The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-04


what is the next time she gets ?"
Near supper time.
'sWho made the rule to give girls in the
dungeons a cup Of water twice day?s
1T is my own rule
"Wlho prescribed these straps for
manacling the feet2''
These anklets ~ said Mrs. EyIer, smil-
ing.
why do you smile over these horrible
things?'' asked Mr.. Baclses. and continu-
ing he said WHO ordered them?n
4'Dr. Ward prescribed them.Y replied
Mrs. Eyler.
did not your husband order them?"
WAS it ever reported to the Board Of
| Trustees?''
Yes. sir
If you have ever seen drunken
woman in a rage you would know these
are necessary observed the Governor to
Mr.. Backes
I'VE are not discussing drunken women,
but these unfortunate GIRLS said Mr..
Backes. Continuing. he asked
When you ordered the two men to take
this girl Theresa down stairs and in their
presence padded her with your slipper,
| were you angry?
mo, sir; was not
"Then you deliberately raised that girls
clothes in the presence of the two men
and slapped her?''
II simply lifted up her dress and took
hold of her knees
How large a girl is she?"
About as large as | am
The Governor here interrupted again to
give q description Of the slipper, and re>
marked You see, | am going into this
investigation thoroughly
you seem to have thoroughly examined
the slipper?' was Mr. Backes retort
why didn't you order the men to put
her into the cell?" was next asked OF
Mrs. Eyler by Mr.. Baekes.
Il wanted to talk with her first, in or,
der to try and persuade her.
Thought you would persuade her
through the leg. The trustees had for
bidden the use of the strap, had they
Eyes, Sir
And because they did not include tho
slipper in the Injunction you thought it
right to use it." Continuing, he called att
tention to the fact that the records shows
ed that Florence Truax was locked up for
nineteen days. Mrs. Eyler took the book
girl had been put in punishment on
Christmas Day for visiting friend in the
hospital"
Did that girl get a Christmas dinner?s
asked Mr. Backes.
i can't tell YOU
But you do know that she saw the
new year in on bread and water?"
''She was kept on bread and water for a
week
Don't you think it is cruel to keep a
girl on bread and water for a week."
A further examination of the records
showed that Lulu Carmen had served six
days on bread and water in a dungeon
for attempting TO strike Mrs. Sickel; that
Lydia Leavett had served seven days for
disobedience; that Sadie jarvis had served
six days for defiance. A long list of other
punishments was also read OFF. Mrs.
Eyler admitted that she had a scrap"
four or hve blows. Mary is a big girl,
nineteen years Old Mrs. Eyler admitted
that the Barlow girl walked up and down
forty steps twenty-five times.
Miss Curtis, who administered the pun
ishment to the Barlow girl, is away on
her vacation. having lelt on Saturday
last.
The Governor told Mrs. Eyler there had
been criticism of her manner of infiicting
punishment in some ten cases, and he
asked about the treatment of Katie Bar
low.
The witness admitted in as mild a way
as possible the majority of the facts that
have been previously established She
did state, however, and with an unmiS
taxable emphasis, that Miss Hammell
the forme, matron, had been responsible
for the girls spending the four days in
cOnHnenlenI, DuJ frankly confessed. that
it was at her own suggestion that the
poor, frail and delicate creature was
compelled to make twenty-five trips up
and down the stairway. After this the
| Principal proceeded when questioned by
the Executive, to state that all OF the
methods OF punishment now in vogue at
the place were freely resorted to under
the former management, and as means
of proving her statements exhibited Miss
McFadden's records of punishment.
Nothing. startling was disclosed during
tho fffNr Of hos n Tna
witness made no explanation.
She went on to say that the teachers
under Miss. McFadden had been allowed
to punish the girls at will. but that since
her succession to the principalship this
plan had been abolished. 1t had been
found best for all instructors to first re-
port to her before ordering an inmate to
bread and water diet or subjecting
scholar to Imprisonment in dungeon.
To her knowledge the books Of the in
stitution had never been falsined, and IN
answer to an insinuating Interrogation
from the Governor, in which the latter
official referred to the dungeons, cells
and subterranean vaults, she remarked
that the Board of Trus tees had passed
resolution authorizing their use. Fre-
auently she visited the cells al night
when any one was serving time, and had
in every case ordered Mrs. Harriet Evans,
the regular night watch, to call on the
girls at nine o'clock in the evening, al
| midnight, and at four o'clock in the
star before one record reading to the
/ effect that Miss Fairlamb, an ex-employe
of the place, had pulled Sadie Martin
| from a seat at the table by grabbing the
girl S hair was interpreted by Mrs. Eyler
| to mean that the punishment was entirely
without her concurrence. She, In answer
| to the very next question, replied that no
| effort had ever been made to learn just
| how the reptile reached the Williams
| girls dungeon and that after It's dis
| covery other inmates were forced to oc-
| cupy the same "subterranean vault AT
| this juncture Mr.. Baekes announced that
he had finished. and asked to what date
an adjournment might be taken.
We'll adjourn sine die, said the
Governor, s'and If you insist upon bring
| ing out any further testimony by means
of witnesses who are not present can
just as we'll consider their evidence in
| the form of an affidavit.
But Mr.. Backes contended that he
| should rather give the Executive an OPP
| portunity of a cross-examination, yet the
| Governor wsts firm and stuck to his posi-
| ton. The Counselor declared that he
| would put former employees on the stand
and among them would be Miss Frances
Dey Mrs. Miller, Miss Fairlamb, and pos
| sibly Miss I1amme with a former in
| mate of the school who now lives on
| Spring street. this city. Still the Execu-
| tive was unmoved ana the suspension
| was submitted to-
The submission was under protest,
nevertheless, and the counselor's con-
| tinued persistence precipitated question
| as TO his interest or status in the case.
| The Governor wished to discover whether
| he appeared in the interest of more tl,..n
| one trustee but before Mr.. Backes could
| saw. Dr. Maddox remarked that Mr..
! Fitzgibbon alone was substituted by the
"a f4sr sr.I