New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-09
WHO DID FEE THE HOSPITALf
LITTLE MAY WILSON NOT HELD FOR 1T.
THE coRoyER's JURY DECIDES THAT SHE WAS NOT
REspoNsIBIr FOR HER ALI EGED CONFESSION

THE CoRoyERs JURY DECIDES THAT SHE WAS MOI
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER ALI eyed CONFESSION.
Coroner John r. Nugent empanelled Jury yesterday
In the case OF Mary Donncly, the COOK whose aea'h
was caused by sufocation from smoke, at tho nre
which occurred at the Hospital for Rnptured ana Zip
pied Children, Lexington and Forty secondst' Oh
January 60 This is the case I'm which May WILSON,
an ate, eleven years old, had made confession
In the presence of the Fire Marshal and admitted that
She was the fre-bug1
Superintendent jenkins, Of the Society for the IRE
venton OF Cruelty to Children, in whose charge the
child has been since the fire. requested that size sh uld
be put upon the stand and she was removed to the
ante room by direction of the Coroner.
Dr. John H. Billings, of No. 240 Lextngon-aVe tes-
fcd as to the facts connected with the death of Mary
Dornelly and the unsuccessful efforts made to revive
her DR.. Clarence Thwing, Junior assistant surgeon
related the story of the fire, II has been published
including the discovery Of the boxes of matches upon
the register in the doctors and in the dining room
Mary Armstrong, Annie Reynolds, Mary Corners and
other witnesses gave evidence in regard to the various
fires, five in number which have recently occurred
but Of the testimony connected May Wilson with
their origin On the contrary all the witnesses gave
her good character
Superintendent jenkins then testified that since May
had been In his care she had shown a kindly lovabe
disposition Sh bright and intelligent and won
the affection Of all her playmaes Mr. Jenkins thought
that It by unusual thing for children
to play with fire. The socetys buildings had been lg-
nted several times In this way. May had told him
tha she liked to see matches burn
Cororer Nugent, in charging the jury, said that
there was no evidence before them proving that May
Wilson set fire to the hospital caused the death OF
Mary DOnneuy.
The jury soon returned verdict that Mary Don
nelly to her death by asphyxiatiOn at the IRE I'D
the Hos pal for the Ruptured and Crippled January
90 and that they unable to fix the responsibility
for the fire.
Mays father present at the inquest, and his sad
face frightened when the verdict was announced He
FASTENED TO the room where his child was and en-
braced her afccOnately. He said he would leave her
in the care of her present custOdians. MI Gerrys
Society until other provision could be made for her
Superintendent Jenkins seen last evening by
Tribune reporter and asked If he had made the state
ment attributed TO him that the confession had been
put into May Wilson's month for the purpose OF
shielding the really guilty persons Nc. jenkins said:
II correctly informed, consider the manner in
which the confession obtained a very improper one
If you bring a child before You and repeat to him OF
her a suppositious state Of facts which YOU believe
to be the truth Won will find little trouble
in getting the child to acquiesce In your
statement, and he she will afterward repeat the
and adhere to IL. II becvfes fixed in the chllds
mind. Such has been my experience many times, ana
therefore officers are cautioned against telling
child series of supposed facts with view OF getting
at the truth. ! Will not say that this IS the case
with Mays confession. but other fires occurred at the
hospital which Nav could not start. have reasons
for saying that Nav had been at the hospital too
long. But the matter is all over now and do not
result OF the inquest. which virtually removes the
responsibility OF the fire from little May. She Will
not return TO the hospital Other arrangements are
being made for properly taking Of herr