The Jersey City news., 1899-08-07
THB GOV. AND
THE GIRLS.
Voorhees, Says Mrs.
Eyler's Victims
May Yet Be
Heard.
DIRECT EVIDENCE WANTED
Stories Told So Far
Offset By Records
Of Reformed
Lives.
MRS. WILLIAMSON TALKS
This School the Only One
With Dark Cells, Shack
les and Corporal Pun
ishment.
vERoNA's MODEL HOME
MIR. c. M. Harrison Tells
How He Blends Kind
ness Will Judicious {
Severity
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News. :,

Especial to 'The Jersey City News
ELIZABETH, Aug. 7, 1S99.-Governor
VOORHEES,, when seen at his office in this
city Saturday, denied that he has sum
inarily closed the investigation of the
management of the State Industrial
school for Girls, as has been stated since
the examination Of witnesses closed on
Thursday.
The Governor also declares that the
criticism of his attitude throughout the
examination by Lawyer John H. Backes
was entirely unwarranted by the facts in
the case. A record of the investigation
would show, in every instance, he said,
that he had overruled the objections Of
Trustees who appear to favor the manage
ment of Mrs. EyIer, when they opposed
questions asked by Mr.. Backes. The Gov
ernor said further that he has not ar
rived at a decision as to whether the
charges OF mismanagementw were justified
or not, and does not propose to do so
until Mr.. Backes presents all the evidence
he can find in support of the charges.
.'It is true" said the Governor, that 1
declared the examination of witnesses adj
journed without date, but / did not do so
until Mr.. Backes had apparently exhaust
ed the list of witnesses he was able to
produce outside of the inmates of the in
stitution. 1 refused to permit the in
mates of the school to be called as wit
nnesses for good and valid reasons. I did
not, however. object to their testimony
being TAKEN. but. on the contrary, in
formed Mr.. Backes that I would desig-
nate any responsible person he might
name to visit the home and take the de-
positions of all or any of the inmates,
whether they had complaint to make or
not. had reasons for this course. among
them being an aversion to having these
girls brought before the public gaze in a
yellow journal fashion, and a desire that
they might be permitted to testify in as
free, open and unrestricted fashion as
possible If these girls have any com
plant to make felt they would not hesi-
tate in stating their grievance to an
agent of Mr.. Backes, who is acting
throughout as a proxy for Trustee Fitz-
gibbon, through whom the investigation
was started. There are two sides to this
story, and until furnished with both
will not be in a position to express an
opinion or take any definite action.
so far the evidence offered indicates
that the charges of cruelty are grossly
exaggerated and that the trouble is due
to a division of sentiment between mem
bers of the Board of Trustees Members
of the Board of Women Managers, who
are really more competent to judge than
the trustees. say they have the utmost
confidence in the ability of Mrs. Eyler.
An examination of the punishment book
and of the institution, together with the
evidence thus far submitted prove that
the charges Of cruelty, vile dungeons and
brutal and inhuman treatment, are gross
ly exaggerated. 1t is true that unruly
girls are placed in cells and fed on bread
and water as a punishment, but in what
other way can they be restrained? The
law prohibits corporal punishment, and
Mrs. Eyier denies inficting it, although 1t
has been charged that she did slap an
inmate on one occasion. Her predecessor
used strap, and often with good results,
according to some stories told.
"The record of the institution during the
time that Mrs. Eyler has been IN charge
shows decided Improvement. During
last year. out of all the inmates dis
charged or paroled on account of good
behavior, only one was returned to the
school, Many OF the girls discharged
have obtained good homes and are lead
ing good lives, showing that the object Of
the school-reformation- being accom-
plished. Many of the inmates are sent
there as incorrigibles, because they are
too young to go to State Prison, place,
IN some instances. earned by their ac-
tions One OF the girls, whose case had
figured In this investigation, was sent to
the school from a private institution
that does much good work In the reform