Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-04
Bessie winslow,s Case.


 Hearfng Before a Committee of the Board
 Of SeIectuaeu-Argumenfs OfCOunse1 Re- 7 garding the InVest1gation-Shan the
 Case be Brought Before the COurts2
 Last evening Selectmen Reynolds and Hart as a committee of the Board of Selectmen appointed to investigate the complaints re- garding the indenture between Rev. MT. Winslow and the parents of Louisa Rogers, otherwise known as Bessie Winslow and adopted child of the gentleman named, con- sideFed the case. The plaintiffs in the case desire to bring the matter before the courts, claiming that the indenture has been broken by MT. Winslow from the fact that he has not personally cared for and provided for the child, in that he has placed her with the Shakers at Mt. Lebanon, New York; for care and education: Edmund Zacher ap- peared for the relatives of the child and Judge Sheldon for Rev. MT. Winslow.
 Town Agent Reynolds said that the com mittee desired to get all the information in the case they could, and asked for sugges- tions by the gentlemen present. I
 Edmund Zacher said he did not understand when he came into the case that it was neces- sary for him to go to the expense of sum- morning witnesses. He had, however, brought into the case representatives of g daily paper that had investigated the case and published the facts as they found them.
 Mir. Reynolds said the object of this com mittee waste inquire whether the law had been violated in regard to the indenture of the child. " .''i-a21 t
 MT. Zacher read the law bearing upon the subject, and claimed that as MT. Winslow as master had removed from the town this child. then it was the duty of the selectmen to inquire why this had been done contrary to law Mr. Zacher claimed it was the duty of the Selectmen to inquire why this child had been removed The moment the child was removed then the action comes against the master Because the law supposes the master and child remain together then this inquiry must be made by the Seleetmen un- der the law.
 Judge Sheldon in reply said that the first thing to be considered was what MT. Wins low agreed to do, or in what particular the master has refused to do. There is nothing to show that the child is not properly cared for, and this is the only matter for inquiry. If the child is not properly cared for that IS one thing; if she is properly cared for then there is no need of this investigation. Judge Sheldon then read the articles of indenture as agreed between the parents of Louisa Rog- CTS Bessie Winslow) and MT. Wins low and the Selectmen of East Lyme. Continuing Mr. Sheldon said it was never intended that MT. Winslow, according to the provisions of the indenture, should ever personally teach her the art of housekeeping. It is not pretended that he was to do it himself but he was to see that it was done and it was being done by the hands of others. As to an addition to the indenture which MT. Winslow signed, in which he promised to treat Bessie as his own child, Judge Sheldon said there was no evidence that he was not doing so I am quite inter- ested, said the judge, to know how you will carry on this inquiry. It should be done fairly, and am sure that MT. Winslow does not desire to stand in this position, provided you will release him from his obligation un- der the indenture. But, said the judge, be- fore deciding, let the courts decide what shall be done before taking action yourselves. If you do otherwise you will find, in case of adverse decision, that you are subjecting yourselves to costs and you may bring this child on to the town for support. suppose the grandfather is the mover in this case, but he has no rights in the matter whatever l SuA11 DC T0dCy GO PEOC00u d6 any PAO- vided you desire to get at the real facts in the case
 MT. Zacher replied: He said that the friends of this child had nothing to do with it's future. The question was whether the Selectmen should make this inquiry. Grant ing that the grandfather and mother of the child are not fit persons to care for this child yet under the law it is your duty to make this inquiry. The State papers have been teeming with outrages committed on this girl, and why should you not, gentlemen, take action in this case The girl has been removed out of the State, but that is no req son why the child should not be sent to our Industrial School rather than out of the State Then the child could have been sent to 8 similar sect to that where she now is, but instead she was sent out of the State. Mr. Zacher argued that the whole spirit of the contract showed that the child was to be under the personal supervision of Mir. Wins low, and the moment he put the child out of his care and out of the State he had broken his contract. What we want is that you should inquire whether Mr. Winslow has done his whole duty to this child and whether the child has done her duty to him.
 Judge Sheldon replied briefly and said if this child was now being treated we'll, or had been so treated for the last year and 8 half, he could not see how the Selectmen could go back of the present. It would be no earthly benefit to any human being. MT. Winslow will not hesitate to give up his rights, pro- vided you will relieve him from his inden, ture. don't believe in all this scandal that has been reported against him. What good can be accomplished by an investigation inte matters that occurred two years ago.
 After the discussion Foster s. Bassett gave history of his investigations in regard to the treatment of Bessie Winslow. The com. mittee then went into executive session and will report to the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting on Thursday evening.