New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
MRS. DUNPHY HITS
BACK AT KINCSBURY
RandaIl's Island Evils, if
Any, as Much His Fault
as Hers, She Says.
VIGOROUSLY DENIES
ABUSE OF CHILDREN
Insists Commissioner Sought an
Opportunity to Attack-Wants
Hearing To Be Public.

Mrs. Mary c. Dunphy. superin-
tendent Of the city schools on. Ran
dall's Island, yesterday made fiat
denial of the charges of neglect and
abuse Of children preferred against
her BY Commissioner Of Charities John
A. Kingsbury.
In the formal statement embodying
this answer she declares that Kings
bury is as much responsible as she
can be for any maladministration. and
charges that he has "been more in
tent upon getting something against
me than TO safeguard the health and
lives of the children intrusted to his
care"
Mrs. Duuphy. who has been in the
city service more than forty years
is confined to her room with an attack
of pleurisy, and has had TO deny her
self to interviewers. Her answer. there
fore, is in the form Of a statement
TO a stenographer. In this she says:
"At no time have | permitted cor
poral punishment of the feeble minded
children ut this institution, nor have
| permitted attendants or other in
mates TO maltreat the children.
Only by Physicians Orders.
attendants were not permitted to
tie the hands Of children, nor to place
them in straitjackets and restrain
ing sheets, without the order of a
physician. Neither were they allowed
to fasten them to beds, chairs and
benches, as alleged.
~ deny that / have failed TO estab-
lish and maintain safeguards against
the spread of infectious diseases among
the feeble minded or other children
committed to the institution, as in all
institutions Of this kind such matters
are under the jurisdiction Of medical
board. This board is appointed directly
bv the Commissioner OF Public Chair
ties.
"The food provided Tor ;he inmates
is Of the quality required by the stand
ards of the Department of Public
Charities. II is examined and appor-
toned by competent dietitians and Is
prescribed in the frst place by die
tary expert
81 emphatically denv .he- he per-
sonal care of the children WAS ever
neglected. A single instance of neglect
on the part Of an employe insured his
or her dismissal.
every safeguard that the facilities
of the department placed at my dls,
posal was used 10 maintain a rlglo
separation of the feeble minded and
normal children.
"The rule prohibiting employees from
using the clothing intended for IN
mates is posted in the employees din
inr room. An infraction of the rule
is followed by immediate suspension.
Refers to Fire Department.
"As to the charge that | have
neglected to take every precauton
possible to safeguard the inmates
ment of Fire Protection. Fire drills
are held regularly under an official OF
that department.
"In only one ward of the institution
are cripples housed on the second
floor. and there is a Kirkerbender fire
escape. down which they can be sent
il a few seconds. There can be no
question of danger from fire.
with our limited housing faclli-
ties It is impossible TO place all IDIOTS
in ground floor wards. but IN no IN
stance are they placed in dormltorles
from which escape would be dlihcult
Our Kirkerbender fire escapes obvlate
all such danger.
might watchmen make three rounds
nightly They are obliged TO ring w
watchmen's clocks on every round
Failure to do this results IN imme-
date dismissal.
"An important question which the
public should demand TO have an
swered in connection with these
charges is why, if Commissioner
Kingsbury. charged under oath with
the management OF this department
has known for fourteen months, OF
twelve months, or ten months or less
of these alleged serious conditions, en-
dangering the health and the lives OF
the inmates, as stated, he has never
before brought them to my attention
and demanded their correction? lie is
as much responsible as ] am for the
management of this great branch OF
his department.
Attacks Commissioner.
Upon his own statements Commis'
sioner Kngsbury seems TO have beer
more intent upon getting something
against the superintendent Of the IN
stitution than he has been to safe
guard the health and lives OF the chil'
! dren committed to mis- care. These
/ facts speak for themselves.
81 feel that under the circumstance
the public is entitled to know the whole
truth. and it will not be my fault If i
/ is not made known.
ain view of my long service for th'
! CITY of New York, now over forty con
secutive years, and because of tins
public attempt to injure my characte
/ and to prejudice my case in advance
| Of the hearing to which | have beer
/ summoned, will ask for an open pub
/ lie hearing on the charges, with per
mission 20 be represented by counsel.
anNItNr NAIINrO hHlCTDthI