New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-03
UHO DID II Z

The degree Of the Rev. Mr.. COwey's Grim
lnality being now in fair way to be ascer-
tanned by court of justice. we may suspend
further denunciaton till we know just what
degree of damnation he has deserved. 1t is
well that he should not have it to say that
public clamor has bounded on his prosecutors.
Ii is best, TOO, that the popular sentiment
should not be inflamed to such an extent rs
to make it impossible to get an intelligent
and unprejudiced jury. The feeling of the
community is already bitter against him, and
il would be almost uncomfortable but for the
hope that the horrors of the Fold may have
been somewhat ovordrawn in the first excited
tales of the liberated children. We do
not forget that children, and especially
those of the outcast and neglected class
are bad witnesses. Making all possible allow
ances however. for facts which may come TO
light in mitigation of Dir. Cowley's crime, the
medical examinations have already put 10
beyond doubt that the children were sys-
tematically starved, and it is pertinent to
inquire whether others besides the prisoner
are not responsible for this shocking state OF
things.
Mr.. Cowley is q scandal of eleren gears
standing. The reverend gentleman was DIS
charged from the Shepherds Fold in 1869
because the trustees were satisfied of his I'M
fitness for the management of such an institu-
ton. In partnership with a few persons who
still believed in him, he then founded a rival
asylum which he called the Chidren's Fold
and obtained the adoption of a law at Albany
giving him So a week for every child sup
ported in the establishment. In 1877 he was
discharged from the Children's Fold too. lie
was accused of cruelty and mismanagement
The State Board of Charities made an investi-
CATION, and presented (hrough Mrs Josephine
Shaw Lowell. who has given the most
devoted and disinterested care to work of
this sort,) most damaging report there
were public scandals, lawsuits, and quarrels /;
the children were temporarily placed IN charge
of highly reputable charity Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church known as the Sheltering
Arms and the disclosures, if not sufficient to
convict Mr.. Cowley of criminality, were ample
to set people on their guard against him.
After violent resistance he was at last ex-
peled. In the meantime the old Shepherds
Fold had been broken up. But it was entitled,
tS strange law, to draw $4,000 year from
the public treasury, irrespective of either the
quantity or quality of its charities. MIR. Cow
ley and a board Of trustees revived 1t in 1877,
took in children, and preferred a claim for the
money.
There is difficulty in finding out who
these trustees are. But the institution could
not obtain legal existence without incor-
porators, and it could not have maintained
itself for three years without funds. Mr..
Cowley must have had associates; and we
hope that the investigation will result in
bringing them to light. They are hardly less
responsible than the shepherd himself for the
abuses practised under their authority. 1t
was by their help that O man already proved
to be unfit for the care of children was placed
over these poor little Outcasts, and it was
through their neglect, if not with their con-
nivance, that the beating and starvation went
on until the police came to the rescue. 1t was
crime to put Mr.. Cowlcy at the head of the
Shepherds Fold after he had twice been ex-
PEELED from similar situations on account OF
maladninistration and cruelty; and the per-
sons through whose recklessness or iDdiffer-
ence he has been kept so long In position to