The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-26
THE IDIOT ASYLUM.
Official Contradictions of the Statements
Of Anne DAILY.
PRESIDENT COX'S DEFENCE
Startling Story OF a Visitor to
Randall's Island.

publication OF the sworn affidavit OF Nurse Anne
Daily In regard to the abuses and Encouragement a.
legcd TO existed Idiot Asylum on Randalis
Island. Among tho officials OF tho Department Of
Charities Correction tho story told Is denied III Inc
most positive language, some OF officers claiming
that color OF truth IN the stato-
rnent; Others going SO far, but simply stating
that tho report scurvy greatly exaggerated;
that but OF very mild typo existed on tho
island that, the discovery OF tho disease, the
Commissioners at once took prompt measures TO ar
Its spread. Tho wrtcr yesterday paid visit 10
Randars Island and saw DR.. Howard tho medical
superintendent who Is charge OF all the nstltu-
tions the island. including the Idiot Asylum. Tho
Doctor declined 70 any SPECIAL statements in re-
gard to the charges made. moro than that the story
OF Ammo Daily had greatly exaggerated the true con-
dillon of affairs Dr. Hcward's statement OF the
was as folows:-
SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY
Same Daily was employed on The island for
number or years o nurse, but for somo timo past
sho occupied the position oil assistant to the matron
OF tho institution, Mrs. Herbert. While she was
good worker she had most violent temper and was
always lighting with the other attendants, over whom
she rule Mrs. Norbert lett great doal OF the
business OF her position to Anne Daily one OF her
duties being supervise and look aitor The distrbu
ton OF food children. During my visits
food furnished the inmates and aso about its quality
In every instance her reply that the supplies
were ample and sufficient and she never reported to
me that any fault DO found with the iood. On
tho Contrary. shc always praised tho way IN which
the inmates fed. The cases OF scurvy that oc-
Cured In tho Idiot Asylum took place
tircly among tho class Of children that were
helpless and had to be FED with spoon.
Not u single took place among the children
that able 20 10 the table and help themselves
An ample amount OF PROVISIONS including vegetables,
supplied during the eDtro time. ana tho TACT Is
that tho chidron Of the helpless class dd not get
their proper share allowance winch was directly
the fault Of this Anne DAILY, duty II was
tnat they were regularly and properly supplied
with food. Anne DAILY never reported 10 mo that there
was any lack OF food. Tho two people who wore re-
sponsibc for the outbreak OF the disease were the
inatron, Mrs. Herbert and Anne Daily the woman who
TO the statement published IN the HERALD. or
the thirteen deaths that took place curing the time
the scurvy existed IN the Idiot Asylum many OF them
were que other Diseases and had connection d.
rcctiy or Indirectly, with that complaint Ot the thir
deaths uy cght Ut them did not show any trace
or symptom Of The disease and wcrc not connected
with II.
.tWhcn the DISGUISE discovered every procnution
guard against It's spread, and every Ut
| tenton gwen The children. Tho supply Of vesc-
| tables umplc My directions to the steward WIS
all required, Without regard 10 Tie
| weight or quantity, and tins was carried out Long
before tnero sign OF scurvy ut tho idiot Asylum
Ammo Daily became SO troublesome 10 tho other at
| PENDANTS that complaints were made to me against
! her curse and swear ana insulted The
two teachers who she now swcars ill,rcaed some OF
tho children last wihtcr. ordered nor ut that time
| 10 90 down TO the building occupied by John Rouse
ana others, and take Charge oil then at the time
| we wanted q Tor this place very mucn Her
| statement that she ordered to 60 there after
the trouble about tho scurvy hrst began not
true sue was moved before even disease sh owed
/
violent temper and insults TO tome OF tho
directed, cent in her resignation, suppose, Know
Ing that she would 20 removed Her statement o the
Two teachers Miss Calvin and Miss Donovan, beating
two Of the inmates Deileve TO DO utterly false
without the slightest foundation IL very often hap
pens that the diot children hit zach other, and som
/ hts / have frequently seen lungs as big as hons
| cggs from this cause on their heads.n
| PRESIDENT SITUATION
i President To~nsend Cox, OF tue Department OF
| Charilies and Correction, iouud Blackweli's
| s.utemonis in reference 10 the reports published
about The asylum at Randall's Island NC replied as
| lollows:-"Wnen tho presence Of scurvy Ut the
| Idiot Asylum came to knowledge three physi-
| cials-Drs. James H. Wood, Aonzo Clark aud Austin
Flint, Jr.-werc r.quesieo by tue Commissioners 10
| 20 10 Randalls Island und make u thorough cx-
and report tho exact CONDITION OF affairs
| the Board. These gentlemen found u mild form OF
scuryy exisling. and they ordered every precuu
10 DO prevent spread OF the disease, and
also those Affected should receive every II
The blame Is TO liked any II should cor tam ~
i DO on TINS Anne Daily. she aud the the
people ulrcctiy responsible Tor tho origin OF tho
d,s.asc Drs CLARK Wood and Flint rcpor cd that II
was their opinion that the idiot children pecu-
| llariy predIsDoscd 10 the development OF scurvy
owing to their mental condition and frequently poi
nod blood, aud The outbreak vi tho
always looked for and guarded against IN insti-
| tulous like the ldiot Asylum. IL was thor opinion
that such outbreak might occur at any time, aud
that such al occurrcncc~in no way reflected tho
| management VI The officials.
| RESULTS OF AN TRANSLATION
| .sTLc Commissioners OF Charities and Correction
made an examination into The entire question wnen
gated the whole Altar very carefully and thoroughly,
anu when placed tho doctors attendants tho
la,ot Asylum unGer oath every one Of them, without
a single exception. contradictcd Anne Days state
| ment IN every particular They declared that har
story ia.se, That there was no want OF TODD aud
that The supplies we're oil good qnaiity. l myself,
during all iaht wintor paid particular attention tho
| question oil vegetables. We had more last winter
| IMAM ever before there tho supply
| Of any vi Inc institutions Anne Daly's story that
fresh vegetables tor tho paticuts rs
tirely without there was always "a pcnti-
iuI supply OF vcgetlb es ON nand. The deaths 6y tho
scurvy did not reach moro than eight, /
believe that 10 several cases where patents we're at
ctcd scuivy death resulted IRON eutircly dit
FOR THEIR OWN INFORMATION.
In reply TO request "a copy OF the report OF
Drs Wood, Flint and Clark concerning the couditi
vi andas Island be furnished Tor publication, Pres
dent COX stated tnat the report was made Tor Tho
fornation of tho Board alone, aud not inte ndcd
10. pubication ana u was the desire oi tho Comns-
nshcd Ia reference 10 the Idiot Asylum. Tue qucs-
ZION had been thoroughly investigated when the pres
oil sCurvy had been called to their anu
u found to BIO one OF those occurrences against
| which II wus diilicult 10 guard
i MORN DLsIALs.
| The teachers Miss Catharinc Donovan and J uiia
GAVIN, VINO accused IN the abatement OF
Nurse Anne Daily cruelty to the diot cndfcn
their cbags, deny the allegation III the most positive
lang uagc, aud that the only that could
have Induced anne Daily 10 mike the charge Was tho
Tact that she reported by them Tor using proiauo
and violent language IN tho hearing oil the IDIOT chill
dren. Both ladies have made written statement 10
ihis and declare Their Willingness TO sustain
The same under oath should they DO called upon 10
| do 50.
|
In relation 10 this subject Mr. j. H. Baker. the gen.
tieman wuo reported tho condition OF affairs on Ran
uaI's Island, stated follows "Iast November or
Dccember Mrs. FoiJlor, u woow VINO has child In
the Idiot Asylum, came to inc ard told mat her
child hal been cruelty and very BADLY beaten by tho
parties IN tue cIcf house 1t The Idiot Asylum She
stated that she examined her childs body and that
the MARKS OF the beating were there. Mrs FsiuIer
tncn tuld me- that she could prodLco other people