The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-02-23
RUMORS! RUMORS! RUMORS !!
Is Attendant Speers Only a
Scapegoat for Others
and Where is the
Lady?
SHE DEMANDS An ENQUIRY.

Last Thursday the Democratic mem
bers of the Board of Freeholders invited
the two Republican members to take part
in the last portion of their caucus This
was such an unusual thing that it led to
inquiry. The investigation made since
then exposes condition of things that
requires most thorough examination OF
the institutions at Snake Hill
Mrs. Ellen Barry, widow Of former
employe at Snake Hill, who has for about
SIX years been employed as waitress at
the asylum, was summariIy dismissed on
Thursday at the Board meeting. This
position OF waitress is one of responsible
1ty, Tor, besides attending table at meal
times, it means attending the patients in
The institution Which necessarily requires
the services of a very competent woman.
There was not dissenting vote when
Freeholder kimmerly offered resolu-
tion to dismiss her, which, under the cir
cumStances that caused the removal was
not strange. When several Freeholders
were asked the reason for the removal,
they told me She neglected her duties,
thai is all
sPEERs IN BARRyss ROOM.
The truth Is that Mrs. Mary Hogan, an
attendant at the asylum. reported that
she saw Harry Speers, q male attendant,
enter the sleeping apartments of Mrs
Barry between ten and eleven o'clock
one night The week before, and she re-
mittee on the Asylum heard this
They made an investigation, and
the result was that they reported to all
the members in caucus that Mrs. Barry
had frequently, when she had been
granted one days leave of absence. re-
ri ftuxa els f1ox
she drank and was unfit for her resp0n-
sibIe position. Lit was for these reasons
she was dismissed.
Mrs. Barry refused to be disposed Of in
this manner and demanded that an in
yestigati0n be made, which viii be done
next Tuesday at Snake Hill. SubpHnas
. have been issued and number Of per-
sons will be eqamined, and among them
some ex-ofiicials may be called on to
testify in the matter. They certainly will
ii the Freeholders do their duty
When went to Snake Hill, yesterday,
man there in authority told me he has
long suspected the character of Mrs.
Barry, for at night she would
very often leave the asylum
and remain out as late as
eleven O'Clock, while the other female at
tendants would retire at not later than
nine o'clock. He said that at night the
attendants not engaged in work would or
could 60 out and rake a walk from one
institution to another, or 60 anywhere
else ON the Hill.
The same man said he did not believe
the Investigation demanded would affect
any other female on the Hill. and was
certain it would not affect the patients at
the asylum. He told me that Mrs. Barry
claimed that she was innocent of the
charges, and that she refused to leave the
institution until yesterday morning.
Where she went he did not know, but
10 f<,f Of I1Tfr
James Barrett, of No. 26 Bloomfield
street, Hoboken-
She was described as being very come
IL, about thirty-two years old and in
!. clined to be stout, and was very pleasant
! in her manners
safter having learned some OF these
alleged facts, and asked him IL they were
ytrue he appeared very much embarrassed
and demanded where got my informa-
tion. He refused to either admit or deny
the story, and said
lit was a caucus measure and cannot
speak about it. You may say, however,
she was dismissed for being negligent in
her duty
Director Bruggenann was next inter
viewed. Il cannot say anything about
the matter he replied
But did not you suspend her when You
received the information"
Piled
And she is your appointment, be-
No, no. she was there when went in
once, but strong pressure was brought TO
pear and kept her there to obllge some
friends; knew nothing about her.
That is all he would say
A TENDER CONSCIENCE.
treeholder German told me his scon-
science would not permit him to disclose
.he secrets OF q caucus and refused 20 say
TO what extent the investigation would be
carried or whether it would affect others
than Mrs. Barry.
Freebooter Ellis did not care to talk
about the subject, and he evaded nearly
every question he was asked.
do you believe there are cases of i'm
morality on the Hillsn asked.
! have nothing to say" said he, with
smile of Significance. 'sfhis woman was
dismissed because there was q surplus OF
help, with another meaning smile.
~ blt an investigation is TO be made
Tuesday" said TO him.
Z II you will wait until them said Mr..
Ellis. you may get good story
Well, II you won't tell me what you
know, tell me what is Tumored-"
sumors are but rumors, and | have
neard rumors, runors, rumors about the
Hlll, ne answered with emphasis. He
declined to say anything else
street, Hopokon. said she had not seen
Ellen Barry for several years. She
wanted nothing to do with her because
she would drink, aud she did not want
her daughter to associate with her daugh-
tersln-laW.
REPORTED BEFORE.
Freebooter Hennessey was equally reti-
cent about what the investig cation may
DISCLOSE He believed, he SAID, that no
- would be subjec 10 an Investigation
the attendant, Speers, and Mrs. Bar
He said that the latter had been re-
10 The last Board by
nledical superintendent as
pper person for the position, but
WIS brought 70 bear and she
ipfd. That this last charge
WIS the only one that had