The evening world., 1888-09-18

Josie Sheppard, the exiled orphan, is to be
Drought back from Illinois and surreud cred
to his relatives. Instead of being committed
as an apprentice during his minority to the
tender mercies of a Western farmer he is to
be indentured to his uncle. Mr.. John Shep-
hard, jr., of Rochester, N. Y. Such is the
decision Just reached by the Indenturing
Committee of the New York Juvenile Asy-
lum.
This is the final and triumphant chapter of
anotable effort of THE EVENING WORLD in
the cause of humanity. The result has been
attained by persistence and devotion to q
good cause, undeterred by temporary re-
bluffs, undiscouraged by delays, ~undaunted
by prejudice, but with full faith in the ulti-
mate triumph of justice.
The pitiful story of Josie Sheppard has
touched q responsive chord in many a par
ent's heart. Grandmother Shephard's appeal,
first printed in The EVENING WORLD. for the
recovery of her boy aroused genuine and wide
spread sympathy in her behalf. The recital OF
the extraordinary chain of mishaps and mis-
understandings that resulted in his sudden
transportation to far-away Illinois without the
knowledge and against the wishes of friends
and relatives anxious to care for him, reads
more like o story of Dickens than On actual
occurrence in this great metropolis in this
nineteenth century. 1t would have been in
credible had it not been true.
That the New York Juvenile Asylum is an
institution that accomplishes a grand and
benefcent work none can deny. That the
gentlemen who constitute its Board of Direc-
tors and committees are actuated in their
nnhla uprl nv tha hiuhaot Ynntiyaa unaa with
out saying. But on this very account it was
all the more remarkable hat Josie Sheppard
should have been sent to the West to live the
ofttimes hard life of a farmers apprentice
while he had relatives in the East eager to
care for and educate him.
That the indenturina committee, relying
upon reports OF sub~ordinates, inadequate
and misleading as the issue proves, had made
an erI or of judgment in this case was the
claim of THE EVENING WORLD. 1t has made
from the outset no charge against these phil.
anthropic gentlemen other than this. Now
that the committee, upon the full and ex.
plicit information in the case. gathered with
great care and considerable expense by THE
EVENING WORLD, has reversed its decision,
they are entitled to the gratitude of the
fathers and mothers of New York.
For the significance of the Sheppard case
was something more than personal. 1t in,
volved the question whether it was possible
for parents and relatives ever to regain pos
session of their children who might have
been put into an asylum without their knowl
edge, retained there against their will and
sent West against their protest.
TIL EVENING WORLD, despite the declina
lions of the committee to return Josie Shep
hard on its first applications in behalf Of hi
relatives, persisted in its Investigations. /
found that Mr.. John Sheppard, jr., hi
uncle, residing at 1913 North Clinton street
Rochester, was a sober, worthy, industriou
and fairly prosperous man, and that, havinl
no children of his own, he had for two year
been anxiousto care and educate his nephew
He had even been TO the city at one time, an,
made a vain effort to secure possession Q
him.
The EVENING WoRLD's special represents
tive at Rochester worked for weeks on thi