The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-27
JUSTICE FOR THE ORPHAN.

JUSTICE FOR THE ORPHAN.
Randall's Island Crueltics Revived I'm
Jersey-A Peep Into the soldiers' Chilli
dren's Home-A Boy Six Years Old
dashed with q Dog Whip-The Keeper
Committed for Trial.
case was brought before Justice Duer, at TrenA.
ton, yesterday which recalls the Randas Island
cruelties, and which will lead to an Investigations
into the management of the Soldiers Children'ss
Home an institution under the supervision and
control of the State OF New Jersey.
The complainant was Mayor West, OF Chambers.
burg, and the defendant Holmes Probasco, one of
the officers of the institution just mentioned. Pre-
basco was charged with cruelty to one of the in
mates, Merrick Arundale, a lad only six years of
age.
Mayor West said that on Tuesday last he waa
working In a cellar, near the Home, and heard a.
great screaming from the children. went out to-
try to see what ii was, and heard the sound OF
heavy whipping with a lash. 1 got up on the
fence, and then I saw Probasco whipping a,
small boy numerically with q dog whps
The boy had not anything but his shirt
and pants was off about two hundred yards
when heard the screaming. Several other boys
were screaming. Some time ago Mrs. Dayton came
to my house and urged me to send police Officer
to look after the place. Mrs Dayton said that the
domestcs were out at all hours receiving company.
The female dOmestcs were in the habit of going tO
lager beer saloon kept by man named Moran. 1
did send police officer to watch and he reported
10 me that he did visitors there hanging rOund,i
but as they did not make any noise he did not
arrest them. have heard OF punshments before,
being inflicted, and complaints have frequently
George Caldwell testified that he heard the whip.
ping and the screams; he was about two hundred
yards OF when he heard the blows.
The witnesses were crOSs-eXamfned by General
E. L. Campbell, who represented the Institution.
the stand and Il am employed in the nsti-
tuition, and have been so for three years and three
Of the boys when they are out Of school; he is q
steward, and his duty is to mind the boys wheY
they are in the grounds the matro ON n 4s
have been few instances Of punishment By
the children are utterly depraved; !, think there
are ia Children this boys name is Merrick Arun1
viii scream before he is touched; he has screamed
at the dinner table, been taken out, anu them
turned somersaults afterwards; he has been caught
have been made against him By Mr.. Chambers and
ted to go out without consent and have not known
them to frequent lager beer saloons, told to Mr..
West; Probasco gets his orders from the lady man.
Mayor West here interposed, and said that the
children are permitted to run about Just as they
let's them about and get into mischief, the pun
ishment should be visited upon him, and not upon
In reply to the Court the witness said The
regulations have not been printed since they were
Of the State; the right to punish Is given orally by
the Board OF Managers; they generally give us IN.
e and n
house is managed by the House Committee.
Holmes Probasco, the defendant, testifed-A com.
plant was made on Monday morning that the locks
OF the base bali ground had been broken; on MOny
day evening the boy Arundale was out until sever
and after that the boy went away again; Mrs.
Campbell went out and hunted all around for him,
promised I to give him a' switching and think
took the whip and struck it across my boot legs4
so as to scare him; gave him three or four
cuts and then Mr.. West came up; may have Whipx
ped others at other times; 1 could not control
them without Furnishing them; I have tried milo
measures and every way to control them; it is not
Mayor West gave rebutting testm6ny:-I heard
and he struck one blow after got 70 the fence and
after got the top Of the fence; the children
were screaming out and were scared;. wonld
not whip dog IN such way az he whips
ped that child; If ! had child at that institution
should take 1t away directly; think the State
seek to control children IN such way; 1t was out-
rageOus; this gentleman and lady here were down.
they pleased, and they were coming up with their
pockets filled with apples and other fruit; the chill
dren were permitted to commit depredationsi
while these persons, who had charge q them, re-
NAMED down in the Swamp.
Mr. PrObascO was recalled and he testified that
four persons had charge Of the boys; he admitted
the going out complained Of but it was little ex-
ceptiOn.
General Campbell, on the part of the institution,
said that the children wards OF the State, and
just it necessary for father to correct his
Children so was it necessary those children should
be corrected. He commended that there had NOT
been punishment that was not necessary. While
he gave Mayor West credit for the best ntentionsy
yet, instead OF pursuing the course he had DONE in
causing the arrest OF PrObasco he should have
made a direct complaint to the Lady Board of MAN.
ayers, who, with that kindness and efficiency which
always mark their conduct, would have caused an
inquiry to be made.
Mayor West replied that the Institution did not
appear to be properly managed There must be-
blame somewhere, as the children are dirty and
ragged unless at such times they are fixed up'f
for going out or to be inspected.
Justice Duer--It seems to me- from the facts ad-
duced that the institution is not properly managed.
think there is sufficient case to 60 to Court, and
shall hold Mr.. ProbascO in the sum of $500 TO an
swer there the charge preferred Of having cruelty
beaten the boy named