The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-11
A .HABBAS CORPUS.
Ths Right OF Father 60 ImprisOn hts
paug hIer In q ReHoKmAtorY InstiGu-

paUs hIer In a RefoxmAIOrY InstiEu-
tioB.
From ne ". Y. Times Of this morning.
The People of the State of New York In the
matter OF the Proceedings by dabeas Corpus in
behalf of Mary Ann 5mith.-The particulars OF
this case are somewhat peculiar, and wlJnal In
teresting-so much so that we will briefly re-
capitulaie. Mary Ann smith is a motherless
girl, aged now about 10 years. at the instance
OF her Iather she was some time ago placed In
the custody of the Sisters" at the House OF
the Good shepherd, q reformatory Institution.
located on the upper part of this island.
For some months prior To her arrest and In
she was living in a quiet way, with a most re-
spectsoie family, In the city Of Newark, n; J.
motber was d ior to her death does not appeal. .
A short time ago. and while In the family at
New,rB Mary Ann became strongly impressed
with the idea that The Roman Catholic Is not
the true faith. She therefore abandoned 1t and
jointd a MetL odist Church. Affidavits made by
her friends show that Tor months prior to her
admission TO the Methodist Church her CON.
duet was most exemplary, and that her char
acter was EB good as that of any In the Church.
On the oher hand her father-who seems by
the way in which he swears, to have more sym
p5terSins,s,s tnat she 10 dtsnosed i to he q
BAD girl. That she has become so headstrong
and wsyward that he has no longer any control
oven her. That his only motive In causing her
incal ceration In the institution known as the
HOuse of the Good Shepherd. was to restrain
fallen while among the MethodIsts. That
1t was his most earnest aud heartfelt
grow up to be an accomplished ami edu-
Gated lady, and useful and respected
member of society. He was sure she could not
become sucn, however, so long as she was
allowed to go unresIratned by tue family with
whom she lived. She had, he said, left the true
church.. She had Joined the MeChodists Be-
sides this the father said bis daughter had been
guilty Cf most unbecoming &C IS with young
men. For these reasons he sought TO have her
imprisoned In the House of the Good Shepherd
During the Investigation IL transpired tn at this
House Cf the Good Shepherd is q very pecu-
liar institution. There Is first depart
ment, which may be termed the voluntary de-
paftmeIt Girls and young ladies go there of
their own choice. or are sent thither by their
parents or guardians for the purpose of OBJ.
taiping good education. In other words
II Is convent so far as The training of youthful
females Is concerned, and none of the other sex
are taken into the institution. In another de-
partment young females are taken, as 1t were
on probation, but In the third class they are
taken in rs If 1t were place of punish ment-
this is termed the reformatory department
The idea is to punish young women, and at the
same time reform them If postiole. What are
the rules, regulations, penances, punis hmen ts
etc., as pracIlced in the third department of the
House of the Good Shepherd upon the young
lady inns tes thereof, did not transpire upon
the nearing before The Court.
After full invtstig ,ttOn OF the case and after
argument by cou nsel, JudSe Sutherland yes
terday made The following decision:-This is a
very EN- oarrassing case, and is not free from
doubts, but upon the whole l think the writ
must be dismissed, and the prisoner, Mary Ann
Smith, remanded to the custody of the House
Of the Good Shepherd.
The girl was thereupon taken out of court,
evidently In very distressed state Of mind. 1t
Is not pI Obable that q of this nature will be
allowed o rest where 1t Is.