New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
PIERCE INVESTIGATION ENDS.
COUNSEL FOR BOTH SIDES sum UP BE-
FORE THE REFEREE.
rx-upGE MILLS crfrIc,sEs THE STATE BOARD
OF CHARITIES ASD CALLS THEIR INTER
LsIcRE.N,,E ..IMiERTlNENC.E"

Ex-JuDGE MILLS cEfrIcIsEs THE STATE BOARD
OF CHARITIES ASp Calls THEIR INTER
FERENCE ..iMfERTiNENcE''
The investigation into the management OF ths
Westminster Temporary Home for 'h'dreh al
White Plains came to an end yesterday wheh' pe'
fore the referee Daniel w Guernsey. the lawyers
began TO sum up the testimony when mas peen
taken in the year and q half that tho investigation
has been going
Isaac N Mills ex-County Judge who appeared
for tho Home. was the frat to take the hoor AFTER
contrasting the few spectators present WIN the eA
cited crowds that attended the frst hearings ne
reminded his hearers that 1t was the Home Hsei
which insisted on the investigation MI. M'iIs saVe
a resume of the testimony. and continued;
THE whole trend of the prosecutions !aDors mas
becn on the assumption that the right Of corporal
punishment did not lie with the Board OF Managers.
That was "A fatal mistake. The right OF corporal
punishment has existed from time immemoriai' ana
he read Blackstone the subject which was treat
ed as a fundamental right by the statutes. He
could find no authority In this State where the
right of corporal punishment Is denied. The teaon-
superintendent of an institution ike TINS
stands In loco PARENTS, and has all the rights OF
parents TO correct those In their care lie refd
number of decisions proving that point, and, fur-
Their, that the teacher or superintendent mas su-
preme authority. and II Ia not to be questioned
be brought to answer to a court
This institution" he continued, deals with
three classes-criminas Juvenile delinQuents tru
ants and paupers The laws of this state give
parental control over the first and second SO This
institution has not only common law. but special
statute giving them full authority for using cor
poral punishment and 1t Is not in the power OF the
State Board of Charities to take II from them, nor
a court either. for they cannot set aside the law.
THE alleged order Of the State Board Of Chari-
ties that corporal punishment should be discon-
ad In fufrl in
ever They have the power to investigate. and
after that they may issue an order TO the mall
agement: but before that is issued the law says
they must be approved by Supreme Court JUS
tice after an opportunity has been afforded TO the
management to be heard. But they did not DO this
The Board should have been the defence and bull
wark of the institution. and not allow Itself 20 be
carried away with the excitement of the time
something after the fashion Of the negro plot In
New-York some time ago.
After this institution had applied to Justice
Dykman to investigate these charges and the Judge
said he would appoint referee. Messrs. Tanning
and Litchfeld, of the State Board OF Charities.
came down here before the Judge had time to
select fol referee. visited the institutoh'
made an expert examination OF some OF the worst
characters Of the Home. and sought 10 do what the
referee to do. in "a couple OF days, whereas this
case has taken year and hall. IL was iarce
and a shame and disgrace on the State Board or
Charities They carried away by the stories
that had been published in the New-fork news
papers, and gave their report for publication petore
putting il on file. 1t was piece or imperuhence
for the State Board of Charities TO intervene before
Justice Dykman. when he had said he would IN
vestigate the case.
Mr. Mills then attacked the stories OF many OF the
witnesses declaring them palpably false IL was
40 o'clock when he had finished. Henry {. Hen
derson counsel for the prosecution took the moor
and began his address. He SAID the prosecute"
was doing what they considered a pubic outy WIN
out any compensation He thought the pupnc mao
much to thank the pubic press Tor. Tor 'he us
closures tina, they had made had caused ABUSES 10
be abolished in the Home.
As 10 the criticisms of Judge Mills. OF the state
Board OF Charities acting In disrespect OF .niS
court he said II simply did its duty as one oi It's
duties Is to visit this institution. III decideh thal
the use of chains and whips were abuses ana
caused their abolition by calling the attention OF
the managers TO the same saying they must be
He thought the management had admitted every
thing thai had been charged-that children were
wbipped put IN chains and their hands hand
ha thought but he did not think i, could com;
pare with the Catholic Proectory where
said he every boy learns trade In this home home
they teach no trade and only naE or
than utility This Is destruction OF whole nre ,
with no effort made to instruct he 0rpha
Xsylum is another which has had no corporal pun
Is
ont II md with success. This shows that n TINS
home cannot get along without II with MI PIERCE
then let them get some one who can
He also said that II children became refractory am
the management could not make them mind thei
Could send and have sent them. 10 the House OF
Refuge He said the placing OF chains on the
cbildpen was degrading and took all the spirit OF
mnnliness our of them. though they may not
physically iniure them II was p@rnicious. as an
example TO the other children. He thought tHc
cutting of the girls hair rreguarly was bad
nractice while they were expecting at almost any
,,r,e 70 so out into respectable families to service
The speaker finished at $50 oc,ock. after having
spoken only one hour. and then the case was given
70 the referee with the counaos briefs TO prepare
his report.