Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25
''SHEPERD'S FOLD"

The New York Children who Were Gath
cred In by the Rev. MIR. Cowley Half Fed,
Half Clad, and Kept in Filth, But The!
Had Long Prayers.
New York, Jan. 24.-An announcement
that the investigation of the Sheperd's FolG
would be continued this morning before
Judge Donahoe and in the supreme ceur
chambers, attracted very large audience
and adjournment was taken 10 the large
court room. Rev. Mr.. Cowley, manager of
the Fold, occupied seat by the counsel for
the Fold, Judge Fullerton, and was the OBJ
served of ell spectators. Six of the children
were in court under care of an agent of the
society for prevention of cruelty to children
The return to the writ denies the allega-
tions of cruelty, that no corporal
punishment was allowed, and none of
the children were so punished; that Louis
Victor, said to have been starved, was suffer
ing from constitutional ricketts,, and was not
ill-treated or neglected.; that no children I'M
der the age of twelve were allowed to do any
work; that tbs children had received proper
care and instruction, and were clearly kept.
The affidavit attached to the return was
sworn to by Rev. MIR. Cowley.
Judge Donahue said the person who made
an allegation in the return that the city
withheld $1,000 to which the institution was
entitled, know it was not 80, as the courts
had decided that the institution was not en-
tiled to it.
Leber NJ. Clark testified that his son,
Harry, six years old, was placed in care of
the Shepherds Fold in April last, and as far
as witness knew he had no disease. Clark
removed his son in November or Deem
Der last. He was in filthy and emaciated
condition and witness had to carry him
down stairs. His legs were covered with
pimples. He had sore mouth and when
hand was rubbed over his body scales and
scurf fell off. He had to be treated like an
institution he made arrangements with Mrs.
Cowley to pay her 81 month and provide
clothing.
Mrs. Mary a. Mcclellan, principal of
primary school No. 81, which several chill
dren from the Fold attended, testified that
two of the children were
dismissed on account of the condition
of their eyes and taking things not belong
ing to them and that others we're dismissed
for having vermin. One was dismissed for
being nuclean and having ring worms. The
children's clothing was insufficient and
ragged, and they said they were hungry. A
boy went to a neighbours for food, and when
spoken to about it said he was hungry, hav-
ing been sent to school without his breakfast.
Emma Bowman, aged II, with no parents
and no friends, testified that there was but
one bath room in the house for the children.
The big ones got up at o'clock; the little
ones when fire was made in the kitchen.
We dressed in the bedroom. Some uf us
used our clothing for pillows. We washed
our faces in the bathroom. There
were five towels for twenty
four children. We all ran for the
first wipe. There was but one comb and
brush for them all and the brush had no
back on it. The first meal was of bread
and condensed milk mixed with water. No
cups were furnished and when the baker
failed to bring bread, they had Indian meal.
The older children made the beds and did
scrubbing. The cooking and washing were
done by Conry Howes, aged fifteen. Witness
said, two weeks before leaving the Fold,
Cowley punched her in the back and kicked
her so the marks remained for week, and
on another occasion Cowley knocked her
down with his fist and stamped on her.
On that occasion he struck her three times,
at the same time kicking her on her
legs. Cowley found a cat-of-nine-
nine tails on Forty-Ninth street, and used it
on witnesses hands, giving her ten cuts on
each hand. Once she was locked up in a
small room which contained nothing in the
way of furniture. On the first night she
slept on the floor. After that she had
mattress. During weeks confinement her
food was bread and water. For dinner they
had peas and beass made into soup. They
sat around the table on soap boxes. AS
there were only twelve plates some had to
wait till the others were finished. There
were no cups. The children after eating
went to the bydrant with dipper for water.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cowley had for dinner roast
lamb and beef, or poultry, with pota
toes, persnips, beans, and sometimes
lager beer. Cowley generally asked bless
ing. In the evening Cowley had prayers,
which lasted about an hour. There was no
one to overlook the children in their sleep
ing places. The door between the girls and
boys rooms was sometimes open and some
times shut, but never locked. There was
no light in either room, and boy had for
a month been in the habit of going to the
girls room, generally about the middle of
the night, dressed in blanket and shirt
over his head. There were no coverlets on
the beds except on reception days and
witness suffered from cold. The girls
beds had two sheets each, but none to replace
them while they we're washed. Witness told
Mrs. Cowley of the boys going to the girls
rooms, but she said nonsense - Witness
and another girl sat up with q sick child
during night. Louis Victor was attended
by MIR. Cowley, who gave him medicine.
Bessie washed and dressed him.
Judge Donohue adjourned the farther
hearing till Tuesday, as he had chamber
calendar to attend to, and then the judge
discovered his hat had been stolen.