The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-09-28
Girl ILL Treated
Inmate of Home for Blind"
Tries to Escape From
Institution.
THE SECOND EXPOSURE
The News" Three Years Ago,
Described Sister" Rosalie's
Methods.
THE SECOND EXPOSURE

bridge of the Newark branch of the Cen
trail Railroad, were startled shortly after
noon yesterday by a series of wild Shrieks
and screams which came from blind girl
who had escaped from the Home of Our
Lady of Perpetual Health for the Blind,
at NO SO Ocean avenue In a moment the
street was filled with people, attracted by
the disturbance. What they saw was
girl, who goes by the name of sBliId''
Julia, struggling with Sister Rosalie,
who conducts the home and several of
her assistants
The blind girl 1t was subsequently
learned, is twenty-four years old, and she
ran away from the institution because of
i'll treatment. In the struggle between the
girl and the Sister and her assistants,
the clothing of the girl was torn in a
frightful manner. She objected strongly
to going back and her screams could be
heard for blocks. Finally the blind girl
was persuaded to return to the home.
1t was learned that the girl got out of
the institution and found her way to
Jackson avenue block from the Home.
She met man whose name can not be
learned, whom she asked to take her to
her sisters home somewhere on Clerk
Clerk street, directly in the rear of the
Home for the Blind. when the SISTER
and her servants came rushing out and
literally tore the girl away from the man.
The girls name is Julia Lyons. She
has been at the institution for over
year. A reporter of 1.-THE News" visited
the girls brother this morning to learn
the truth of the girls story of illtreat-
ment.
Mrs. A. Lyons, a sister-in-law- of the
blind girl, told the reporter that the girl
had been placed there a year ago, because
she was totally blind. She has been in
that state since she was a child, hav-
ing been made blind by an attack of
scarlet fever Mrs. Lyons was made
acquainted with the escape of the girl.
81 know that the people at that insti-
tuition force the girl to do hard work,
said she. "That is not right, as we pay
her board and pay for the medical treat
ment she receives. / also know that the
girl was taken away from there some time
ago because her hands were terribly
burned from hot fat. She lived with her
sister until her hands were well. Sister
Rosalie forces the girl to wash and iron
and scr.tb the floors. 1 believe that sne
must have been dill treated or she never
would have run away. 1t is my opinion
that Sister Rosalie wishes to get rid of
the girl.
Sister Rosalie's father visited me last
night and told me that the girl was fit
for a lunatic asylum. Well, she certainly
was not crazy when she was put there
Perhaps she has been driven to that con-
ditdon by her treatment"
Sister Rosalie was next visited. The
reporter asked to see the girl. Sister
Rosalie refused to allow him to see her.
"That girl is crazy" said she. ''Who
would i'll treat her? Such practices are
not carried on here. She is obstinate and
frequently has these outbursts. 1 have
sent for her relatives to come and take
her away
'The News" some time ago exposed this
institution, which was disavowed by the
Catholic Church, under which SISTER
Rosalie. claims to run it. 1t was proved
by a thorough investigation on the part of
''The News that the children were ill
treated The facts came to light through
the escape of little John Clifford from the
home about three years ago. The boy
told a pitiful tale of cruelty. He said
that he had been half starved and beaten
repeatedly Sister Rosalie sent him
away from the home two days after the
sensation leaked out She claimed that he
was an immoral boy, and that she could
no longer put up with him.
Sister Rosalie says that the institu-
tion is a private one and that it is nom
sectarian. Catholic pictures, however, are
scattered over the entire building and
Sister" Rosalie wears the robes of a. Sis
ter of Charity. This institution has been
there for ten years. There are now twelve
children under the Sisters care.
The Lyons family will probably take
Julia from the home in a few days. Mrs.
Lyons says that they will not leave the
girl there to be beaten or illused.