The New York herald., 1879-10-22
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.

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AN Ex-orFIcER's STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF
COLONEL CLAY's CHARGEs-CRUEL PUNISH
MENT AND GENERAL NEGLECT OF THE IN
MATEs-rHE SAD STORY OF WILLIAM HARRIS.
To THE EDITOR THE HEnALD:-
A copy Of New York morning paper dated Sep
tembcr IL, containing president Ketchums reply to
the charges made against the management OF the
New York House Of Refuge by the late Assistant
superintendent" has just come to my notice. read
Mr.. Ketchum's reply through. with the expectation
of finding sturdy denial to at least OF tho slate
Assistant Superintendent's charges" but. though
was much interested, my expectations not
realized. From the very first line of President
Ketchums reply to tho last word there is nothing
like denial, but succession of oily sentences in
tended to calm the agtated waves Of public opinion
For instance in referring to the predecessor in office
Of Captain Clay Mr.. Ketchum says
eat about this time the man who had been acting
Of the assistant superntendents OF the House
of Refuge very excellent ofcer-obtained botter
position and resigned that place."
This sentence is thrown in to give the reader the
impression that the every excellent officer. did not
see tho thing which Captain Clay complains Of aud
that he left the House of Refuge only because
.'better position" awaited him elsewhere. It was my
while Captain Clays predecessor there. and
testify that this Every excellent officer found quite
as many stumblingblocks In the way Of reforming
juvenile delinquents his successor did. He
brought many things which he considered disgrace
ful abuses practced there to the notice Of Israel
Jones, the Superintendent. with about much sue
cess as Captain Clay did. AS it happened. was an
eye witness to Of this excellent officers" at
tompts procure more gentle treatment for the in
mates Perhaps one little incident will illustrate
tho success OF the "excellent officer" and ut the
same time show that Captain Clay does not err in
making his twelfth charge, which is:-"That tho
managers have failed to provide proper attendance
for sick inmates"
CASE IN POINT
In the Second division, While wus an employe ut
the institution, there boy committed by one
OF the city courts who had come in stout. healthy
mate only q short time when the want OF proper
clothing. poor food and Ill treatment changed him
to mere shadow, with hollow checks, sunken eyes
and weakened frame almost too frai to bear about
the little flesh lett upon 1t. AS this boy passed
slower aud slower and resolved do something to
aid him. so l took MIN to the hospital
rsss HSout two hours later ne %ss snn ana
moned to the Office OF tho Superintendent and was
rcbukcd in Israel Jones' most mellow and shiny
manner for "presuniing to send boy to the hospi-
tai without consulting the physician" who lived IN
Harlem and would not be over till Monday. This
saturday The boy was sent out of the hospi-
tai. On Monday the doctor and gave him a
dose OF EPSON salts During tho following week
the lad grew weaker and weaker. and the sexceIlent
oicer.' who had done all in his power to aid him.
called the sicians especial attention to his
He ordered another doso of salts, The "excellent
officer" expressed his surprise; but it
use, the salts were administered. and the
following morning William Harrs--that was
the boys name-begged 20 be allowed to remain
in his cell when the rest went out. for he too
weak to rise. As it happened tho otiicor who dis
charged the boys that morning kind hearted
and allowed william to remain in bed About ten
O'CLOCK lsrael Jones, superintendent. heard that he
evening Of the same day william entered tho school
room, but disease and salts had weakened him
that he begged pteousy OF Miss Thorp his teacher.
to be allowed to lie tho floor. The lady allowed
him to do 80; for she was gentlcwoman who was
well disposed toward those under hor care. On the
next evening she brought William blanket and
pillow from her own room, and during the school
session he lay upon them. too weak to sit up.
But William Harris grew worse and Each
succeeding morning found him more reduced than
the previous, until cold Ia winter wont to
the excelent officer and said that Harris was out in
tho yard coughing fcarfully. II cannot do any
thing was the reply; Il have told Mr.. Jones about
him. but to no purpose" just ut this momont
Office where were. and the 'excellont officer" said
to him: :--"Mr. Jones. yonder is that boy, Harris.
shivcrInB in the snow under the WALL IL there IL not
something done for him soon he will die"
.Lct him de- replied Jones he passed along.
might stop this history here IL cared to do moth
ing out illustrate principle; but some who read
this may wish to know IL the boy recovered Like
many and many lad who went to the House OF
Refuge he has long since gone "where the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary at rest" He
was not buried on the Island however. Only
inmate had died in tho Refuge that year; then,
could the sanitary condition OF the Institution be
called in question by recording the death Of william
Harris? Not at ALL williams uncle sent for to
take the boy home, when 1t was apparent to all that
he had only few days to live. Very soon after n
stranger canio to the House aud told me Of WILL
lam death. With his last breath he sent messages
TO his companions liz the Refuge and to the officers
and toachers. He remembered every kind word and
act that had been bestowed upon him, and wanted
those who had not treated HIM well to know that he
forgave them. Often since that cold, stormy, win
f.rsS IL haX m
gard look and wild, longing eyes OF William Harris
inside the building.
This little history, think the excellent officer"
will call to mind 1t he it, and as it is only one
incident in his Official at Randals Island the
Investigating Committee had bctor call him, for
dare say no could tell them still more about the
management OF the institution.
WHY COLONEL JONES SHOULD DELAY MS CHARGES.
Further Oh in President Ketchum's reply occurs
the following paragraph:--
As the head Of tho Executive Committee visited the
house every Friday during three years that Colonel
Clay the Assistant tendeut and have
been there nearly sunday In all these visits of
course, came into contact with Colonel Clay lilo knew
that the object OF visits to
port Irregularities that might occur ana yet
all this time loarn to
of associates of the Board of Managers lid
intimate that there anything wrong. III these
arities OF which he now complains taking place
surely he dcrect In his duty In informing us of
them. On the contrary. Whenever there he
" smiling rirhtn
Last March the Conmttee ON Legislation went to Albany