The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-11-02

he posIiively denird the knowledge OF any
such person. His wife, a coarse, peck
marked, snub nosed woman, with loud,
masculine voice, also declared that no ie
male answering TO that ns'ee had been within
the house. L-remarEe that no cred.
II was to be attached to their asse rilons, and
he ordered them to lead the way TO the
search.
IL would occupy too much space TO de-
scribe mlnutely the nature Of the pe rsous
and events that we encountered IN our
rounds. Suffice to say, VIZ suon discovered
that the suspicious OF the police officer and
the magistrate barely reached the uulh.-
farfells establishment had no connection
with auy religious house, nor could We DIS.
cover either monk, frIar, nun, or DovIce IN
any OF the cells. But the name vas good
cloak for the yllalnous usages practised IN
the house, as II d,sarned suspicion, and pre-.
vented the Interference OF the police. The
house IN reality was a private mad house,
but subject TO the foultsi abuses .ives who
we're tired OF their husbands, aud wee versa,
repiobaie sons wishing to dispose OF fathers
or villains who wanted TO remove their
rivals, either ~ love or wealth, could secure
safe lod.l lDgs for the obnoxious parsonage IN
Farrelfs Farm, as II was lerIGed by the
knowing few. Farrell could always obtain
certificate OF the lunacy Of the person TO
be- removed; Mares had been bred to the
pcs,le aud the mortar and as the law then
stood, an apdhecary signature was sutii
cieut authority for linmurmg a suspected
person. incurables Of the worst dcscrlp.
n"n, were received BY Farrell, and bsard,
I'd al the lowest rate. he generally con
trscled Tor SUN down, guaranteeing that
their friends should never again be troubled
| bS them-snd, as the inlurmcr SAID, {" He
gave them lllle enough To eat, and II they
did no, die, II wasn't hls taui.'
The house Vas also appropriated to other
| purposes OF secresy aud crime. Ladies 10
. dellcate situation we're accommodated
| Nth private rooms for their accodchemeni
,nd the children etfectually provided lnt.-
tugttises from justice were sure OF conceal
uent, II they couid obtain admission to the
farm. Ia short, fartel's duors although
closed 10 tie world aud the eve of the law,
Sere open TO all Who could afford 10 pay, or
be- paid tut-irom the titled saducer aud his
yiclim, whose ruin was 1T cted an the eIe.
sanI suite Of rooms fronting the lane--lo
! the uuica-' bediamile, the refuse uf she poor.
hpusr and the asS lufn. sho ~as condemned
to SLOW, bu, certain death 10 the secret
cells Of thus horrible abode.
Ii would oil volume TO recount the bis
| tors uf the sufferers ~ hom We released from
he almUs, hupeiess tmpnsonment--a vol.
ume OF crime, Of suffering and of sorrow.
Aiier painful and ituiiless search thro'
the various fnoms, cells, ana hiding places
81 that singular house, We we're Compelled
to acknowledge that the assertions ol the
under keeper and his site were but too cor
rect Mary Lobens,esn vas 90, among the
number OF those detained, mar could We dis
cover the slightes, trace OF her. Still Z
chung 10 the hope that 10 the confusion ne
cessafiy attending our first search. ee had
PASSED over some sccre, cell or dungeon 10
shlch the poor girl was lmmured. l he
square stone building IN the centre OF the
garden afforded some ground for this sur
mise I'VE were unable 10 open the small
iron banded door that was fixed IN the side
Of this apparently solid structure. The un.
der keeper declared tina, the key WAS al
ways IN the possession at Farrell his prln.
c,pal and that no one entered the place but
| Mares aud his master. He was no, aware
/ that any person was ever confined 10 It
a spring OF water dubbed up within the
buildiug, and he believed that Farrell used
It as a vine cellar only. Tie had seen wine
carried 10 and out Of The place. Indeed,
the whole appearance of the building cor.
| roborated the man's statement there was
10 window, aic hole, or aperture OF any de
scupton, excepting the small door before
mentioned and the contracted SIZE OF the
place itself prevented the possibility of lis
containing hiding hole for human be.
ing, IT a well or spring occupied the area
as the keeper affirmed.
Reslguing this last hope of finding the
poor glfl, we gave our assistance 10 the
magistrate ~ removing the prisoners and
placing The unortunates whom we had re-.
leased, IN temporary but appropriate abodes.
In thn service, the under keeper and his
wife proved valuable au,,ares, IN pointing
out the lncurable mad folks, and those who
"a hts opinion, had been unlnsily detained,
The prisoners sere placed N our carriage,
and conve,ed Ia London. under the superin
tendrnce oil L--h,msclf, who promised TO
return during the evening with additional
assistance The policeman was despatched