The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-01
LONGING FOR LIBERTY.
Efforts to Secure Grace Hagar's Release
from the House of Mercy.
AN UNUSUAL COURT SCENE.
The Refomatoy Institution on the
Banks Of the Hudson.


mate Of the Institution, aged seventeen Accompany
Ing the Sister Superior another sister, both
ing the customary sombre imcnts Of their Order
policeman had special charge Of the young girl,
and possibly in the fear that she might attempt an
escape and thus effectualy secure her release
from tho institution without waiting tho tedi.
Gus circumlocution OF habeas corpus proceedings,
kept his lynx eyes sharply upon her. Grace sat
meantime quietly in q corner OF the court room, and
was equally vigilant In watching me progress Of
events in her Her plain brown dress, with nc
founce or other feminine fixing TO set It OF, and tho
gray plaid shawl she wore only served TO bring in
more striking contrast her singular beauty.
To well rounded face and clear rosy
countenance were added features of almost
Grecian perfection OF outline, wealth OF
brown hair and dark eyes, flashing with keenest in
tcllgence Tho only garment At which faslidlous
fashion would not aghast was her hat, Of black
braid, which, though fastened under her neck by
plain black ribbon, sat with jaunty grace on her
head. Not far from her two ladies, comprising
aud a young man and his counsel, VINO are
also set down Tor important parts In thS
thus far been spoken. The ladies Mrs. Van
Dorm, who tor years has been an employe IN the
House oil Mercy, aud Mrs. Buli the Janiress Of the
Thirleenth street Grammar school Tue young gen.
tlcman Mr.. Charles Conklin, the petitioner in
me aaoeas c0spus Ss ana inc oounss,
themselves, while Mr.. wheeler II. Peckham, counsel
for the institution, talked with the Lady Superior
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT.
These were very BRET As Judge Donohue was
away the parties came before Judge westbrook, in
Supreme Court, Chambers, and patiently awaited the
conclusion Of q lengthy argument. AS soon as the
finished Mr.. Pcckham moved to dismiss tho
writ the ground OF want OF Jurisdiction, shown
in the papers themselves MIR. Southwortn siren.
uousy opposed any such notion when Judge West
brook brought argument 10 an by saying that
il must be heard before Judge Dononue, who mad
directed tho return to the writ to be made to
HIM personally, and the case was set down for q
haar ING hal ia n p M To-day
This matter settled, there was some discussion TO
the disposition TO DC made OF the girl meaatims. Mr..
Pcckham desiring that she should remain In the
sttuton, and Mr.. Southworth asking that she DO
placed in the OF the sheriff Judge Westbrook
directed that she remain In the institution and there
upon all the parties left the court room.
EARS STORY.
While In Court a HERALD representative inter.
viewed Grace Hagar, and to him she her brief
story without hesitation. She said that when she
that gwen then charge OF her aunt, Mrs.
Charlotte Hagar; that she lived with her till she
twelve years old, when she was placed in the House
OF Mercy.
"why did your aunt send you to tho institutiouG''
was among the questions asked her.
eBacause was disc bedent and wanted my OWE
way" she answered navey.
In response TO other inquiries she stated that she
had always boen treated nicely in the institution had
always had enough to cat, ant when SICK was we'll
taken care OF She complained, however, of having
lately had TO work hard In the laundry. She thinka
sho has brother and sister living, but does not know
where they are. Her aunt will have nothing TO do
with her. She wants TO leave the Institution
she thinks they have keep her, and
able to take of herself II committed any
great sin," she said, "and don't know why they
WHAT HER COUNSEL SAYS.
Mr.. Southworth makes out cruel Of II He
questions whether there been legal commitment
oil her TO the institution. He says that Mrs. Van
Dorm alleges that she cruelty BY being put
Ia CELL and on her telling the facts 10 Mrs. Bull
that the two determined to champion her cause and
II possible effect her release. Mr.. Conkin consented
He says that Mrs. Bull Is willing 10 take charge Of
Grace, and no promises that II she IL discharged
He means fight in the courts and has very
little doubt that he will WIN
HOUSE MERCY
The HERALD reporter called a. the House OF Mercy,
foot OF Egnty-sixth and hudson River. In the
fence for an entrance way, was finally directed BY
small boy in tho street 10 large door 1t end OF
the fence, where ball handle was found In response
10 the ring the door was cautiously opened by .
porty female, who stands guard IN . sort OF sentry
box Immediately inside the entrance. After scrutin-
izlng glance a. the visitor, and having been In
with tho sister Superior. the guardian Of
the great door told the reporter to enter and then
escorted him TO that portion Of the house occupied
by the sisters The place seems to be severely exciu
board fence, some twelve feet nigh,
with sharp, inhosptaols looking spikes
cncloses tho premises, while the atmosphere oil the
place appears to DO Iadon with a husned rsiorma.ory
odor AZ the windews were observed from the Out.
side two three of the inmates, who subduod,
penetentia lock- each one appearing 10 BIO busy por.
Ing volume
THE SISTER surERIoR's STATEMENT
Tho writer had not to wait many minutes in the
lady. on being questioned concerning the case Of
Grace Hagar, replied as iolows:-"rhs young girl
her guardians, when she about eleven years ola.
She was a very naughty little girl, and had caused
snrs sTa. sss sav aunt nov s.. srnass "
also, while here After remaining with Us
for three years sho wa. adopted BY a lady and was
back 10 US saying she was incorrgbis and tnat tney
could DO no.ans WIN her We took charge Of hsr
again and have had ner here ever snos but we never
ie. that We could recommend her to service"
'it rs charged that you put the sirl IN cell and
treated her with unnecessary harshnesap
.sThat is all mistake about her having been In the
cell from timo TO time and put bread aud wator.
The girl always behaved herself pretty we'll whale win
toned she did not act SO woIL OF course,
rs have already intimated she has given us trouble
from time 70 time and !. ,s nsr own fault ii sno has
beon punished. But there s mods OF
punishment. IN this house The only punishment I'm.
and lay violent hands eucn other 10 that they
placed IN room ny themselves. aud this room
they FIRST invoked the aid OF tho In behalf Of
the girl said she illegally detained, and later
the charge OF cruelty was made Her relatives do not
know at all who the parties that trying get
her out She Is about seventeen years old, and Of
both had the care Of her until they
caused her 70 be committed to this place. She
ana does not even seem 10 prcnend what the par
ties mean when they aose that she has boen treated
cruelty"
ols she anxious to leave the institutionYn
III believe she Is person AT nor age fces dssasis-
ea ana is desirous OF changing. OF course she
her liberty and ike most girls Of her ago dislKes
restrainLo
THE rESrrxsrrAL CELL
AZ his request the HERALD representative then
conducted 10 what Is called the lower punishment
room, which Is situated in the basement,
from the kitchen. IL rs nosntng or loss than
dark cell, and IN dimensions about nine fect long,
iset wide and iuily six feet high. rho wallis Of
brick, hed IN with sawdust contained IN wooden
reccptacles. Tnis, IL was explained, DO
absolutely necessary, as before tho walls wore filled
IN with sawdust the unruy females, whilo undergoing
solitary punishment, were IN the habit Of arouslng
the neighborhood with their screams and also
Of flung tho air with the West cpitnesA
IL was on this account and 70 prevent the institution
rounding rosdsnts that the cell was constructed.
The aoor OF tho cell ~ boarded, aud It 10 located
not far from the boiler there 10 fear Of the
pant suffering from cold In the winter timo. II was
stated, however, ny the sisters tnat tho cell is fre-
qucntly unused for months ~ time Grace they
SAID was never In Il but once, three tour years
ago. anu that then sne was only confined there
for ABOUT two days No refractory inmate