue the fight. There has been talk of closing the school, yet no one
seems to grasp the obvious: Remove the children and replace them with adults. Adults have more rights than
children. No jobs would be lost. Children do not need to be confined in an institution with an abuse record that rivals
any in the whole of the United States.

                                    THE WHIP IS IN OUR HANDS NOW