The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-14
BUT Is A WILLING INMATE.
FALSE AND MALICIOUS PUBLICA-
TION IN A WEEKLY A. p. A.
ORGAN.
LAST GRAND JURY INVESTIGATED
The Charges, But Found Them I'm
true and Dropped the
Case.

ZION OF decided A. Z. "A. lean1ngS, In its
recent issue. A page of the publication
is devoted to an attack on the Catholic
institution. The article asserts that in
mates Of the place are detained therein
against their wishes; that they are I'M
able to communicate with friends in
the outer world; and insinuates that
the institution is not a safe or correct
place for the detention of female pris-
onerS. A number Of cases are cited
in which it is sought to show that the
charges made in the paper are true.
Most Of these cases are old, the events
ted therein being based on hear
say evidence, largely. But one Of the in
stances cited is Of recent origin, and
1t is claimed that this particular vic
tim of the Mother Superior and the
Sisters at the House of the Good Shep-
herd was not only detained against her
will, but that she was inveigled into
the institution against her will, and
that prominent citizens were instru-
mental in her incarceration. 1t is also
claimed that this case was brought to
the attention Of the county attorney
and Of the grand jury, but that the for
mer shirked his duty and the investi-
The alleged victim in this latter case
is known by the name Of Florence
Hope. She is the daughter Of a WE'LL
known merchant who died few years
ago. Her mother is now supposed to
be in Kansas City. Florence Hope,
who is about twenty-five years old, is
! the victim Of an eX-county official,
| whose name has been for the time sup
| pressed. When the girls baby was
| horn the child was taken from her, and
! at the instance of some persons, who
| prCfessed to be friends, Florence was
sent to the House of the Good Shep-
| herd. The infant was given into the
| care of a Mrs. Hill. For some time the
board of the infant was regularly paid,
and then Mrs. Hill went to the girl
with the information that the money
supply had been cut off. Mrs. Hill, it
| seems from the Breeze, and from the
WomanS own admissions, sought to
procure the release of the mother from
the reformatory institution. Mrs. Hill
says that the girl was afraid to leave
the House of the Good Shepherd be-
cause she had been threatened with
arrest for non-support Of the child. An
| effort was made to procure release
1 from Florence so that the child might
| be adopted by other parties, but this
the mother would not grant. Mrs. Hill
says she was denied the right Of pri-
vate interview with the girl, and that
she finally appealed to the county at
| tCrney, through another attorney, 20
| secure the release of the girl All the
| Pitiful details Of the girls shame are
| exposed by Mrs. Hill.
County Attorney Anderson was asked
what he knew about the case yester-
day. He said that some weeks ago
A M. Lawson and Charles Butts, the
latter an attorney, came to him to ask
! his assistance in procuring the release
Of a girl, who, they said, was confined
| in the House Of the Good Shepherd
against her will. Mr.. Anderson sug-
| geSted habeas corpus proceedings, but
Mr.. Butts wanted the matter brought
| to the attention Of the grand jury. This
! Mr. Anderson agreed to, and laid the
| complaint before that body. D. F.
| Brown, a member of the grand jury,
| seemed to take particular interest in
! the case. He finally concluded to make
| a personal investigation Of the charges,
and went to the House Of the Good
| Shepherd. He told the mother superior
| that he wanted to see the girl Florence
! Hope. The intervieW-a private one,
! though he spoke to the girl through a
! wicket-was granted. Florence said
! she was not confined against her will
| She did not wish to leave the institu-
! ton. She told Mr.. Brown that she
! knew she was weak and that she
| thought she would be safer with the
sisters. Mr. Brown returned to the
city, reported his interview to the grand
| jury, and that body decided not to
investigate the charges made by Mrs.
! Hill, Mr.. Lawton and Mr.. Butts.
| IT was admitted TO the noTSOOS in
vestigating the charges made by Mrs.
| Hill, that that lady received somewhat
scant courtesy at the House of the Good
! Shepherd. She was regarded aus an out
| slider who was bent on making trouble
| She was not considered a true friend
of Florence Hope, who was not only
not being detained unWillingly, but
who was also as free to go as any visi-
! tor to the place at any time she chose.
"It was the intention of those inter-
| ested to have the county begin pro-
| ceedings against the officers of the
House of the Good Shepherd, charging
! them with Kidnapping" said Mr.. An
| derson. But when I suggested habeas
| corpus proceedings, and that the grand
| jury be asked to consider the charges,
the ardor Of the prosecutors waned con-
| siderably.'
The mother superior at the House Of
the Good Shepherd was shown a copy
of the paper containing the charges in
| connection with the case of Florence
| Hope, and after perusing the article,
| pronounced it false and malicious in it's
entirety.
| Florence" said she, lis not detained
| here against her will, and is ait perfect
liberty to leave the institution when
ever she desires. AS for people calling
| upon her and not being allowed to see
| her alone, we simply observe rule of
the institution. When Mr.. Brown and
| Mr.. Neatly called. however, as mem
bers Of the grand jury, they were will
| ingly accorded an interview with the
girl without the presence of any one
| else, and to them she told the same
| story she has told others, to the effect
that she remained with us willingly and
did not want to leave the institution
| until she could go to her mother who
| IS at present in Kansas City, but not
| yet ready to receive her. The girls
mother is a professional nurse. and is
boarding with friends in Kansas City.
When she has been able to establish a
| home Of her own, Florence will go to
live with her. 1 have had frequent
letters from Florences mother, who
| wishes her to remain here until spring.
and the girl is willing and even anxious
| to comply with her parents wishes
The allegations of coercion in the
article are wholly without foundation.
| NO one who is Of age is ever detained
| at this institution against her own
volition. When children under age are
| consigned to our care by their parents
and It is the expressed wish Of those
| parents that they be kept at the IN
| sutution, then we exercise a surveil-
| lance over our charges as would those
IN control Of any institution But in
nF h * al