04/27/2026
Not All The Superintendents Were Bad ---
"Many people may think that the Preston School of Industry was just a dark, evil place where boys were abused and even tortured. Others might think the place was no different than any other reform school. In reality, it was simply somewhere in between.
You see, the school was a place for wayward boys who were either orphaned, abandoned, incorrigible and/or criminals in order to straighten them out with (A) Discipline, (B) Education and (C ) learning a Trade to help them be self sufficient model citizens of society upon their release. Some of the kids and young men sent there were bad apples, while others not so much.
Unfortunately, when thrown into a place together, many left the school worse than they were when they had originally arrived. Still, there were a lot of wards who came out of Preston and made decent lives for themselves, such as the case of Robert Byrd or Art Rodriguez, as mentioned in my earlier book, “Behind The Walls.”
At times throughout the school’s history, there were people in charge who allowed the power to go to their heads, and wound up doing some very bad things. There were also good people who worked hard and tried to help the boys as well.
The first Superintendent, E. Carl Bank, was accused of mistreatment only after he fired some of his employees at the school. At the time there really wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case, so nothing was done. Bank was booted out of his position in favor of Edward Stephen O’Brien, for sheer political reasons, leaving many to wonder if the accusations of mistreatment were just a farce to soil his reputation. Another thing to note is that Bank was asked to come back to Preston 25 years later to act as Superintendent again, which he obliged; However, he was forced to resign once more. This time it was after the subject of his approval of corporal punishment was brought up at the school. I think it is safe to say that although Bank was truly interested in helping the wards at Preston, he was also a firm believer in physical discipline, which had been abolished prior to him returning to the school.
Unfortunately, the vivid stories of horrific abuse and mistreatment truly began with the second Superintendent, Dr. Edward Stephen O’Brien. Ruling with an iron fist, his reputation was so harsh that the school earned it’s nickname, “The Preston School of Scandal.” His documented methods of torture and abuse was unfathomable, making his role at Preston, not that of just a Superintendent, but that of a tyrant as well.
Even after several affidavits to the authorities, not only from wards but from staff and doctors who had a good standing in the community, nothing seemed to happen. Even the Governor himself couldn’t touch O’Brien. It seemed he had some friends in really high places, which kept him out of reach for any sort of disciplinary action. Eventually though, the media attention must have got the better of O’Brien, so he resigned from his position, but not before threatening everyone that if he was continually smeared any further in the papers, that he would sue them. Dr. Stephen O’Brien died in 1934, and was buried at the Merced Cemetery District, in Merced County, California. His grave is located in the Masonic Section of the cemetery in the Leeson-O’Brien plot.
The next Superintendent to take on the job was D. S. Hirshberg. His time at Preston, January 1, 1898 to December 15, 1900, was not without its share of scandals. On his watch, there was the ingenious escape of Robert Byrd, and also the death of Joseph Morgan, a ward who was killed while attempting to escape. Those events alone brought so much unwanted attention, along with Hirshberg’s open view of corporal punishment, making it necessary for him to resign his post and pass the torch to yet another Superintendent.
C.B. Riddick entered the scene on December 16, 1900. During Riddick’s time at Preston, there was only one reported death of a ward, June 24, 1902. The young man’s name was John Lawne, and his cause of death was reported in the Biennial Reports as tuberculosis. The feat that Riddick managed to hold down his post at Preston for nearly four years without any sort of scandal was impressive, given the reputation of his predecessors. The Amador Ledger spoke of this accomplishment in an article mentioning Riddick’s resignation in 1903.
“Superintendent Riddick Resigns—The San Francisco Chronicle says that J.B. [SIC] Riddick, who for the past four years has filled the responsible position of Superintendent of the Preston Reform school at Ione, has sent in his resignation, to take effect in December next. With many who desire the welfare of the institution, this action on the part of the Superintendent will be regretted. The place is an arduous one; not every good man can manage a reformatory of this kind with credit. It must be admitted that under Dr. Riddick’s care the school has been free from the rumors of scandal and mismanagement that have been marked in previous years. The boys have been contented and happy; the attempts to escape have been few. That he has not pleased everyone is not to be wondered at. That feat is beyond human accomplishment. Public interests will be well served if his successor proves as capable and efficient in the management of the school as the retiring Superintendent has proved himself.”—- Amador Ledger, September 25, 1903.
After reading the Biennial Reports, it was easy to see that Superintendent Riddick was a good man who was trying his best to run the school as best he could. His wife even assisted him as the school “Matron,” helping in various departments such as the school library. With the aid of boys that she trained herself, Mrs. Riddick was able to rehabilitate the library and get it back to perfect working order. Over 300 books were repaired and “made as almost as good as new.”
Superintendent Riddick was also very proud of his cadets, mentioning what a fantastic band they had come to have, twenty-five boys in all, and that “the State may well be proud of them and their music.” He didn’t stop with his compliments, giving them out to various staff members such as George Drew, Carpenter; Mr. Ashton, Blacksmith; Miss Hill, Laundry Matron, and the managing staff of the commissary. Most of all he was proud of the successful military instruction at the school.
“I take much pride in calling your attention to the fact this this is now a military school (what the State intended when it organized it), so far as thorough military instruction can make it so. Colonel J. S. Austin, a graduate of a military academy and commandment of cadets, has inspired the boys with great fondness for their drill. Strict attention is given to their carriage, their dress, their habits of neatness and physical exercises. The Preston School has a well-drilled corps of cadets up-to-date in every respect.”--
Cornelius B. Riddick passed away on January 5, 1919, and was buried beside his wife, Lizzie, at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego, California."-----
From the book, "If These Walls Could Talk: More Preston Castle History," by J'aime Rubio (Copyright 2017)
