The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-03
At RAID OF
THE GIRLS
Why the Governor Will
Not Let the Reform
School Inmates
Talk.
REBELLION MIGHT RESULT
Or. Laura satterthwaite's
Sensational Charge
Against Mrs.
Eyler.
SIX DAYS IN A DUNGEON
Some Damaging Stories But
Evidence Also That the
Principal Was Kind.
SIX DAYS IN A DUNGEON

wv 90 kAlit~As
Especial to sThe Jersey City News-"1
TRENTON, Aug g. 1S99.-The leading
feature Of the second day of the investlga-
lion into the severe methods of punish
nent in vogue at the State Industrial
School for Girls was the testimony of
Miss Elizabeth B. Rosell the suparintand-
ent OF the bakery at the school. She
told of a girl being placed in dungeon
and fed ON bread and water for six days
straight because she had acted in what
Miss Resell termed an timpudent and un-
ruly manner"
According to the further testimony of
Miss Resell, who was called by Managing
Trustee Cook in the interest Of Principal
Myrtle B. Eyler's side of the case, the
girl was given two slices Of bread and a
cup of water twice each day during the
six days she was confined in the dungeon.
The girl was Florence Truax, and Miss
Resell explained that she had been placed
in the dungeon at Mrs. Eyler's order.
Before the expiration Of the six days, ac-
cording to Miss Rosell, the girl expressed
sorrow for her "fmpudence. and this
was reported to Mrs. Eyler, but no order
was given to release the child from the
dungeon until six days had elapsed.
All the teachers have testified that it
has. been the established rule since the
Introduction Of the dungeons a year ago,
to only keep a girl in them until she nan~
ifests a penitent spirit.
This revelation by Miss Resell led to
another peculiar disclosure. Shortly be-
fore she was called as a witness, the
question was asked as to what was the
longest period any girl had served in any
of the dungeons, and it was explained
that the Rev. Mr.. Eyler, who is clerk to
his wife, the principal. was at the time
engaged in going over the punishment
book for the very purpose of ascertaining
the information sought by the question.
Later. Mr.. Eyler reported that the long
est time any girl had occupied cell was
three days. When Miss Rosell admitted
that she herself, by Mrs. Eyler's order
kept a girl in a dungeon for six days,
recourse was had to the punishment book
and it was found that her statement was
correct.
The dungeons. six in number, are in
the cellar of the institution. Repeated
as dungeon at the school have been
made but one of Mrs. Eyler's own wit
nessess yesterday testified that the dun
geons' were known by that name at the
institution.
An inspection of the dungeons was
made by the newspaper men yesterday,
in company with Mr.. Cook and the sight
was most gruesome. The dungeons are
of solid brick, the only opening being the
entrance. This faces a blind wall and
whatever light comes in must make it's
way around the dungeons. as there are
only two small windows, in the compart-
ment where they are located. These win
dows are at the rear of the dungeons.
Each of the dungeons has a heavy
barred door. the same as used in jails, and
outside of this is a big wooden door,
which when closed. entirely shuts off
the light and air. The only article of
furniture in the dungeons is plain board
nailed like shelf from one side to the
other, There is no sanitary arrangement
whatever.
Two sessions of the Board of Inquiry
were held yesterday. Almost the entire
time was consumed in the examination
Of attaches of the school that are known
to be friendly to Mrs. Eyler. The only
person to testify, not friendly to Mrs.
Eyler was DIR. Laura H. Satterthwaite,
the schools physician.
The investigation, TO use Governor
Voorhees, words, SIS an inquiry into what
are virtually charges of misnanagement
against Mrs. Eyler's administration"
At the sessions yesterday the Board Of
Inquiry consisted Of the Governor, Presi-
dent Maddox and Mr.. Cook of the Board
of Trustees and Miss Mary Atterbury of
this city. and Mrs. Eugene Emley of Pas
sale, members of the Board of Lady
Managers. At the morning session Trus-
tee e. Fl. Stokes was present Owing to
his enforced absence in New York Trus-
tee Fitzgibbon was absent, but he was
represented by Counsellor John III.
Backes, who managed to get from the Ey-
Ter witnesses much testimony of a start
ling nature.
AS soon as the Governor raped for or
der Mrs Emley, who Is the wife Of the
Prosecutor of Passaic county, began to
ask series Of legal questions as to who
had preferred the charges, but nothing
definite was disclosed
Dr. satterthwaite was the first witness
called, and she was briefly examined by
the Governor as to the case of Katie
Barlow. the young Paterson girl who be-
came SO i'll at the school that she had
70 be taken to the City Hospital. On
cross-examinatlon by Mr.. Backes, the
doctor said that the girls condition might
tave been aggravated by being placed in
dungeon ana by her being made to take
oxlent exercise afterward. The Barlow
bIue4as placed ii dungeon for twenty
Qark urs. and then made to walk up and
3rty steps twenty-five times each