The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-15
THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.

INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARGES PREFERRED
AGAINST Tr-DITTERENCR OF OPINION BE-
TWEEN JUDGE oTrrRroURG AND COUNSEL
THE FORMER ASSUMES A RESPONSIBILITY.
The long looked for INVESTIGATION OF the charges pro-
fsrrsd by Rachel OMEN agains, The New York Mag.
dalsn Asylum begun yesterday beioro Judge o..
tcrpourg In the private room OF the Jel
fsrson Market Police c0ur, Present the girl in
dual role OF defendant and complainant, A. will
be hereinafter shown; Mr.. A. A. Rsdned, counsel Tor
tho Institution; Mr. Tanning, It's treasurer; Mr. aud
MIRA Batlsrsby, respectively chaplain and malron,
aud Mr. Dugdaie. chairman OF the Committee on De-
sen.ion OF the New YORK Prison Association.
Tho proceedings we're opened directly BY Mr.. Red
neld, VINO stated briefly that !. was a misfortune
that the public been mado to regard the Asylum
public institution through the recent transactions
MISS O'Neis case. II vas and s private instilu-
liou, supported by contributions and donations
manly, and received emily small proportion Of It's
income Comptroller. In support OF his as
serti0u quoted tho annual report treas
urer, when shows that the revenue Tor tho
previous twelve months been sll 754 g. Of which
Tie comptroller had paid only 81, 500 board tor tho
girls committed 10 .hs institution ny the police JUS
tees Alter some further explanation OF the Mag
dalon Benevolent Socsty's status MI kednsld
thanked Judge Ottsrbourg for his invitation The
mana ayers 10 Do present at the hesMIng, and
ny RaenePs own commitment that she
counsel thought sns had Claim beau incbriaIe.
charges OF cruelty preferred ny her no offered Mrs
BAitersby and hor husband Tor examination by the
police justice, nSt as matter oil right, but OF courtesy
20 HAS Honor
rHE xArRox AYyrRxs.
Aitor some slight sparriog between the Bench and
the Bar ~ the i0rners right to proceed the
investigation, and ss 10 what being Investigated
AIRS B4slsrsby TOOK the witness chair anu testified
8 follows 70 the queries put BY Mr.. Rednsid -
II know Rachel 0'Nei." SAID she; '.she was IN the
inslilutisn selconmitted twice: therc fortyavc
r,ris there altogether now; twsive were committed
tAe rcmuiucr voluntary Inmates. Ia
sixty seventy bedrooms III tho house, most
OF when are single; three or Tour are double bed
ded rooms When Rachel was IN tho institution Inc
first timo | believe there vas some trouble between
her and u giri named Lizzie O'CoDoor during tho
progress OF which Rachel was said TO have riea
knife up stairs with her Tor The purpose OF hurting
the latter think TIM there WAS mention Of ..mur-
der" IN the words that sail 10 have passed. be-
tween the angry girls. 1 told Rachel that must
down stairs 10 tue basement. where We lock
up refractory girls and she did So"
rnKEx cELLs ~ rnE BASEMENT.
"fhcro IL u TINS basement large room, IN which
Here have butt three smaller rooms i've iect tour
by iour. They are, properly speaking. part,ioned
compartments ventilated by AN aperture IN tho door
oil each. These cells are furnished win l. shaped
benches, nothing else ! do not remsmbcr low
whether sent kachel there or not, but think now
that 1 dio. DuiiDg her last incarceration, which
began la Aprn, sne certainly has not econ Iherc
bsc.u se ncr conducs has been excellent
..You arc chargcd,n said counsel 'with having
confined Inc girl lnirtytw hours IN this cell Arc
you willing to swear nov that Sue was nots"
Il can, say wbeshsr she was or NJ. l had rather
say 1 don't remember"
..cau You toll what number OF hours she was shut
up IA this pisccW
mo cam ot swear Just a. TO tbaln
'sCau you remember having kept Rachel there that
length 81 time % bowl OF souprn
.sNo. cannot swear that remember. | have put
girls into these places rooms 10 punish them Tor
quarreiing and unsesmiy conduct. but dont think
ever kept them there on xcanty allowance OF food
Tor thirty Two hours Ny usual course 10 Keep
them IN seven or twelve hours NJ tho iartbssL"
''Do you RENE lnbcr having sad ~ Racn,l
other uccssiou when sue laughed W school, Your
doom will be twenty -iour hours ~ n ceilfp
II positively swear ! never used such word as
doom OF my owB knowledge cannot say
whether she put Ia the cell tor laughing 3;
but | am certain that ws DO not punish girls ~
severely for 50 riniug a m,sdemesDoL"
Here followed toine siue remarks and interclanges
OF opulUns between counsel and the Judge TO tho
To Mrs. Battersby that sac ought not 10 such
pressions AS cot my own knowledge" WhcruuDon
Mrs. Iattcrsby said:-"I positively swear mat
kichels statement about the thirty.lwo hours I'M.
Drisonnont and lilo one bowl vi cold soup was not
true"
THg INVESTIGATIONS STOPPED
Continuing 10 reply ~ Mr.. Rcdned's questions
Mrs Battersby gave only qualified dena,s vi the
charges preferred ny tne arr IN her .naavit, aud
when cross-cxanlned by Justice Ouerbturg coD,ra-
distsd her direct statements once twice. The JUS
tice procceeded TO Call attention staten
nearsay and 70 seeming Inconsistencies
aud fnaccuraciss. which might have been
tho rusult Vt nervousness. when Mr.. Reduced
not up from his chair anu saiu :-'slour HOuor.
wc did come here to DO investigated, VI you
please We came here 10 response TO the courteous
invitation you sent am not Wiling pisce this
old ana valued private Institution in The position OF