New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-27
Witnesses Say Kingsbury
Appointees Took Idiots
from Hospitals.
MOTHER FORCED TO
PAY FOR BABES KEEP
Moss Ayers One Investigator
Almost Coerced Married
Man into Bigamy,

Under cross-eXamination yesterday
afternoon by Special Deputy Attorney
General Frank Moss, Miss May B. Up
shaw, assistant chief examiner for the
Municipal Civil Service Commission, ad-
mitted that the candidates who had OBJ
tanned places on the eligible list for APP
pointment as examiners OF charitable
institutions had passed a rigid test as
to their ability and knowledge OF the
laws governing domestic relations.
Hiss Upshaw succeeded James Conway
as assistant chief examiner Tor the Mu-
ricipal Civil Service authorities. under
the administration of Or. Henry hosko-
WITT and the present board.
Her testimony was regarded as im-
portant, in view of the fact that forty
seven "eXpert,' were appointed by Com
missioner Of Charities John A. Kings
bury over the heads OF the existing
list and were certified as exempt ap-
pointecs by the municipal commission
One OF the reasons urged in iuStiiica-
ton OF the exemption Of TIE forty
seven was that they had the necessary
delicate understanding and human
sympathy" TO untanGlc marital dis
agreements. Prior TO Miss Upshaw' 5
testimony Mr.. Conway told OF the high
qualifications demanded OF those who
had taken the regular examination.
An example Of the delicate under
standing and human sympathy of the
Illegally appointed experts was brought
cut in the testimony Of Mrs. Helen Bon
ION. twenty-five wears old, OF 100 Ave
rue 3. She said she had been de-
serted by her husband q year ago. and
now pays 81 q week for the privilege
cf sharing a room in the three-room
apartment Of Mrs. Ida SchwartZ. She
works al iutrequent intervals as
waitress and receives 50 week wages.
Mrs. Bonzon told of having been
visited by one Of Commissioner Kings
bury's "eXperts," who told her she
you'd have to pay for the maintenance
Of her baby daughter on Randalis ISL
and OF else take the child out OF the
institution. The young woman wept
as she related the manner IN which the
original demand for Sl2 a month had
been decreased to s.. She made pay
ment on September g, but had been IN
able TO make the october payment.
Mr.. Nikolas told Of the case 81 q
crippled boy named Joseph Iraei'
whose mother. in destitute circum-
stances, had tod him she vas 0eint
compelled 70 remove her son iom the
institution. lie 1eCOHNcHueu CH"' on
tell her story to Angus B. Ihorne, o.
tie special DEMONSTRATION bureau OF
the Department Of Public Charities
iron which bureau the orders for the
discharge of such children had ema-
rated. In spite Of this. Nikclas said,
The boy was removed, il being ncces-
sarv TO take him to Manhattan in a
stretchcr and thence 10 his mothers
nome in q carriage.
"Miss Robbins. the chic inyestiga.
tor" said Mr.. Moss, "has told me that
as the result Of six months work only
thirty wives and husbands have been
brought together and only ten mar
YiaCrs Of the parents OF illegitimate
children inspired. have evidence that
in at least one instance one of these
expert investigators almost coerced
married man into deserving his VIE
and committing bigamy."