The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-03-31

The trial of the Rev. Edward Cowlsv,
who had charge of the Ehepherd's
Fold . in New York City, began en- the
9th inst.g Public opinion has been
greatly iucensed by the developments of
his treatment. of the orphan and home
less children put into his "Fold," and
Systematically starved and it was with
| considerable difficulty that a jury could
| be found sufficiently unfamiliar with
the case to try it with unbiased minds.
A feeble defense of Cowley has been
made by himself and his friends, and a
suspension OF Judgment asked till the
testimony on the twenty-four indict-
mexlts under which he labors has been
heard. It is noticeable, however, that
none of his apolOgists believe in his in
nOcence so far as to come forward with
bail for his appearance. Since his ar
resthe has been incarcerated in the Tombs
with otherifelons and criminals.
When summoned to the bar to answer
the charges of guilty, he pleaded not
guilty, after which the first Indictment
was taken up-that OF the case of Lewis
Victor, who was taken from the Fold in
a starving condition. The testimony in
this case raises q presumption against
Cowley that it viii be difficult for him
to overcome, and confirms all that the
newspapers have said about it.
The first witness called was the physi-
clan Of the hospital to which the child
was taken after its removal from the
Fold. He said there was no fat what
ever on the child's muscles, nor any
color in his face. His cheeks were blood
less and the body emaciated. When
taken to cot in the chjldren's ward he
lay still, except when moaning for meat.
There was q Wattery formation in the
tissues between the muscle and skin of
the lower limbs; the flesh yielded like
putty to the touch there was bad sore
and abrasion of the skin over the spinal
column, and on his left foot was dry,
reddish ulcer. 1.aaaa 81.
When asked his OPT on of the causes
of the boys condit-~s, the physician
promptly answered t,7t it was due to a
lack of proper food, n other words, to
starvation" This s. 'ement produced
& sensation in che co room, coming,
as it did, from a phys, n of high stand
ing in his prOfessior and there was
abundant confrmatio / of it. COwley's
theory Of defense is that these children
came to the Fold in the condition they
were found; but even were that true,
they had been long enough there, if
properly treated, to have recovered
strength and flesh, for children are, of
al patients, and when no particular dis
ease affects them, amenable to the gen
erous influences of wholesome and nu
tritious food.
Unless Mr.. CoWley is able to offer
better defense than this he will not es-
cape whatever punishment the law ac-
cords to inhumanity. His professions
of piety and Christian benevolence will
not save him. 1t cost him nothing to
say long prayers and read passages of
Scripture in the presence of these starry
ing little ones three or four times day.
He observed the ceremonies of the law,
but gave no heed to its spirit. Had his
devotion to the bodies of these little
children borne any proportion to his
professional anxiety for the salvation of
their souls, the Shepherds Fold would
have boen, what its founders intended
it to be, a secure refuge to the homeless
gathered under its roof. There
is nothing more pathetic than the stories
the innocents tell of their suferings
under the guardianship of this man, in
whom hypocrisy and heartlessness seem
to have been combined IL about equal
proportions