The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-24
German Orphan Asylum Directors
Clear Supt. ErmoId.
OFFICIAL INQUIRY MADE
Meeting In the Office OF Hon. Simon
Wolf-Mrs. Turner Did Not Appear.
Legal Steps May Be Taken Against
Those Who Brought the Charges.
Mr.. Bruehl's Story.

| He HieetlnS Oh tne directors OF tne Oer-
man Orphan Asylum at the office OF d.
rector Simon Wolf, at No. 32G street,
last night, resulted in n vindication of
! Supt Ermold of the asylum frum the
| charges of cruelty to George Turner, the
| seven-year-old boy nf Mrs. Alice NJ. Turner
and Superintendent of Charities Tracey
and Agent Wilson, OF the Humane Society,
| agreed that tisy had nothing before them
| in the way of complaints against the
asylum that deserved any attention.
Both said they considered the institution
well manageds Col. Tracey stated that the
charges brought to his attentiun six months
ago by Pastor Kraft related to matters
| far in the past, many of them antedating
| the existence of the office Of superintendent
of charities.
The exoneration of Supt. Ermold prob
| ably does not end the affair. There are
| suggestions that the attacks made upon the
| asylum authorities will be answered pos
sibiy by legal steps.
MR.. BRUEHL's COMPLAINT.
On the other hand, at least one man
claims TO have facts TO bring before Col
Tracey that will necessitate further in
JURY. This is Mr. Emil G. Bruehi, OF No
523 Third street southwest.
IL was expected that Mrs. Turner would
be present at the meeting last night. After
waiting some time for her President Graft
called the board TO order. Among those
present were Messrs. Simon Wolf. William
Kettler, George Emmert, Charles Schroth,
William Koch. Ernest Treiber. Lou is
Keitier. J. J. Appich. George Bessler. Charles
Medes, Fred imhof. Dr.. Straeh. Mrs. r.
Botsch, Mrs. Pocsche, and Mrs. Tigrane.
Col. Tracey and Mr.. Wilson were there by
special invitation.
Secretary Edward Kuhc kept the minutes
| and Mr.. VOLTS stenographer took full
report OF everything said publicly
President Graft called Mr.. Wolf to the
chair, because he was Ia give some evidence
in the case. Mr.. Wolf said Mrs. Turner
had promised on Saturday to be present As
she was not, he called attention to Col.
Tracey's published statement, and asked
for further testimony in the Turner case.
Col Tracey told of calling on Mrs.
Turner yesterday. The boy, George, ad-
mitted that he had been beaten by his
sister, and while he did not state specifi
cally that Supt. Ermold had never struck
him, his manner was d tacit admission.
He first said he had been punished, but
afterward practically contradicted.
Mr.. Wolf stated very earnestly that
the director had nnthing to conceal and
urged that if there were anything known
TO the discredit of the asylum it should
be brought forward at once. No such
institution, he said, cuuld prosper If
Obliged to be continually defending IL
self against such attacks as had recently
been made. They proposed now TO go
To the buttom and make an end to these
anDoyances.
LIE OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
He referred to the statements made by
ex-secretary springsguth and others and
concluded emphatically that every charge
against superintendent Ermold ur any one
connected with the asylum was "a lie
out of whole CLOTH
Col. Tracey sale On bis recent visits 10
the asylum he was much pleased with
evidences OF pugress noted.
Supt. Ermold was then called forward to
ec questioned. He could not speak English
sufficiently and Mrs. Poesche acted as inter
prefer. In answer TO questions by Mr..
Wolf he said he had never struck George
Turner, who was the best child in the insti
tuition. He had never struck Adolph Bruehl,
but Mrs. Ermold had. The policeman
brought by the boy found the punishmenthad
been proper. In answer to questions by
Col Tracey he said he first warned an Of
fender, then punished lightly and finally
struck not to exceed two blows with a
switch. This corporal punishment had
been inflicted only eight or ten times in
three years of his incumbency. Boys and
girls were not allowed TO sleep in the same
bed.
The directors then went into executive
session. it is supposed to determine what
action shall be taken against Mr.. Springs
guth.
Mr.. Bruchl said last night his statement
to Mr.. SpriBgsguh was not that boys and
girls "roomed together" at the asylum, but
that they roamed together like cattle.