The Washington times., 1901-07-07
COLORED WOMEN IN A RIOT
A Row at the WOrkh0use Prevents
Patients Removal.
Esther Edwards, who Was to lie
Taken to st. EIizabeth's, Eniists
sympathy of Her Comrudes-Fren-
zicd NeEresses Finally Pncifed.


Taken to st. EIizabeth's, EnIists
sympathy of Her COMMUNICATIONS
zied NeEresses Finally Pncifeh.
Glib of tongue and shrewd beyond her
years. Esther Edwards, a nineteen-year-
old colored girl, melted seventy of her
fellow prisoners at the workhouse to open
revolt yesterday afternoon when an am
bulance came to take her to St. Elizabcth's
pending an examination of her mental
condition. Nearly all of the inmates of
the colorcd division gathered in the corri-
dor outside the door of the Edwards girls
room, and defied the authorities to take
her away. The girl had led them to be
hCve she was to be incarcerated in the
asylum while perfectly sane. What might
have developed into serious trouble was
averted hy Superintendent Stoutenburgh
who decided not to remove the girl from
her room. At the door of the room stood
several strapping negresses, nearly de-
mented themselves, filled with the idea
that evil was intended co their friend.
The Edwards girl was sent to the work
house to serve a thirty days sentence for
a petty offence Her term expires today.
During large part OF her stay at the
workhouse she had been confined to the
was troubled with hallucinations and
strange fancies running continually
through her mind affected her actions to
such an extent that her condition was
soon observed closely 10y the hospital at
tendants. Several days ago Dr. d. Percy
Hickling, one of the visiting physicians
issued a certificate of insanity. 1t was de-
cided to send the girl 10 St Eiizabeths to
await proceedings in Iunacy, whereby she
might be placed under proper treatment
The girl had been at the workhouse be-
fore and she knew q number of the coll
ored women who are ser, ing sentences
there at the present time Every inmate
of the colored division of the building In
which the women live knew of the girls
troubles and she appeared TO have more
influence over them than a sane person
would. She toll them that he was GO
ing TO be taken away 10 he locked Up in
an asylum from which she would never
be released. Naturally bright and a good
taiker, it did not take the girl long to
excite the sympathy of the other women,
and this feeling grew steadily until it
eliminated in the trouble yesterday.
1t was blistering hot yesterday after
noon about $3.50 o'clock when an ambu-
lance drove to the workhouse to get the
girl. The women were Just returning
from their outdoor work tired and il
natured ready for almost any kind Of
trouble. The officers in the ambulance
were provided with an order from Health
Officer Frank. One of the guards went
after the Edwards girl. The word had
been passed along a minute before that
the ambulance had come to drag the girl
away. When the doors Of the corridor
in which Esther Edwards room was To-
Gated were opened the women who were
In the larger room made q rush and
gained il before the guards. There were
nearly seventy of them and only half
dozen guards in the entire building.
Talking excitedly and swearing among
themselves, the wildly excited women
presented a frenzied appearance.
For a minute the guards thought Of
making a rush and dragging the girl
from the room The women presented a
formidable front, however, and II v as
seen that not without clubbing the prls-
oners could the girl be removed. Super
intendent Stoutenburgh was loath TO re-
sort to such drastic measures and decided
TO await more favorable opportunity TO
remove the girl
Toward evening a large number of the
women returned to their own rooms and
there was no further disturbance. y
handful remained IN the corridor near
the girls room, however She appears
TO exert a strong influence over number
OF the women Those who are accorded
her friendship most appear 10 esteem the
honor highly.
1t was thought that trouble might re
suit during the night ana sharp look
out was kept. Nothing happened, how
ever The girl will probably he removed
10 ST Eliza beth's some time today.