The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-12-26
Another M Getting at the Almshouse.

Hanson, Mrs Abbey, and Mr.. Fox, of the
State Charities Association, were not
present
The records were examined and the
Steward was called to state how he had
kept the books. He said he had always
put in the records all the information fur
nished in the commitments. Sometimes
the inmates run away, and the fact is not
discovered until two or three days later
Some of these people come back when the
weather gets colder; many of the number
! being those who had left without permits
sion. 1t was found that the books contain
date of admission, place of birth, age,
place of residence parents, etc. The
books also show whether single or married
and condition of females when committed.
Ii children with them the records give
complete facts. The dates and cause of
death are full, and the time and manner
of leaving the institution are as complete
as can be with the data that was at hand
at that time.
Joseph j. White, who lives on the farm
adjoining the almshouse, gave testimony
showing that the institution has been well
kept. The general impression in the
neighborhood is that Mr.. and Mr. Gaskill
have exercised great judgment in the man
agement OF the house. Mr.. White has
had business in the vicinity for 80 years,
and has lived near the almshouse for II
years Until the charges made by the
Board OF Charities he had never heard of
any criticism on the place. In the judg-
ment of Mr. White it would be almost i'm
possible to separate the sexes, and he did
not believe the extra expense that would
necessarily be entailed in providing new
buildings would compensate for the
outlay.
DR.. Enoch Hollingshead, who has lived
in the neighborhood for years, with ample
opportunity to hear any criticism on the
management of the almshouse, and, as
physician at the place for many years, he
could not recall any instances of immor-
atty or improper conduct. The doctor
never saw any able bodied men living in
idleness.
Ex-Judge Forsythe, another old resident
of Pemberton township, gave favorable
testimony. He had never heard of any
actions that would reflect discredit upon
the management of the almshouse or the
inmates. Judge Forsythe is nearly 80
years of age, and has lived close to the
almshouse all his life, and the present
management of the institution, in his
Judgment exceeds that of any former
Steward. The farm has been greatly i'm
proved. Judge Forsythe contrasted the
condition of the inmates of to-day with
that of former years, and gave personal
experiences of the way in (which some of
the unfortunate creatures in the almshouse
were treated before Mr.. Gaskill took
charge. The change has been highly bens-
fetal.
Eayre Oliphant has lived within half
mile of the Almshouse during Mr. Gas
kills incumbency. He had never heard
the character of the institution assailed; on
the contrary he had always heard it spok-
en- of in the highest character. Had there
been any detrimental reports he would
undoubtedly have heard them, and no.
body was more surprised than he at the
published reports. He had visited the
almshouse many times, but had never seen
able bodied men Lying in idleness.
Rev. D. E. Clair was pastor of the NJ.
E. churches at New Lisbon and Browns
Mills. Every Sunday at 1890 he held
services at the almshouse About once
month he visited the institution and went
through the wards. For three years he
did this, and never did he see or hear any
thing to invite criticism. One morning at
$50 he went to the place unexpectedly,
and in trying to go through he found the
door between the apartments of the men
and women locked. Mr.. Clair said he was
quite confdant of the inmates and
never did he hear one word of complaint
In the estimation of Mr.. Clair it would be
very difficult to find community of 300
people where the sexes mingled, with the
small number of six illegitimate children
in 81 years.
| OOhh 0AO oloO SoNC eCobAAlOAJ w
the good management at the institution
and had never heard single word against
it until the newspaper reports. Mr.. For
sythe lives within mile Of the almshouse
and has lived there for years.
Mrs. Heulings Pennock was another
witness. She said she had known the in
stitution for years, and had been in the
habit of visiting the place. sometimes stay
ing week at time. On these visits she
was privileged to roam about the house at
will, and she had done so. Never had she
seen an action that would call for special
attention or one which could be complain
ed of to the Steward. She had had exper-
fence in hotel keeping and knew what it
meant to keep good order. With this
knowledge she did not hesitate to say she
was surprised that there had been so little
chance for honest criticism.
Mrs. Hollingshead, wife of Dr. Holdings
head, gave the almshouse an excellent rep
utation. She had frequently conversed
with her husband on the way in which
the house was conducted and the treat
ment given the inmates, and he had always
assured her there was not the slightest
basis for complaint.
j Mrs. James Fenwick, who has lived
within half mile of the institution for so
years, said the reputation of the house,
the manner in which it was conducted,
and the treatment accorded the unfortun-
ate inmates, was excellent. No one was
more surprised than she at the reports
recently published.
i Mrs. John Forsythe and Mrs Joshua
Forsythe corroborated the above testimony
The committee then had the children
brought in, and questioned those who were
! old enough to answer. The farm was
: visited and while there were some table
} bodied" men about they were all employed.
When Mrs. Williamson was at the aims,
| house, about four weeks ago, she mention
J ed this matter of ''able-bodied" men. Her
attention was called to man whose hands
r and feet had been amputated, and she
was asked what should be done with him.
''Set him up in some business" she said.
This man was at the institution on Thurs
day. His hands are off at the wrists, and
his feet are very nearly all gone. He was
found one night nearly frozen to death.
We do not believe anyone, with a single
atom of humanity, can favor placing this
1