New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-22
AN ORPHAN HOUSE ROMANCE
THE STRANGE STORY OF MABEL HAvENs,
PUT IN AN ASYLUM AND TOLD THAT 1T WAS 4

elements of story have been discovered
recently in the history of little girl,
now an inmate Of the New-York Orphan Asylum.
at Seventy -third-st. and Bloomingdale-ro
Mabel Havens is ten yearsod has lovely hazel eyes.
black hair. features that are moro than comely, q
bright, intelligent expression and manners that tell
OF good homo training. She was brought to tho
New-York Asylum in August. 1881. Under the rules
of the institution the superintendent, G. t. Dunlap
| is empowered to receive full orphans during tho
summer vacation, but at other times the managers
themselves act on all applications for admission,
and by careful investigation convince themselves
that the children brought in every respect en-
titled to the charities of the asylum. At the first
meeting in the fall of 1881, Mr.. Dunlap reported
the of Mabel Hagen for by this rame she had
been regstered), and said that there were peculiar
features about it. She had been brought by man
who gave his Richardson and
his home as Baltimore. He said that
the child was an orphan and destitute
of both means aud friends; that he had known her
parents and was simply dong q benevolence in
providing her with home. With that the matter
dropped from the minds of the superintendent and
directors until it recalled by curious train of
circumstances two or three months ago.
AN OLD woMAN's CURIOSITY AROUSED.
In the asylum is a little. old, white haired
woman, Miss Dempster who in her childhood was
ward of the asylum, in her young -womanhood
teacher there and now is spending her declining
years in the doing of little services about the
house. Many years ago she formed friendship
with younger woman who had also been brought
up in the asylum, and who having lived for term
of years in the world without had returned thither
to take service under tie directors until such time
her afiianced husband also ward of the insti-
tution should be able to take her TO home of their
the married orphans have lived costly aud happily
in the town of Alameda, Cal. One day, in talking
with Mabel Hagen, Miss Dempster learned that the
child was acquainted with persons in Alameda.
She said she had lived there before
she came to New-York. had gone to the
high school and been taught by Miss Fletcher, OF
whom she spoke great deal. simple and natu-
raj curiosity prompted Miss Dempster to write to
her old companion and ask if anything was known
there of such little girl as Mabel Haven was des-
cribed to be.
The answer which Miss Dempster received told
the story of Mabel Havens, who, her father and
mother being dead had been formally adopted by
a Mr. ard Mrs. Dickinson, of Alameda, at
the request of Mrs. Craven. a friend
OF the little girl who had been
herself requested to take the child into the family
by MabePs grandfather. year and half ago or
thereabouts, the grandfather having died mean
while, Mr.. and Mrs. Dickinson returned TO Alameda
from visit to the East, and to the queries of the
chid's friends had made answer that they had
placed her in a rst-class boarding school here Tho
story seemed plausible and was believed, and Miss
DempsteTs correspondent was more than little
amazed at the possibility that the poor wall, or
whom she bad heard from Miss Fletcher and Mrs.
Craven, should be IN the asylum where she had
spent so many years.
COLLECTOR ROBERTSON INTERESTED
Even now the inquiry might have been dropped
had it not been taken up in another quarter. Ths
Mrs. Craven mentioned is distant relative of Col
lector Robertson. She had interested herself in
having the child adopted by the Dickinsous and
was shocked at the idea that Mabel, who. she had
been told, was in boarding school, should be in
orphan asylum. Sho wrote a letter of inquiry to
Judge Robertson, who went, with the matter to
Mrs. Jonathan Odell. the first director of the
asylum. Mrs. 0dell caused search OF
the records TO be made aud found the of Mabel
Hagen. The child was spoken to ard confirmed at
once the suspicion that she was the Mabel iiavens
for whom search was making, and Mrs Odell gave
the facts TO Judge Robertson, who sent them TO his
correspondent Ill California
WHAT TIE GIRL SAYS.
Yesterday TRIBUNE reporter saw Mabel fiayenS
She came into the reception-room of the Asylum
from the midst of hundred children who wera
romping under tho big trees of the Asylum
grounds. She somewhat dfident, bus
answered every question clearly and
iuteliigently She said that after her mothers
death she was taken of for time by Mrs. Cra-
ven and was then adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Dickin-
son. who had had a little daughter and lost her by
death She was taught to call them father aud
mother and lived happily with them for year.
Then Mr.. Dickinson went away, and after a whlle
Mrs. Dickinson came East and joined her husband
here On the way, however. they spent "a week at
some place IN OHIO the name OF which she had for
gotten. When they came TO New-York Mr. Dick
lnson took her 10 the Asylum and left her
SAID nothing about whether she would ever go To
him again. aud she had never heard from him since.
Through the letters which Miss Dempser received
she had learned that her grandfather was dead.
gone to school there. Her father she did not re-
member nor was she sure of the name of her grand
father. but she thought 1t was ike hers, Havers.
lie had wife, and could not take care OF her; so
ness to watch things" but he did not wear uni-
form, and was not a policeman.
THE ASYLUM AUTHORITIES PERPLEXED.
Letters that have been received from California
say that money left by the grandfather to de-
fraylthe cost Of Mabel Havens's bringng-up. The
directors of the New-York Orphan Asylum are
authorized by law to hold moneys properties
Inherited by their wards in trust for them until
they shall become of age. This fact will probably
ead to an investigation of the casa on their part.
They are convinced that they nave been imposed
upon by the person who placed the CHILD in their
Institution under their care, and they
are at loss for a motive to ex-
Dickinson. They say that frauds are frequently
Derpetrated upon orphan asylums, but the present
has unique features which require fur ner in
1estigation before they can be understood. In her
hat she would herself come TO New-York this
month TO look into the case.