New-York tribune., 1867-08-03
THE PATERSON ALMS-HOUSE.

VISIT TO THE INSTITUTIOE-THE INVESTIGATION
LAST EVENING.
The New-Jersey Alms-HOuse about which
there has been of late much criticism Is about three
miles from Paterson. Our reporter was shown through
the establishment few days ago, by Mr. Isaac Sgler
the keeper The AlmsH House consists OF two buildings,
with pleasant surroundings of number Of acres. The
visitor has to cross the bridge TO arrive at the place.
which is situated on hill Of emincnce. The prin-
cipal building is occupied IN the front part by MT Sger
surrendered to the use Of the inmates There is smaller
brCk building IN the rear IN which number OF patients
are also confined The front building is hardly worthy OF
notice. The rear building contains the famous Ahc
room in which patients are said TO have been starved
object TO- II offered him IN hOtel Inc Wals anu nOo %
covered with zinc and the furniture Is exceedingly
scanty When reporter visited It, the sole occupant
ready tear out the eyes of any person who spoke to
and il is needless say that reporter did not un
necessarily address her number OF idiots and insane
and the establishment in front there about Of
ground portion OF which is the playground ioI the
oiined to play do anything else. Nearly all OF them
idiots they seemed 10 prefer mopng and sitting, ana
doing nothing In the OF the main house were sit
ting and lOungng number OF insane and helpless crea
lures of and all They were IN the usual
meek and kind When the beeper spoke TO them, they
were either kindly and pleasant in their replies or silent
The general httngup OF the place is good some OF the
more degraded lunatics sleep straw which is washed
and cleaned from dayb9dey They have curious Is IN
moi see the patients at their meals but they made
complaint on the of food The keeper says that he
never struck one OF the inmates unless II seemed 10 him
necessary When required to put one Of them DacS
into his or her, CELL he sometimes IN ssldefense TOOK
stick or whip and used 1t when required. -
The investigation which taking place. Is instituted py
Committee of the City Council and their names ar. are
Samuel r. Dean Charles Z. Gurnel, Ezra Osborne VII,
liam s. AtchsOn. John O'Bren Mr. S. Tutte is counsel
for the accused and MT John Barkaow City Solicitor
The investigation continued last evening, and the
testimony of John X Flood was taken, substantially as
was at the Ams-House years the imates had cof
fee and rye butter for breakfast Tor dinner for
four days IN the they had pork potatoes and dry
bread; and two days they had fish, am speaking now
for the grown persons table, the children had no meat
on Sunday at dinner they had fresh meat; while
l was there the children in the schooroom
were kept warm for / kept the room warm;
the clothing In both rooms poor and scanty;
l Mrs. BrOphy, who was confined indoors by fever
and out In the back yard IN warm weather sger or
dered her iD aud her feyerlsh condition she pad at
tentiOn he then went out and whipped her IN and se
went IN and to bed ana II about Iour days sne
died; / Abm. KershOw whipped or rather caned Oy
siger with walking cane saw nm WHIPPED % AZ oIner @
way Silly, and walks quietly about al the tlme'
and for this movement siger would KCk @ mn MN
have seen him kicked for not cutting sulhceht Wood
have seen Bridget Kensly whipped with strap f3I tax
about have known Elza Do3ey 70 be iepeate9ly
whipped with strap, and also with SUCK u wac Tor
talking wildly: have known her 20 be locked up IN the
znz room day and night knew Kitty Potter little
crippled girl II IS years OF age, 10 be stripped entirely
think she got any food went 70 the prison III e Ater
noon after my return heard noise and thought
crOuched up a corner. and spoke % sgler about H.
and he consented 10 let her out; have seen sger whip
children very severely with straps and sticks have seen
them whipped for crossing imaginary line II the CHI
dren went out of the path on their way TO the school
house whipped the treatment OF the sick was
bad-they mad not proper attention. those not dressed
warmly did not much To take exercise shoes
furnished the first winter there In November. and
the winter IL very near Christmas when they
got them EnOoh Weller Is an old man, about IS year OF
age MT Sigef Is about IS he had heavy boots on; he
kicked the old four or five times for not cutting
enough wood; Mr.. Kershaw an insane man;
the cane he was beaton with was at least an inch
in diameter; the lookup IN which Bridget kemley
was locked up had no bed II was an empty
room, and had no chamber or anything Whatever;
KittiA Potter, the crippled girl good, quiet child;
the where abe locked naked was the same
ROOM nothing In H. and dark when the doors were smut
did not see Styles strip her but him take her IN
and shut the door, and he came out with her
clothing in his hand, and locked the door with
her locked In; she helpless in her legs;
room and when got home found him III fit; told
sigleT he would die before morning, and onght
care but Siger would not have anything done
and in my condition could not attend hm, and IN the
morning | found him dead; Thomas Van Horn also
found dead he had nobody TO attend him. gave him all
the attention could he died at night he had no light az
night; also knew Andrew Hamilton, whom also found
dead the morning. don't think any physician called 70 see
him he sick only four five days he had no one 10
night; have seen Mrs Whitaker pull the hair OF Mrs
Lehe the insane German and then get her whipped by
Siger with a cane: COrOneT's inquest was ever hed
there dead persons while was there; the butter
was rancid "a sort Of under keeper by direction OF
Sigler