Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-01

=
believe from the testimony that there
Is any evidence Of such unldndness up-
on her part or neglect upon her part
us would indicate to me that she is
not proper person for the work that
she has to do. OF course this testi-
mony runs over series OF years. one
witness refers to the time when Mrs.
Nohins was there. away back years ago.
aoout there being some parties pun
ished with severity. Mrs, Collins IS
not here, and does not make her state
inent with reference to that matter
The testimony does not show who the
party Was. but 1t occurred while Mrs.
ooillns was there; and IL Is unfortu-
nate. as look at II. that the conduct
there was not brought 10 the knowledge
o. me trustees sooner than II was, inso-
ihr as II was wrong | repeat again
that DO not believe there was mic
conduct TO teh extent that has been
stated, yet nevertheless, believe
mere was wrong conduct. and II tina.
mad been called to the attention OF The
trustees ] believe It would have been
stopped at once. Now, | believe the
most that can be said Is that they
ought to have found II out sooner.
Nrs. Burohill ought to have found 1t
olt sooner and reported to them. prob
apLy; Ihat would go TO the auestion
% neglect OF duty. 1t Is perhaps I'M
fortunate that the Advancement for
finding out things is not better than IL
~ anu II perhaps Will he made better
by the wisdom OF this board. after this
proceeding. While II In not necessary
ior the disposition OF this case. yat I
oeneVe that' whoever else ~ children
ought not to be allowed [. communt-
cate with. they ought to be given 10
Understand, and ought TO understand
~ a' lhey do have at NIL times, from
tne ieast TO the greatest Of them. the
s.ss nt 70 make any confidential
statements that they may have, to any
nneilper or the board Of trustees, and
tnat they can do IL without any aort
/ OF rear OF criticism for 1t.
IN speaking Of fault In not finding
Out THESE things, l realize that parties
/ On the outside had no legal obligation
I 10 give Information any sooner than
they dlu, or to give information at ali.
ior that matter, but do think that a
uuty rested upon these grown people
mere, II they knew 6f anything wrong
| 10 nave disclosed anything that they
saw was improper, and | do not ex-
ouipate them from blame in not doing
! SO. IN so far as they did not do So
/ suppose IL we were to go through
this entire assembly here we would find
the Views OF each one differing some
what from the Views OF the others.
| 1t is criticised. that the Home does
not let out parties who are in there
!
good home is offered. l think what
we have seen from the board OF trus-
] tees shows that that viii be done. But
] there is another thing in which /
think the board of trustees are entirely
right, and that is. that they win see to
II that this is not done until the party
has home and not simply promise
of one. The county court is open, and
any man or woman fit to do SO can
apply there for the guardianship OF any
child who has not guardian that Is
| proper 10 take charge of It. and IL they
show themselves suitable to take care
Of the child and have II in charge
there is no legal objection and no OBJ
struction to their appointment by the
county court as guardian, upon giving
bond as authorized by law. and until
they give such evidence OF their fitness
and Intention to take charge OF and
assume the responsibility TO the child
! that the law places upon them. ] do
not believe II would be right or would
! be good Judgment for the Home to
turn a child over to whomsoever might
apply: because If they did then upon
mere say so Il person could take charge
Of a child, and upon mere say so. be-
cause of any disagreement, could turn
that child lose again, and / suppose
II the authorities of the Home were TO
yield to the solicitations that light
be made, they could dispose of every
one In the Home In a very short time.
the children having no legal guardian
ship. no adoption, no apprenticeship.
nothing OF the kind. but they couid
! dispose of the children to parties who
thought themselves capable ~ tai ing
care of them; but 1 suppose further.
| that II they were to do that, In tine
course Of three or elk months rir COM
/ dltiun OF at least two-tiiLds Z those
! children would be no better than II
was when they were found and cair'cu
| to the Home. / think In that matter
/ the trustees are entird'y right. 1 CO
not think there is any other way that
they can act with reference to II, thar
would show an appreciation Of the I'M
portHnce OF taking care of the children
| and that would be a discharge of duty
towards them, and | think 1t "a IRE
| sumptuous on the part OF anyone who
desires a child OF that character 10
| lust 20 UP with a bare naked state
/ ment, 'I want 1t, want to take It
| away from this institution organized
for the purpose OF taking care of 1t
| and providing a place and means To
| that end. and ] want You to turn 1t
over 10 me-"
! referring again to the criti-
cisms upon the management Of
| tine Home. we find some peo-
| pie who think the children worked
/ TOO hard One lady. familiar with he
| Home, thinks they didn't have any
/ thing to do; that was the only fault
/ about the thing SO we have divers
| views upon that question. Some think
I the children were well fed. There was
1 some statement-I believe, though. that
4 is not in the testimony-that they We're
1 supplied with provisions from the ho-
tells; but do not believe there 10 any
| complaint of any OF the children that
/ they were not well fed.
/ Now there is this about the question
1 of the perpetuation OF the Home. We
/ are unfortunate In Texas. as l regard
/ II. in that we have not n law authOrlz-
| ing the prosecution and punishment OF
| a man or woman for not taking care or
their children. and especially man.
| FOR not taking care of his wife and
chiidrer and furnishing them with
food ard clothing. or makink a reason
/ ably faithful and diligent effort to do
| go. we have no law in Texas that will
/ punish a party criminallt for that
I neglect. 1 remember an Instance that
/ occurred some years ago when I was
in the county judges office A woman
with several children. poor. half-clad,
applied for county aid. / asked where
her husband was. Well. he was "A
strong man. and he was making mon
ey. He and woman other than his
wife ran a shooting gallery down here