New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-26
MR. COWLEY7S PAST GREER.
RESULTS OF FORMER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
CRUELTY AND ABUSE.

RESULTS OF FORMER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
CRUELTY AND ABUSE
In the early part of the year 1877 Mr.. Cow
ley resoent manager and president Of the Board OF
Trustees OF an institution called the Childrens Fold OF
this city. organized by ladies connected with
the Protestant Episcopal Church. II received
81 per week for each inmate from the
Department Charities and Correction. THE TRIBUNE
Of January % 1877, contained charges of cruelty and
abuse against the Rev. Mr.. COwey supported by tine
evidence of children belonging to the Cbildren's
Fold. committee OF the state Board OF
Charities Investigated the charges and elected the
following facts, WHICH published In THE
TRIBUNE thc time jennie Mills, eighteen, who
had eight years in the Fold. testified that Mr.. Cow
ley habtually treated the children with great cruelty
beating them with whips and other instru-
ments, and always kicking them when he admin.
istered punishment. He had punished the girls
btle brother by s;riElng HIM with shoe the bead
cutting him badly, and beating him until he was black
and blue all she also testified that both Mr. and
Mrs Cowcy used abusive and opprobrious language In
talking to the children the former swearing at
them violently aud calling them bastards whom
he had picked ont OF the gutter Fannie Mcbride
age sIxecn who had been In the Fol Ave years. tes'
fed that Mr. COwlcy had at time kicked her do wn
stairs she had him beat other girls In the old
and knock them down and she the names OF sew
eral VINO had beaten black and blue and
who had been ured that their wounds bled.
Catherine McCurdy. axe eighteen, VINO had been five
years in Fold testified that Mrs Cowey had beaten
her for hour with brush and had then given
hcrI the hands of Mr. Cowley, who had contin ued
the beating.
The Committee OF the State BOARD of Charities pre-
only verbal report in which IL was stated that
these had been punshmens to the children, but
that " q great Improvement had been made in the re-
cent management Of the institution" 1t stated
that she general plan OF the institution good. and
one OF the committee stated that the trustees
considered Mr.. Cuwley muchabnsed man. Several
members Of the Board Of Trustees admitted that COwley
was not proper to manage the institution. but
added that Il doubtful II he could be dsul3ced
he had strong social and religious element support
ing bim.'
On February 10. 81, MIR. Cowey retired from the
supervise IA the CnIldreUs Fold, but retained hs
position OF President OF the Board of Trustees. Tho
trustees then assembled aud elected officers. but
MIR Convey would not recognize them unless claims
allowed to him. OF bis salary Tor several years. and the
expense ola trip Europe. Thes, claims refused
Mr. COwiry then made public The statement that meet
OF Board had been held and t1ai he and his wife
had been nnsiatcd as managers OF the Fold.
He succeeded obtaining c0utrO OF the Fold
az lin. TGe case WAS then taken into tho
Courts. and has net yet been decided. In
july. 1877. COwley established n home Fold
East Fury-eg ht-st. LeklDgtor-aye, taking To IL
several chi dCn from the CBIldTens Fold, and adding
Others Since that time ne has managed 10
k cp control of the institution when bears the
of tue epherds Fold. de p.te prolonged lawsuits
between the opposing boards % managers.