The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-15
THE VIEW FIELD or THE GOSPEL.
Friusins Wide Open tho Gates Of the Pris-
ons-Jsdae Inaraham Hcsitatina over
Ingenious Lawyers Quibbles-Cstholi-
clam ncrsna CnfhnIicism rnIn.

ons-Jsdae Inaraham Hcsitatina over
Ingenious Lawyers Quibbler-Cstholi-
cism versus Catholicism Again.
The case Of Laura Woodruff, the young girl
who was sent by Police Justice Coulter 70 the
House Of the Good Shepherd for one year, was
again before judge Ingraham yesterday. On the
first hearing on tue writ OF hdbsds corpus, her dis
charge was asked for on the ground that the com
nitrnent was Illegal, in being for more than six
months. After two adjournments, q writ Of Ger
tiordri was also procured for the purpose Of show
Ing that the gir bad not been properly committed.
The law allows Police Justices to commit girls not
previously convicted Of crime accused OF disordory
conduct or who confess that they have fallen from
virtue, to the House of the Good Shepherd, WHEN
they request to DO sent there, in preference to
Backwell's Island.
Laura, who had hitherto borne good character
was arrested for improper conduct while attend ing
q picnic. The only return made to the writ OF
certiordri was the an,iavit OF tho policeman who
made the arrest and the commitment.
Mr.. c. g. Spencer. counsel for the accused. claim
ed that sho had consented to 60 to the House
of the Good Shepherd, and that the return papers
established that fact He claimed also that as the
Institution In Catholic. while Laura Is Protestant,
she should not have been seut there. TIE Legisla-
ture, he said, hal no right to enter upon the work
Of propagandism by irving power 70 com
tga 'I ane S, o, their Swn religious
faith. This young girl, he contended, had had no
examination whatever into the charge AGAINST ier,
and when she was committed merely upon the police
mans afidavit, she had no knowledge what action
had been tnken, or where she was TO be sent. The
law guar ded summary convictions OF that character
very Jealously and no Judge snoufi have the power
to deprive q girl OF her liberty for year upon her
supposed consent without having that consent In
writing.
JUDGE Ingralinm decided that the Legislature gave
to Judges the power to send young women under
such circumstances to the House OF the Good Shep-
herd, with their consent whatever their religious
faith and such consent not required TO be in
writing. IL might be given orally.
Mr.. Spencer proposed that the girl be sworn upon
that point: but Judge Ingraham adjourned the hear
ing until this morning with the view OF obtaining
Judge Coultcr's version OF the case.
The similar case Of Kate Marsh was also passed
upon by Judge Ingrahsm. Kate, girl OF twelve,
aud ia Campbell,a grown woman, were indicted Tor
assisting a mm in n brutal aSssult upon another
woman. Ida was convicted, and sent TO sing Sing
for i've years. and the man was sentenced for ten
ten years. Kate sent to the House OF the
Good Shepherd for three years.
1t s now claimed upon wr1ts OF hdoeds corpp and
certiOrOfi that she not convicted and did not
plead guilty OF the offence and did not consent 70 go
to the house " the Good Shepherd.
Assistant Disirict-AttOrney Blunt said that he
heard her confess to Judge Bedford that she helped
In the OUTRAGE, and on his asSing Tier whether sne
would prefer going to the House OF tho Good Shep-
herd Instead OF State prison, she answered affirm
atiyey. Tho bearing was adjourned, judge Bedford
meantime to be consulted.