The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
HOUSE OF MERCY.


THE STORY OF CRUEL TREATMENT TOLD By
RECENT ISMATE-HER STATEMENTS DENIED.
In Yesterdays HERALD appeared brief account Of
the removal of Rcbecca Burgess from the House of
Mercy, the foot of West Eighty sixth street. and
her transfer by the order OF Judge Duffy. to the
Magdalea Asylum in East Eightyeighth street. near
Fifth avenue. II said that the girl had made
serious allegations of ill-trcatment against the
Sisters in charge OF the former institution and to
learn their exact nature reporter visited the
Magdalen Asylum yesterday afternoon and
asked to sec Rehccca The matron
manned in the throughout the interview
and once twice enjoined upon the speaker the
necessity of telling nothing but the truth. Rebecca
is girl of sturdy figure. trine below the average
height. Her face is plump and. it not for
rough complexion. might be called rather comely.
though hardly prepossessing. The following is
condensed report of her story to the reporter
REBEccAs CAREER.
II was born in Brooklyn and nearly seventeen
years DID, she said. my mother died when was
four and left my fatSer with and FIVE other chill
dren My father was hardly sober and used to
beat younger nearly every day. When
was seven years old he had me sent to the House
Of Refuge, and kept me there till thirteen.
Then cousin got me out, and lived with her and
Somehow got acquainted with girl who had been
to the House Refuge and used be actress aud
sing in the Bowery. She got me to run away with
her, and went around with her for some time.
/ was with her about week. Ono night last
July I was at a meeting with her in Fourth
was going out my sister had me arrested
and locked up in q station heuse over night The
next morning was taken IT. to sme mos ana my SIS
with-were there to make charge against me-.
gentleman who keeps a big gambling house had
lawyer there to defend me. and got the delayed
till afternoon Then two officers, one OF the Society
| FOR the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children and
from the Society for the Suppression of Vice.
| appeared against me, and my sisters proving
| had run away from home Judge Duffy sent me here
| to the Magdaen for six months.
A BREAK LIBERTY.
''were you well treated here?
| yes SIR was well enough treated, but didn't
| like to be locked up in an asylum; and two
other girls tried to get away after had been there
two days. When it was getting dark we went down
| 10 the front gate and climbed upon the hinges One
of got and was standing Oh barrel to help
the other up when the board broke and she fell
wall and dropped down the other side. Then and
the that got first hid behind tree and Mrs.
gare The other girl told on u.s. and we were caught
| that night
II think it the first week in October"
"Did you like it better there than here!
first liked it pretty well. but it is regular
prison discipline. We wasn't allowed to speak i'll the
chapel at work at meals. and IL we spoke in the
afternoon lost our supper. We was never allowed
to go through the halls down to the yard without
| monitor. About three weeks ago had handouts
| put for writing girls name ON the chapel
WALL and another girl was handcuffed for doing the
same thing.
"a week ago last Monday my hair came down while
was Ut work washing and asked girl to braid it
| for At dinner nothing was given me to eat.
asked Sister Mary afterward why I hadn't had
| ] told her why / had spoken and said she
had no right to punish me for that. She told
had a better right to be called Sister of Misery
than Sister of Merry She didn't say nothing to-
that; but when went to the chapel that n Ts,
she got me to go out in the hail. and tho engineer,
Henry, grabbed me. l tried to run back into the
chapel, but he caught me by the neck and dragged
down to the cellar and threw me into the dungeon
and locked me in"
what is the dungeon like -
Its little cell about eight feet square, with rough
stone walls whitewashed. There ism no window and
the doors six inches thick Even the keyhcc is
cred so there ism ray light and you tell day
from night. There isn't any ped anything to sit
and wasn't given anything to cover myself with at
night. No came except Henry, who
brought some water and dry bread once
day 1 was kept there till yesterday morn,
be carried to the infrmary to get medicine.
| After had taken bath and changed my dress two
officers came and took up to the Harlem Police
Court before Judge Duty. Sister Mary went along
and told her story and made a charge Of disorderly
the House OF the Good shepherd but told him I'd
rather come to tho Magdalen He said I'd have to
stay here nine months longer than there but I'D had
enough of Sisters. and chose this and here am.
! 10 stay for the next twelve months.
OTHER SIDE or THE STORY.
When Rcbccca had finished and retired from the
room the said that but little reliance could be
| placed upon her statements. She had given much
trouble the last time she at the asylum. and it
was with SORROW she received her back. Her temper
cxpricious and ungovcrnabe.
The reporter made his way to the House Of Mercy
| and had a few moments conversation with Sister
Mary. who practically the matron of that nstitu
ton The Sister denied the charges made by kebecca
Burgess almost va toto. About ten days ago, she
said. the girl had quarrclled with one of her com
| panions. and in mt of passion raised n
| stool or chair and struck her with terrific
! force on the arm. For this she locked up in
| cell in the basement for day and night Tho
| cell contains bed and bed clothing. aud the unruly
| girl not put on fare of bread aud water. bus
| received regular meals Of good and wholesome food
| rs good the lartcr of the house affords. On
| Monday night last. for destroying large
| quantity of clothing belonging to other inmates.
Rebscca again locked up in the cell. and when
taken out in the morning had to be carricdnot from
| exhaustion, but from her savage resistance. She
had threatened the lives of several girls aud Sisters
| and her bad example and the annoyance she had
| caused to inmates Of the House made IL impossible
to keep her any longer. She had once been threat
| cncd with handouts, but they had not been used