New-York tribune., 1867-07-31
THE PETERSON ALMS.H0GSE.

WHAT TIE PATERSON PEOPLE THTNK-THr IN
vEsTIGATIoN DEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS
YESFERDAY-TEsTIMONY OF MRS. MURRAY
The investigation of the Paterson Alms-House
case resumed last evening in the Paterson CITY Han
MI. Dean ia the chair large number OF people were
present. The first witness was
Sarah Jane Murray, sworn-she was an inmate OF the
she saw Mr.. sgler whip Eliza Dooley with stick ana
strap, hrst and last time was there; was aoseln sent
after leaving first time two years ana 1OtT
months ! left two years ago last hrTn; saw saw
MI slger whip Eliza Dooloy about one dozen m9e seS
the stick was rattan about thick as mans nnget
the strap was large which he used TO wIlp the
he whipped the woman for S at all hOas
Eliza Dooley was an insane woman sometimes sne
fame. sometimes foolish never her violent; never
saw her resist Mr Sigler; the management OF tho As
House while / was there was generally well enough;
generally got enough food nddng quality; plenty OF
IT; was never oyerworkedi the house was wen
Yes-Mrs Leah, German woman, with cane. the came
used before because she would not change her clothing
and because she would not let Mrs. Whitaker cut her
hair she was insane her filthy In her person;
him whip Mrs. Leah about dozen times altogether
knew a woman named Nancy Doyle; deranged; never
saw Mr. Sigler whip her she appeared TO be
comfortable there; knew Mary Ann Wilson. who
insane, and sometimes violent; 1t was necessary
TO keep her in confinement; she kept the "zinc
RoOm called because It was foored with zinc; she
wire lattice Il heated in Winter, from furnace from
below. but was not warm; some one was appointed
taken out 20 the air; did know named Abraham
Kershaw mover know hr siglcr to whip him; Knew
also Ella Brophy who was whipped oy sger at one te
for trying TO and again for refusing 70 change
her clothes; first time he whipped her with stick and
then with q belonging to one OF the mem she was
insane; there but little while children were WHIP
Begs 'Ve we're Whipped by siser; don't know Of any
line for crossing which children were whipped uuht see
woman who was frozen to death for want Of covering
December two years ago; her nane was Betsy hresin
Bridget CanSy, Who had no moro covering; never saw
the sick get any better treatment than the wei
sep gy chden y Children are st there at the Aims
House. know child there named Kitty Potter who was
but saw him stop her from her meals
breakfast. think when she got nothing;
house treatment told Nr. sgler that believed Besey
Froeland frozo to death; he said Tut tut woman you
Brop6y died on Thursday sgcr whipped her sunday
when her health was moro favorable than
Siua WSen AIR" 4Pst went to the Aims House Mr. sgler
required TO wash clothes, when my hands were ut
for tho work from rheumatism; Kitty Potter was crip
Die; she could move around when was there have seen
Mrs Whitaker tantaze Mrs Leah and then induce Mr.
taazng; saw the boys backs after they were beaten
they were bloody and In luEps o,,.,, ,,o..o,,
died and we got OF another dirty handful hay mt
wet "Yes he said that" Have seen other ohildren 90
See my children saying that bad woman, and THAT
never married have been married 1 nave ave
arms havo known her to be shut up in dark cellar;
could hear from my room the cries from Eliza Dooleyi
hand; he said l was able TO work. and he made
me- work; the cellar iii which Eliza Dooley
WAS confined was an inside cellar she was
Kept there oil day and all night, l believe
Betsy Freoland In very bad condition IN hcf room
duri1 tbe Winter she lay In bundle OF straw In the
corner looked miserable hlthy and dirty; had nothing
on her - dress and chemisc and no shoes nor
sockngs this In December; the room was very badly
heated Il was extremely cold which she complained or
the weather remained the the night she died. the
weather was cold enough to freeze well person she
complained OF cold Ia the daytmei don't think the stfaW
on her bed was changed as often "a once week ,
In answer questions OF the counsel for DEFENSE the
witness sald ,,,., m,
think the keeper of the almshouse could maintain dis
oipue In tho almshouso without rosOrting % severe
measures sometimes it IA necessary to use discipline TO
maintain order.
q. IN what cases, I'm your Judgment A. Sometimes
they are stubborn. but not at all times.
q. when Mr. Siger whipped them did they thon OBEY
hirni A. Yes. Sir
q. Did Mn. Whitaker take care of Mrs. Leherf a.
guess no one took Of her lLaughtorD Mrs Leher
took her meals separate from other people, MT sgler
placing her food before her her clothes were washed
so kept her person reasonably clean saw slger whlp
people about two years hrst told people mat
had seen people whipped last Friday then told II to
Mr.. yandcrhoyen and Mr Burke Sigler would ask
patients to do something only once or twice before ne
would commence ~ whip them never knew OF Mrs.
Inher attacking Mr.. Siger or using violence never
knew OF her biting him Mr. sger put my children
on q diet OF two crackers and water per dav {;
No inquest was held on Betsy Freoand This was the
only witness examined last night The investigation ad
IOurned 10 meet this evening at = o'clock.