Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-08
RESIST THE OFFICIALS.
women Prisoners Attempt to Pro.
vent Removal Of Insane Patient.

"O"cn tf100nef1 Attempt TO fx0s
vent Removal Of Insane Patient.
Esther Edwards, colored. nineteen years
old. was transferred from the workhouse
to the Government Hospital for the In
sane yesterday morning. Her removal from
the prison to the hospital caused hostile
demonstration upon the part of other
woman prisoners, and gave the officials con-
siderable trouble. When the colored fe-
male inmates of the workhouse learned
that Esther had been declared insane and
her removal had been decided upon they
declared the action was the result of race
prejudice. They refused to believe that
Esther was insane, and they determined to
save her from commitment to the insane
asylum If possible.
The first trouble occurred Saturday after
noon when the police ambulance reached
the prison for the purpose of conveying the
woman across the Eastern branch to the
asylum.
She amt crazy" and Don't let 'em take
her., shouted the colored women on the
side of the prison in which Esther was
confined. They just want to take her
because she amt white another shouted.
There was anything but orderly scene
In the prison, and an utter lack of disci-
pline was manifested. Esther was not then
taken from the prison, and when the am
bulance was sent away the women jeered
and Kissed Their victory over the prison
officials was celebrated during the after
uOOIl duO night, anu yesterday morning
when the ambulance was ready to receive
the patient the rfotous scenes Of the night
before threatened to prove more serious.
This time the women were armed with the
heavy iron SpittOonS and every other avail
able weapon. They were boisterous and
defiant In the extreme, and the many prts-
oEers on the other side of the corridor en-
couraged them by their disorder, although
and join the mob of forty or more women
who were endeavoring to prevent the re-
moval Of the insane woman.
DR.. Manning, enc of the hospital sur
geons, received an ugly cut across his face
inflicted by an insurgent Saturday, and the
prison officials endeavored to arrange mat
tiers 80 that removal Of the patient yester-
day might be made without further trouble
Sergeants Wright and Mulhall, in charge Of
the fifth precinct police reserves, were sum-
moned, and during their efforts to Quell the
rioters two OF the officers were injured. The
Rev. Father Mcclure, who has conducted
religious services in the male workhouse,
was sent for, and he attempted to reason
with the women many Of whom had seen
him about the prison before.
Father MCGUIRE" shouted one Of the
women, I'VE don't want to hurt you, but"
The noise was so great at this time that
the woman was unable to make the rest
of her words Of warning heard. The priest
talked to the women some time, and finally
succeeded in convincing them that he was
their friend and that he would look after
the interests of Esther Edwards, who was
still in her cell and who had been made
worse by the disorder. Peace was finally
restored. and Father MCGUIRE led the in
sane woman from the female workhouse
along the path to the front gate. She was
then placed in the ambulance and was
driven away.
In view of the disorderly scene and the
violence attempted the iron spittoons will
be taken from the prisoners and the OBJ
streperous women will probably not enjoy
the freedom of the building as much IN
the future as they have in the past.