New-York tribune., 1900-01-20
Mr.. GERRY ANSWERS HIS CRITICS.
SAYS MALICIOUS AND UNTRUE ASSERTIONS
HAVE BEEN MADE CONCERNING
HIS SOCIETY


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Since the recent decision OF the Court Of
Appeals against the right of the State Board
Of Charities to control and direct this society,
numerous articles have appeared in the daily
papers containing assertions utterly false as to
powers alleged to be exercised by its officers
and as TO laws which have no existence I
proceed to state a few Of these, in order that
the readers Of your valuable paper may not be
nnisled by what they may see elsewhere.
First-One Of these assertions is s follows:
''Hr. Gerry at the present time for instance
has the power TO go into any mans house and
take from him his children, and, if he can pre-
vail upon a police magistrate TO commit these
children to the care of his society. unless an
appeal is taken within ten days the children
must rest there during their minority. or until
such previous time as Mr.. Gerry decides, sub
ject to release by no Court or other power in the
State" This is utterly false and malicious. No
such power exists, such case has ever
CURED, and there IS no such law.
Second-Another: There is no more sacred
right than that of a mother TO her child. Any
agency that assumes the authority TO interfere
with that right ought 10 be subject to every
possible safeguard against the abuse Of it's
powers. Nobody can be deprived Of his property
without due process of law. 1t is intolerable
that anybody should be Z BILE to deprive mother
Of her child by his arbitrary will" All this is
quite true, and the society never attempts to in
terfere between parent and child excepting
where the latter is subject 10 physical moral
injury at the hands Of vicious, drunken
malicious parent. and then only in due form of
law, according to law and subject to the law.
It has no power under any circumstances. nor
has its president, to deprive any parent Of the
custody Of his child "by his arbitrary will"
Third-Yet another: In the city Of New York
It not infrequently happens that the agents of
the society virtually defy the magistrates, and
on some occasions children have been kept in
custody by the society upon its authority
alone" This statement is also utterly false and
untrue. and such case can be found or any
such charge substantiated.
There are also criticisms Of the decision OF the
Court Of Appeals, which are fully answered by
the prevailing opinions
The society has favored and invoked the
broadest criticism, inspection and investigation
by the Supreme Court Of this State The latter
last summer selected one Of the most eminent
members OF the Bar Association, Mr.. Albert
Stickney, 10 visit and inspect everything con-
nected with IT, and every opportunity was az
forded the writers Of similar newspaper aru-
cles TO appear and substantiate their statements
which they entirely failed TO do. His report
fully disposes Of them
should be glad If you would set the matter
straight. as an act of simple justice TO the
ciety and its work During the twenty-five
wears last past over 900 complaints have
been investigated, involving more than 100000
children. and resulting in nearly $4,000 convic-
tions, and the placing Of over $4,000 children in
corofortab Bile homes under moral influences. The
Supreme Court has expressed its approval Of the
conduct Of the work The society did not invite
the contest with the State Board Of Charities
but that body insisted a Jurisdiction, which
the Court of Appeals has just decided is not
well founded I have the honor TO remain
with great respect,
ELBRIDGE T. GERRY, President, etc
New-York. Jan. II, 1900.