New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
IN DEFENCE OF MR. PIERCE.
TESTIMONY ABOUT DISCIPLINE IN THE
WESTMINSTER HOME.


rRADIcTED-JosEPH A. EVANS SAYS HE
KNEW NOTHING OF THE MARJORIE CASE
The inquiry into the management OF the west
chester Temporary Home for Destitute Chiidreh was
continued yesterday in the Supreme court roo''' "a
the White Plains Courthouse. before Daniei w.
Guernsey referee Ex-Judge Isaac w. Miller ana
Richard s. Emmett, jr., appeared Tor the boaiu VI
Managers and Henry c. Henderson 5. >. Marshai.
and Mr.. Van Kluck for the prosecution
II was the third day Of the hearing for the oeie"c
and. as on the former occasions evidence was aa
Aucsd N show that the terrible cruelies' with
which Superintendent Pierce had been chargeo were
largely exaggerations. and that many OF the 'aies
which formed the basis for the sensational Stories
which have been widely circulated hao no iou"u"
ton in fact. The warm weather ana possioi! .'e
knowledge that there would be no sensanonai oe
,elonments but that the time would be deVoteu
principally to breaking down the accusations nau
q tendency 20 keep many people away "ho' uu',Ae
the hearing Of the prosecution showed livery IN
terest In the proceedings
When the referee opened the session there "ere
only a few persons in the court room besides tnose
vbo were personally interested. The Board OF MAN
ayers was well represented the women OF that oous
showed deep interest in all that TOOK Pace anu "
evident anxiety to learn all that there was 70 know
about the institution for the management OF whlch
they feel themselves Jointly responsible Win inc
sunerintendent Only the front row OF the gaier!
WAS taken and the women who occupied that space
there were no men there-were eVdeh'N al s!"
patty with the prosecution, for at one stage Oh ING
proceedings when a witness for the defence maoe d
statement which seemed TO them to reflect severely
on Mr.. Pierce they gave signs OF approval ""c"
the referee however. promptly suppressed
THE SALT WATER BATH CHARGE
Tho mos, important witness called at yesterdays
hearing was Joseph A. Evans who, together with
his sister and his two brothers. was Tor iohs time
in the institution. Evans is now painter, living
IN White Plains. His name has figured prominently
in connection with of the alleged atrocities COM
mtted by Superintendent Pierce. A previous Wit
ness had testified that when the boy Marjorie had
been horsewhipped in the front hall by Mr. ferce'
Evans was present and assisted In part OF the
cruel treatment. The statement in short was that
Marjorie had been horsewhpped in a most cruel
manner and that after the whipping the Super
fntendent had knocked him down with the butt end
of the whip shat while the boy lay unconscious on
the floor of the hail. which before the hogging mad
been cleared of fui nure by Evans and another boy
Mr.. Pierce ordere. Evans to bring in tub OF
water, which, II said, he did. 1t was further
alleged that on Perces order Evans went to
room near by and brought back quantity OF salt
which was put into the water. and that he then
assisted Mr. Pierce in lifting the bleeding uncon-
scious boy into the salt bath.
At the hearing yesterday Evans testified that he
in way connected with the alleged occur
rences and that he heard Of the only after
the present hearing began. This is the second wit
who has denied the Marjorie horsewhippng.
The first Mrs Francis, an attendant, who,
It was said had supplied the salt for the bath and
who was in an adjoining room. by this you see
said friend Of the institution who does not believe
in the stories Of gross mismanagement and in
human cruelties. that the star story OF cruelty.
the Marjorie nogging. is nothing short OF myth
Another story which has attracted much atten-
ton was that about John Evans, brother Of
Joseph. who it said had been strung up by
the thumbs. Joseph Evans testified that he knew
OF no such punishment ever having been inflicted
on his brother. These two and one other
said yesterday THE third story, which was of
sion. and the two other cases have been shown to
be unworthy Of consideration"
to place the boy Marjorie on the stand and prove
by this alleged victim that the charges in regard
to him were baseless, but that the boy could not
be found
EvANSS EXPERIENCE OF WHIPPINGS.
Evans, in his testimony said that he twenty
five years old and that he was sent to the home in
1880. when 1t in Pleasantvle and left there in
1885, In the course Of his connection with the in
from two Of which he had been taken back by Mr..
Pierce because he had not received proper treat
msn His last long stay at the home S was 1sf
he had been whipped while al the home and SAID
tina, strap Was used for that STRAP
to White Plains did not improve him much. IT
ne He wnDR eew of
being used on any OF the inmates and never knew
break the skin. The punishment. ne said would
leave red marks for short time but nothing more,
knew, because he slept in the dormitory with
them and bathed with, them
once for three hours. A runaway boy was chained.
he said. and ran away again. chain and all. When
boy The second boy wanted to 60 to church. and
Evans allowed himself TO be chained to the run,
remember seing only four boys chained while he
was In the institution, and he never saw handouts
statement made by the witness Jackson as to his
assisting In giving the boy Marjorie t-bath and
ceeding. there was look OF wonder the faces
Of all who had heard the other story. and Mr.;
Pierce and the members OF the Board seemed
On cross-examination Mr.. Henderson tried to
pie that he had witnessed the Marjorie nogging. but
Evans insisted that he had newer done one So he yaa
called to testify in the he would not testify in
favor MI Pierce amy M ia thu auSr VI amy
question BY Mr. Henderson and what followed a.
One Of the crimes charged against the supern;
tendent was that he had the hair Of the bad girls
cut In such manner as to make them appear
srotesaue Up to this time no evidence had been been
done Now Mr.. Henderson asked: did you ever cut
a and hs wO IN girls
the rules had been Of fragrant kind were pun;
fshed by having their hair cut uneVenly. ana nat
to wear 1t so until the next Saturday. when II was
cut evenly
TWO LITTLE GIRLS TESTIFY.
Mabel Cave, Of two bright, rosy-checked
blond-hared little girls who were sent to the In
stitution when their father was killed and thei
mother eft destitute was the next witness Sh'
said she was thirteen years DID, but before ano'he
question could be asked of the child the counsel fo
the prosecution insisted on Mr.. Pierce ana Mapei
sister leaving the room which they did. The chilt
said that she was now living with Mrs. Wood a
Noun. Kksco While at the home she had beer
reDorted to Mr. Pierce for misconduct. and hat
been punished The punishment was always on IN.
and left marks. She Ddthed VIII