The evening times., 1899-08-01
GIRLS BRUTALLY TREATED.
Charges Against Instructors In n
New jersey School.

new Jersey ScnOOAs
Trenton, N. j., Aug. IA more harrow
ing tale of cruelties in connection with &,
public institution has seldom come to light
than that contained in depositions at pres
ent in the hands of the Rev. George c
Maddox and Patrick j. Fitzgibbon trus-
tees of the State Industrial School for Girls
located near her. These men are members
Of the board who have been endeavoring
to have the present management changed
Statements made before notary public
to the effect that strait-jackets and shack
les were used upon the girl inmates have
been given out. but it was said today that
unreserved disclosures will be brought to
the notice OF the governor tomorrow.
According to papers in the hands OF
Messrs. Maddox and Fitzgibbou, the
strait jacket and shackles were not the
only punishment to which the girls at the
school were subjected, for alleged offences
and infractions of discipline.
Affidavits signed by two instructors make
startling assertions. 1t is declared therein
that Mrs. Eyier, the principal, has repeat-
edly caught the girls by the hair and twist
ed it around her hands and arms until she
brought the victims to their knees scream
ing and begging for mercy.
The names of the authors of these state,
ments are withheld for the present, but
the charges have not been kept secret, and
it was said today that criminal prosecu-
tion was almost sure to follow.
An affidavit sets forth that on May a
disturbance occurred among the girls, which
was not quieted for five hours. and that
during that time Mrs. Eyler used her fists
and elbows on the girls. who had revolted
against the treatment of inmate by one
OF the principals relatives. The insurrec-
tion, it is declared, was started by Miss
Curtis, Mrs. Eyler's niece, and Miss Nevins,
a friend.
1t is declared that Mrs. Eyler called in
two farm hands, and while they held the
girls she beat them about the face and
body 1t is asserted that she then forced
some of them into another room, and in
view Of the inmates padded them with
shoes.
This treatment, it is declared, was fol-
lowed by the strait jackets. the farm
hands being compelled to force them on.
The girls shoes were then removed and
the chain and leather shackles placed on
their ankles. their feet being drawn to-
gether and their hands pulled under their
arms, so that they were entirely unable
to move their limbs.
Afterward. 1t was sworn. they were car
ried downstairs to the dungeon, where
they were kept many hours in an almost
unconscious condition. Elsie Field. of
Camden, who Is about twenty years old.
is said to have been one Of the victims
When taken from the cells the girls pre-
sented such a pitiful appearance that the
other inmates got together and decided TO
mutiny Much excitement followed, and
the pieadings and cries to those teachers
who were more kindly disposed to the In
ton. Mrs Eyler, it Is alleged, laid about
with her clenched fists.
The matter was aired at the next meet
ing of the board of trustees. 1t was then
learned that some of the inmates in their
extremity had called upon Miss Martha
White and Miss Margaret Herbert. and
these teachers, it is declared, were imme-
diately placed in charge of sixty Of the
most refractory girls in the school, while
six Of the principals relatives and friends
were left TO take charge of the remaining
sixty five, the idea being, according to
the instructors deposition, TO compel the
two old teachers to get into trouble The
scheme" as II is called was unsuccess-
full however.
The deposition states that Miss Curtis,
who. it is said, caused Katie Barlow to be
sent to the city hospital for treatment, has
threatened other inmates with similar
end
II is also set forth in the depositions that
at the school there are strait jackets of
all sizes and descriptions, and that Mrs.
Eyler never hesitates using them. Many
employees have left the institution.