The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-07
ORPHANS SAID
TO Be ABUSED
Charges Of Cruelty, 0vsrwork
and Starving ks Made.
The LAKE AND WATTS ASYLUM
Wensn Tell Of Tainted Food Fed TO Ds
Little Ones and How Csretaksrs Pro-
vlded Own Food.
THE LAKE AND WATTS ASYLUM

New York. oct. 7.-one OF the Oldest
and best known orphan asylums In tne
country. that endowed by the hberality
of John q. Leake and John watts, ana
occupying one of the most beautiful sites
upon the Hudson river. is being invesu-
gated by the agents OF the Society TOT the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Inc
Testimony OF several witnesses Is 10 the
affect that tho IA chil6gen are ill-feo'
overworked and some pf them prutaIly
treated. The specific charges are against
the superintendent George X. Brown. ana
its chief caretaker, Joseph Brooks.
The Leake and Watts Orphan Home
was founded in 1895 and originally occu-
pied the large plot OF ground from one
Hundred and Tenth to One Hundred and
Thirteenth street, and Morningside and
Tenth avenues. The main plot was sold IN
1855 and plot OF thirty acres purchased
on Hawthorn avenue, Yonkers. just at
the foot OF Valentine lane and overlook
ing the Hudson The grounds and foliage
have been carefully tended and the
whole presents the appearance OF an Eng
lish landed estate.
Supt George r. Brown has been In
charge of the asylum for period OF near
ly thirteen years. He has the advantage
OF a residence in one OF the most favored
spots along the river, has his horses,
carriages, dogs and all other conve-
niences that would attach to a wealthy
landed estate
WOULD NOT SAY.
While supt Jenkins of the society.
when asked Monday IL the Leake and
Watts orphanage was under investigation.
declined positively 10 answer the question,
II is known that one OF his agents called
upon Miss c. NJ. Hale on Friday Sept.
25 and interrogated her at length upon
the subject Miss Hale was, up to the
middle OF July. secretary and stenogra-
pher for Supt. Brown and resided at the
asylum.
she is employed at 1s5 Fifth avenue,
having voluntarily resigned her place
with Brown because as she said II could
not stand the fare. the continual COM
plants OF the children, and because
was compelled TO buy nourishing food to
prevent my health from running down"
Miss Hale was asked TO tell The World
what she told the agent OF the Society
for the Prevention OF Cruelty TO Chill
dren about the home.
II told him." said She that the chill
dren were being ill-fed and abused. I
told the agent that the food was so poor
that the children were constantly COM
planning and that they were not thriv-
ing upon It, As for the teachers and the
caretakers. we had virtually 10 feed our
selves, for we could not eat the things
provided by the superintendent. Nearly
all of us had chatting dishes or gas-stoves
in our rooms and we bought our supplies
and cooked them
SAYS MEAT WAS TAINTED.
II told the agent that on Fridays, when
meat was cooked for the children. 1t
was so tainted that the stencil from the
kitchen was unbearable
81 told the agent that the children
were also treated harshly. and in some
instances brutally. One instance. L re-
call, for IL Impressed itself horribly upon
me- Warren Widdner complained OF be-
ing kicked by Caretaker Brooks. He was
taken to the hospital and the nurse sent
for me TO see him. He was stripped, ana
his whole right side and thigh were black
and blue His thigh was very much
swollen. He said that Mr.. Brooks had
kicked him.
The Rev. Samuel II. Atkinson. who
Is leaving the asylum today to go into
the ministry in Kansas, told me that he
had seen Brooks take boy by the coll
lar and throw him across the room
against the wall. Mr.. Atkinson said he
was the only witness Of this, and did
not want anything said Of IL until after
he had left the institution.
Mr.. Atkinson also told me that for
punishment Brooks would make the
children stand up all night in the dor
mitories.
IL also told the agent that the children
were overworked All the scrubblng and
menial labor done in the large institu-
tion Is done by the children. The chill
dren get up at s o'clock and scrub the
floors before they get their breakfast.
Why. last week | was out there TO see
friend, and I notived that several of the
children appeared one-sided from the
scrubbing.
KEPT FROM SCHOOL TO SCRUB.
And the children are kept out of school
TO do menial work One instane ! can
cite. The latter part OF last March the
Young Mems Christian association had
concert at the asylum. The children
were kept out OF school all day scrub
bing and cleaning the building.
"One of the seamstresses who was on
duty in the dormitory all night said that
Eva Chinn. a Chinese child cried out in
her sleep: won't do any more scrub
bing.
"As far as am personally concerned,
complained to Mr.. Brown that I could
not eat the meat. II was tainted and
not NJ for the table Then he took the
milk from the table, and when we com
planned he said we were getting enough
money to buy our own milk. We were
paid a salary. and Brown deducted 81 a
week for board and lodging"
Mrs Myers. who is now one Of the care
takers at the Home OF Freindless on
woodcrest avenue was at one time
caretaker at the Leake and Watts Home.
Il always thought" said She that
the children were worked too hard.
They did almost ell the work OF the es-
tablishment They were compelled 20
climb up on boxes and ladders and clean
the ceilings Of the halls when trustees
visits were anticipated.
supt. Brown was found At the asylum
IN Yonkers. and the substance Of the
statements Of Miss Hale and Mrs Myers
told him. He made the following state
ment.
I'VE market for the children the