The New York herald., 1878-10-11
THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.

THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.
R,cHEL oNfILL HE1rf RATES HEB cHARoEa
AGAINST THE rNsrIruTfoN-sHE TELLS 4
TALE OF OPPRESSION AND cuzious FACTS
ABOUT THE INMATES tA e.p &ee&
The case OF Rachsl O'Nsill, who made her escape
from the Maedalen Asylum. N Eishty-sixth street,
near Filth avenue, by scaling the fence, Monday
night was called tho Jefferson Market Police Court
yesterday morning. II expected that che matron
and occrs OF tho institution would be present cons
tradct tho statements made by the girl ON the pre-
vious day, all OF which published In ysstsrdaya
HERALD Nobody, however, appeared Tor the insttu.
tion aud when the Court ofncer called the name OF
"Rachel O'Ncill" she came TO shc bar unattended
and unconironted by ANYBODY, except the Police JUS
tice Olterbourg and Richard L. DugdaIe, Chairman Of
tho Committee on Detention Of the New York Prison
Association. ~ttcHlsat18@ n.i- &3}Eah 3
The girl was then questioned and repeated hes
story OF the day before in detail adding only few
facts which were not ELECTED when Mrs. Battsrsby
was present She told again now she had been on
three separate occasions In the cold dark cell In the
asylum. She related how, during tho thirty.two.
twelve and twenty four hours Of those incarcsraon
she had suffered cold hunger and thirst, and thsn In
response 70 tho Courts inquiry. described mnussly
the habits OF the inmates OF the place. M EfstIH
inmates worked at sewing and In the laundry during
their sojourn In place, never receiving cent fos
their laDors and looking for remuneration In tns
shape or respectable situation at the sxpiratioa
OF their imprisonment. .Ah, sir, said Rachel,
.at is that hope that brought so many q
us into the MagdaIsn Asylum We believed that The
Iadies who managed II would. when they tound thas
we were good aud reformed. alter staying in the
house months voar, get US places In happy
religious families, that were willing 10 assist girl
who wanted 70 save herself and lead an honest hfA
But, Judge" hero she gray excited, ~ fst that v
was no use for mo to stay, In place WORKING Tor
year Tor nothing TO put money into the hands Of The
people who run the asylum, whsn there wssn't tne
gnost OF a chance that would get place Job at
matron herself told you yesterday thstl was well
$50 she did,n CALCULATED tho Cour.
'But the way they persecuted me up thsro was
enough drive back into tho streets tried %
nard 70 Leave they pus Us ~ shs cell 10 me .iass
valely, or mates conversed after they had re-
tired Tor The nights they ever went the length Of bb-
ing the yrs with promises OF giving them ton csnts
for every time they peached on any person who v,o
lated these bylaws Of the house, was In she cell my.
self Tor laughing IN school; they are only allowed ~
the rules to keep US there twelve hours a. time,
but they often kept me and others there longer; I've
known some 70 Oe put In one or other Of the three
cells for forty-eIght hours" 4.e +. tg !.
"Wsrs you good girl when you went thsrsS"
.No sir. was not; but IL was beeauss l wished v
bc that went there. But there was little OF No
chsnc. Of becoming one one there. As tar :. Ca can see
mucn worse"
'How that2 kecolisct, now, every word Of
this testimony Is laKen down IN writing, and you win
have TO swear 10 its accuracy and truth You are
this institution and must prove them. How many
women are therc in the asylum"
"ADout 1ity.seven."
ssHow old are theyfp H6
s.Tner ages vary from sixteen to forsy. should
"now many are over twenty -nvs years Old ."
"About twenty or twenty-five" sGEssg g
.Tns rems'naes are younger" n
shave you any witnesses: who ean testify q 70 the
truth OF your sllegatiousf"
II have, sIr-Annie Lane, Julia Ferris and Resis
.xr. they inmates OF the asylum now'"
Were any OF The girls ever beaten By Mrs. Bat
..No, sir, not that know Of but have seen her
push g,rls and knock tnsm down IN y d. 0i anger"
"rsks care now, Racnell Take care Tell only the
srutn, as shall hold you custody iugtive from
sn asylum TO wnlon you were regularly eommi.tsd ana
make you swear to your statements. Thon snail
aud nave iulI and iair nvosliga,on Of TINS case T
send invitation 10 the managers 10 be present and
sxpIsa sns , s.oD,,n. & o. .nsr isst,Sonm M ,ni ~,
s written out; and can prove BY the inmates what
suy 70 DO true" .% 1i
complete her afidavit, Judge 0terbourg and MI
sps udss vac xous nnd whether chsptsr zoe
OF Of ths state OF New ork had been violated
as alleged. The girls statsment summed up briefly
onargss snat the management Of The asylum ksps
women twonty- two years old, which 10 againss
the provisions Of the statute which prescribss that
the ages OF sos Inmates shall range between four.
teen aud twenty-five years Again, Racnet charges
tnat ths IN mates compelled TO money for
the ssy Ium while tho county pays for support
and further that usurps the power and prerogatvsa
OF the courts Dy connning the people In darK celia
Judge Otterbourg, after fsvicwing the testimony.
said that while some OF tho things alleged by Rachsi
came properly within the mansgefs jurisdiction,
othcrs II true. were maniiestly impssitions ON IhG
taxpayers who help 10 support the institution. He
informed q HERALD repoftor that the revenues from
the state were same In amount those paia The
Juvenile Asylum.
Mr. Dugdsle uid not caro- TO take any action or say
anything about the matter, which will come up 10.
morrow Tor further examination. The managers, u 10
understood deny the accusations Of cruelty and vo.
lation OF Law maze by RacncL Ars Battsrsby has al