Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-01-02
Grave Charges Against the Blind
Asylum Management.
Shameful Neglect of n Little
Blind Girl Asserted, Back
ed up by sworn Testi-
mOny.
\ Legislative investigation De-
handed.

felt that | had a right to send her
there and expected her to receive good
treatment. Notwithstanding | had
heard many complaints which almost
persuaded me to send my child to Ba-
ton Rouge Yet as this was and Is now
my home, brought her to jackson
and under Dr. Peter Farley. the pres
ent manager, left her BY the careful
watch of a sister, who saw her about
once a month. she Jared moderately
well except as to food the first session.
The second session | came uneXpect-
edly to Jackson and went to see my
child. and was Mortified to find her al
most eaten up with vermin.
| took her to my brothers i'll Jack
son. heart broken, and for two days
toiled with all my might to rid her OF
the pest. | also found that she had
worn one garment nearly four months.
This garment was threadbare and so
filthy as to be offensive. Other gar
ments of the same kind were still i'll the
trunk new. and had never been touch
ed or washed.
Her whole body was sight to see,
the filth and dirt had almost hidden
the color of her skin and was caked
and fastened to her skin i'll many
places, causing pain to remove. y lit
tie ten year-old blind, helpless girl,
whose mother trusted to the manage
ment of this institution, would be prop
erly cared for. and to be thus treated
almost broke my heart. Is there a
mother in this land whose heart is so
hard as not to be touched at this l
got my brother. Mr.. l.. f. Chiles, to
make complaint to Governor Stone,
which he said he did, telling me the
Governor had promised an investiga-
ton and that matters should mend.
was persuaded by my brother to
that the trustees of that institution,
having been notified of the condition
of affairs, would remedy them. This
last session experienced little or no
Improvement My child was found in
the same condition, with her clothing
almost rotting on her back. | then
went to Governor Stone myself, and
asked his protection for my child. He
promised to give it. Some months af-
forwards, and short time since, after
the board of trustees had seen tit to re-
lieve the only two teachers Of that in
stitution who took any interest in the
welfare of children, left there, and had
appointed in their stead others of DR..
Fairley's family, thus throwing around
him wall of protection, and thereby
making him bomb proof against all
further charges of neglect, an inves-
tigation was had by the brother of
these two teachers.
| at first declined to give any infor-
nation to Mr.. Daniels for it was he
who reported it, but after repeated re-
quests | gave him the horrible facts
! lily CEilOt Uold ny
some of the trustees that they looked
into the matter One of these trus
tees was polite and consideratc
enough of my feelings to ask me if
could count the vermin on my child
and if | had witnesses beside myself
who saw it. An outrageous insult tC
any mother who bears that love I
mother should for her child.
| remarked, 'of course, dozen wit
nesses;" but what do the best wit
nesses in the land avail with boarC
which seems determined to SO hide the
misdoings of the management of the
asylum for the blind as to place the
whole thing in the hands of one fami
iy with no outside pressure to force
them to do their duty.
| have nothing whatever to do will
the investigation of those teacher!
who understand were, on DIR. Fair
ley's recommendation, discharged
but l have an interest in my child anC
| have the right to expect the author
tiles to see this institution properly
protected and its unfortunate inmates
properly cared for.
My husband is fully able to schoo
our children, but who is it that is no
dependent upon public institutions t.
educate the blind.
| now publicly make the charge tina
this institution has been grievousl.
5 mismanaged, and call upon Gov
Stone to ask an investigation by TIN
Legislature, where if another coat 0
whitewash is applied then | have III
more to say.
MRS. EUGENIA FOSTER
| endorse every word of the allow
and am ready to verify this statement
l.. f. CHILES,
Mayor of Jackson.
, Since the above communication wa
first published in the Jackson News, i
, has been supplemented in card from
Mayor Chiles by the following affida
Wits:
PERSONALLY appeared before me Mrs
j. III. Foster, Mrs E. NJ. Foster an(
Mrs. Fannie Davis and Mamie Mhoon
who, being sworn, state that they have
seen the charges made by Mrs. Eugen
la Foster against the management o.
the Blind Institute at Jackson, anC
that the said charges are true, having
been eye witnesses to same.
Sworn to before me- this 10Th day OF