The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-07
THE CHILDREN'S FOLD.

HIS cRUELry-HE DEFENDS THE MANAox-
MENT-sPEcIFIcATIoNs CITED, EXPLAINED
AND DECLARED UNTRUE.
New YORK, March 1, 1877
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Several articles recently appeared in the HERALD in
disparagement OF tho Children's Fold and OF myself
II seemed 20 me that the character and position which
had maintained In this city for fourteen years ought
10 outweigh any vague and unauthenticated accusa-
lions, especially as It stated that the New York
committee Of the State Board OF Charities would soon
prefer specific charges against mo- felt that might
reasonably hold my peace till confronted with
Official accuscr Alter waiting forty days and forty
nights, now learn that charges whatever have
been preferred against me to that Board.
The Fold Is correctly represented TO be semi-pub.
NC institution, and as the HERALD says, "the public
have right TO know how II is managed" As trus.
tee have never approved OF the policy OF silence.
and now ask tho privilege to defend the Fold and
myself in the columns which contained the orig
inal animadversions The charge that ever treated
the children crucly, permitted them to be treated
cruelty by othcrs s utterly false Most of the OF
alleged cruelty have ian ancient and nshlike SMELL
The first in tho order Of Is that OF Johnny Mills
boy Of eleven years, whose younger sister, Jenny is
reported have said that about 1--WE years ago struck
him on the head with boot, causing the blood to
aow The truth 10 never struck this or any other
child with boot; was the boy ever
''besten black and blue" by me- Johnny makes no
such charge Jenny herself does not pretend to have
seen him struck Nor does anybody else. He has two
older sisters neither Of whom has before spoken
of this alleged Mono OF the ladies then In
charge OF the institution of the children who
were J0hnny's companions ever before heard OF 1t.
But similar charge IN relation to the same boy was
Leake and Watts Asylum, from which he had run
away. Moresver, he was then prone to encounters
with other boys, and occasionally met with severe
defeats.
In June, 1875, Robert Mcbride boy Of thirteen
years. is reported to have been secretly kidnapped"
~ me, that his father, has not since found him.
The facts are theseAite taking good care OF Robert
At the Fold for three years found excellent
place Tor him private family within twenty miles
Of this CITY, He is glad to be there, and they are
glad to have him, and he is learning good business
The father has not been informed Of his place OF abode
because he IS a man OF very "mixed' habits, and
Robert fears that If his father found him he would BIO
PEELED work for hts athers support without oppor
tunity of Improvement. Several other trustees know
Roberts sister, Fanny. has been informed where
hc Is, because he tears that II she knew she might
'prate OF his whereabouts" TO his father. Near this
time as Fanny Mcbride Is reported to have said Min
ME ST James, girl Of thirteen years, was ''kcked
and beaien by me. But nobody else says anything OF
the kind. Minnie herself denies it. II il entirely also
and s unsupported by any other witncss. Fanny has
'eccn.y Said IN allusion to these charges INothng
81 this would have occurred nothing would have boon
sad, but for my brother being sent away without
father or knowing where he Is.
Katie NcCurdy was named in the HERALD saying
Mat Johnny Campbell and Charlie Fox beaten
BLACK and blue" BY me- They both deny having
,cen thus maltreated, and Katie denies having said
Acrlde deny several Of the stories ascribed 10 them
by tho newspapers According TO another report
10y u m
was no hanging at oil in the case. The boy was not
lifted from his feet of the floor. He was merely
restaned OF full liberty by small packing cord,
end of which TIED around his waist who tho other
fastened to the gas fixture In his dormitory.
Charlie himself says he 'was hurt at all by II,
only kept standing around place for WHILE" Ii
was womanly way oil punishng boy and prevent.
ing him from running out hall dressed to buy candy.
Peter Meyer John Campbell jerome Luthod, Bessie
Lawrence and others VINO saw him attest tho truth Of
This statement.
was formerly employed as head nurse, and who was
dismissed for neglect Of duty started the story that in
kicked down stairs by me- Lilly herself denies it,
Tho only person who prctcnds to any knowledge Of
TINS discarded nurse me only OASIS Tor the iase
stairs as many child has done elsewhere No act of
anybody caused the fall II was pure accident, and
hot In tine least serious In its consequences. Mrs.
Louisa Myers and her daughter present when this
child fell and have personal knowledge OF those iacs
Fold
Perhaps the most atrocious case Of all is that OF
Fannie MoCurdy yet thirteen years OF age and
years the old Her affidavit states the facts
rectly, as iollows-
''Once had wet the bed early in the evening, and
been told that Mr. Cowley also came up and slapped
mo, but that not He In the all,
aud had nothing 10 do with shaping was slapped
) few times; that was all Tue only time besides this
when was punished was two summers ago, IN the
common room waSn mr. Cowey ,ef hn.S me WIN
ieruc struck my face under the right eye l not
cut. This an accident" One case more remains
Lizzie Hunter child OF ten years, whose tongue
said have been burned by me with rcd hot poker.
Nothing Of the kind ever occurred at the Fold. No
one ever heard OF till June 1876, long after it was
Iaid TO have occurred Lizzie Hunter herself denies
ette."
Il is to be noted that none of the subjects OF the
alleged cruetIes lend any countenance support to
the acknowledgements one. From Tho whole muster
bear witness against Numerous afdavts and other
statements have been made TO counsel by the chap
lam independently OF mel with reference to certain
legal proceedings now under contemplation.
In marked contrast with tho report OF her statement
in newspapers, jenny Mills says under oath, Mrs
Cowley always kind; SO were my teachers. She
Ii kind lady," And in striking opposition to her al
legged statements, touching the providence OF sores,
arising from bad food she says rhe children have al
ways been healthy since have been In the Fold,
(seven years.; remarkably SO. Mr.. aud Mrs Cowley
have always ocen careful not TO let them expose them
selves. don't think they were punished when they
did not deserve it,"
Katie McCurdy. who has been five years in the Fold,
vays ~ never knew the inmates oil the Fold suffer,
In any instance, for want of food, sufficient food, and
rood food for want OF sufficient clothing The in
OF the Fold have generally been healthy happy,
sontcnted set of children, attached TO the Fold and
we'll cared for in every respect and kindly treated"
The following statement OF fifteen OF the children
ypeaks Tor itself.-"We whose names hereto sub
cribed hereby certify that wo are Of tho ages and
have lived the ChlIdrens Fold the number Of years
be. against our several names We have neither OF US
ever heard any complaint that Mr.. Mrs Cowley had
ever cruel hard 10 OF the children OF the
Fold until Inely, when complaints OF that began
TO appear in tho newspapers. We havo always had
enough to eat of good food and have suffered
want OF clothing. We attend day schools and Sunday
schools and attend church every Sunday We 20 to
Barnum's Museum. whenever II Is In the city, and to
the Old Folks at Home. and to fairs and to the Park,
Mr. Cowley and Mrs Cowley very much, and the Fold,
we are happy there We have teachers
in the day schools and Sunday schools pastors OF
the churches where co. and outside friends that
could complain II we had any complaints to make.
mr. nun,shed so as to hurt them Ia the Fold. We are
helped at the Fold get the lessons given at school,
Years
Age. IN Foid
Emma Bowman, orphan. IL ~