New-York tribune., 1897-08-17
LITTLE MARY ELLEN"
ELBRIDGE T. GERRY TELLS AN INTER
ESTING STORY
All. Aporr THE ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY FOR

ALL ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY FOR
THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Elbridxe T. Gerry, In his address at Chautauoua'
gave the following account OF the origin OF the DO
ciety for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Children
The city OF New-York was the 1rst IN the WIZ"
10 organize society for the prevention OF crueity'
The direct cause of this action was the case Oh te
child known as Little Mary Ellen charItao'e
woman. connected visitor with one oi 'ne
churches on the West Side OF the city. whie VEIL
ing a dying woman in a tenement-house ioca'e'
In the parish OF ihe church with which she was
connected In the year 1874 told by the unor,u
nate creature that she continually annoyeo o'
the crying and screams OF little girl IN 'ne ioo'
next to her. living with her supposed step"o'"'''
The visitor made inquiries. but was unapie 10 "S..i
tain any definite information in regard to this chid
to who had it in charge. But she dia aSeei
tain that it evident that the child was crueny
treated tha, II was never permitted TO go OUT OF
the room that occasional glimpses had OF IL sho"eo
II TO be In almost nude state ana that "I""'
times during the day and night 1t screameu As
though being beaten and In addition. the sound
OF blows could be heard. The visitors next eHor'
was TO interest charitable institutions In the case'
They said: We are charged hy law with the care
Of children II you will bring the chiid 10
us. will Tor her. We have no power 10 IN
terfere to get the child The police were next ap-
pealed to- They replied that they had no authority
TO enter the rooms in the absence OF warrant.
which could only be issued on sworn evidence ana
therefore could not aid in the matter unless tne
missionary woman referred 10 would make COM
plant that crime had been or WAS about to be
committed therein
"She then consulted an excellent gentleman OF
high reputation. who advised her that II was a
dangerous thing for her to interfere between par
ent and child and upon her replying that II by no
means appeared mat it was case of parent and
child: he very naively remarked that 1t mus, be inc
chids mother or she would MOI beat her As
last resort, she visited the Office OF the American
Society tor the Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Animals
Bergh. She pleaded that child was in one sense an
animal that IL certainly was entitled 10 eaaad ad 'are M
Bergh. with his large and generous heart a; tne
matter and directed oficer OF mis- society io make
some inquiries. which resuted, after consi-oeraDie -
SCI. The child was found iSinr upon dirty piece
g and h "a5 wGa admmG ! that % %a not hsr
own child. out one for whom sac was caring de-
After the report Of the officer had been made.
President Bergh consulted with the counsel ot MS
society Cir. Gerry himself and the result was
that paper We're drawn anc application was nAd-
10 the Supreme Count for warrant TO tak@ posses
TO arrest the woman The officers. proceeding
70 the premises to execute the process OF iHr
which sne could be removed. and II was necessary
had procured 70 convey ne chiid TO 'ourD ~ ap
/ around her. She was then tfken 10 court arL an
viva and in ler ta'e on" or two cuts whicn
said had Deen made by A shears .hr0"n al
This woman gave her name az Connolly, but posi-
lively refused to make statement ss TO what re-
laiion she b1ie the child from wnom ~"
had obtained her. II" woman convicted oi
assault and sent prison. The action in inis ease
created a great sen: ion throughout the city.
The American Society for the Prevention os
Cruelty TO Animals was fooded with letters COM
planning % the cruel treatment Of children In
various localities. These. OF couree did NOT prop
erlv come wrhn the functions OF that society. and
Mr. Bergh. having called into CONSULTATION with
hS Mt GSr aDs ID The the 9is ceS J9nq % eSds MTF in
December. iS1i. notice was s~nt out 10 number
OF the leading men .: the city asking lhat tney
meet 10 consider the rrGcities infr rtei upon nelp-
less children. which had been hr1Ignt very pain
fully 10 public notice. and possible remedies for
their future prevention.
The cali wa signed 0y James Brown. Peter
Cooper William r.. D-dgc. John d. Wright, IL
oridge T. Gerry. Purirn Il. sherman. the Rcy. Sc
pnen II. Tying. n. Albert Akin Henry ~ 'ren. ".
L. Jenkins and Ri hard !. Tlorne.
AS a result Of this meeting an organization was
formed known Tn" Society foi tue prevention
Of Cruelty Children.