Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-30
INHuMAN TREATMENT OF CHILDREN
Babies Sent Unattended From the Home
 at WiHsted to Bridgeport.


 at WiHsted to Bridgeport.
 An investigation of the county homes of the state and change of the law in regard to the process by which children may be taken from the care of their parents, is in order. The case of little Josie Barry of Bridgeport directed pub lie attention to the evil few months ago. This child was given in charge of the Fairfield county commissioners, not having a suitable home. Some time later the mother applied for her child, finding herself able to provide for the little one, but the county commissioners refused to give up the girl, and were up- held in their decision by the superior court. The case was one that appealed to every human heart, and even the judge expressed sympathy for the little one and her poor mother, but under the law he could do nothing.
 In defense of their action the county commissioners declared that the child was in good home, and tried to make it appear that the county institution was a perfect paradise for neglected children.
 The attention of the DEMOCRAT has been called to a case which would seem to prove that the managers of some of these homes are heartless and entirely
 
 ing.
 Yesterday morning three children, the eldest ten years old, and the youngest a baEy of two, were placed on Conducror Dickerman'S train on the Naugatuck road at Winsted, the conductor receiv- ing instructions to carry them to Bridgeport. They were put on the cars by Mrs Case, matron of the Gilbert home, and were then left to the tender NVlNn nE fhn hands. The oldest child was sick and unable to give any attention to her baby sister, who cried and screamed and could not be comforted. The faces of the children were scared and they pre- sented pitiable appearance.
 A Waterbury gentleman who was on the train on learning the circumstances went to Bridgeport with the children. 1 At the railroad station he met the ma tron of the Stratford home, to whom the little ones had been consigned. When upbraided for the treatment the little ones had received the matron be- came indignant, but assumed a penitent l attitude when the Waterbury man threatened to have the matter publishsd and investigated. She begged him not to say anything about the affair and | offered to pay the expenses he had in- cured by going to Bridgeport with the children.
 It was learned at Bridgeport that the little ones were the children of Thomas F. Finley. They had been neglected by their mother, and although the father is said to- be hard-working man, they were taken from his charge and placed in the county home at Stratford. From there they were removed to Win sted, and finally, after much solicitation on the part of the father, the commits sioners agreed to deliver the children to Father Rogers of Bridgeport, to be cared for in the orphan asylum at New Ha- ven. For this purpose they were sent to Bridgeport yesterday. Another of MT Finley's children, a boy of 12, was placed in a family by the commissioners, who refuse to return him to his father, as they did in the Barry case. County Commissioner Johnson when spoken to about the matter, had very little to say, eexcept that he was acting under the law. He, also, did not want anything said about the manner in which the children had been treated. The DEMOCRAT has list of indignant passengers who saw the pitiful condition of the children and the cruel manner in which they were deserted. Among the number were the Rev J. w. Ellsworth, rector of st Michael's Episco- pal church at Naugatuck, and wife, who authorized the use of their names, as did other ladies and gentlemen present. All stand ready to give evidence very un- complimentary to the managers of the Winsted and Stratford homes, when called upon.