The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-15
SEES IMAGINATION
IN DUNPHY CHARGES
Elihu Root. .Ir.. l. Convinced
Woman l. Victim Of
Misguided Zeal.
MAKES OWN INSPECTION

Eiihu Root. Jr. counsel for Mrs Mary
e DuupNN. superintendent Of Randall
Island. asserted last night that the
charges against Mrs. uJuphy, including
among other things ,unt she permitted
mhuman Treatment OF childrcu were the
result OF too niue zeal on the part OF
a private .nspec,or employ ed ~ the
city. Mr.. HOO; said hat when he visited
the island the conditions there amazed
him and c|oucinved MIN that some agent
sen, there to investigate believed That
he must re.lru a report disclosing un-
ia orablo cond tons and that accord
,ugIy the crurg.s against the superin-
teudcut were trumpcd ny.
"If MAYOR Mitchell said Mr.. Root,
could take a trip to Randalrs island
and see the irresponsible, half wltted
children and idiots from whom the IN
Formation contained ia the charges was
obtained | believe he would have them
dismissed At ot,c. Cutil my visit TO
the island I mad neN"" seen so many
OF the unfortunate persons AT one tin,e'
Now | realize the utter ..bsurditE O! me
charges and the colossal problem with
which Mrs. Dunphy, a woman past ncr
81 vt 9th year, had to deal.
T n buildings are shncklnglN lnaut-
uuat- for IN. needs II the doctors ue-
cLtr, that they could get tubercular
culture right on the walls OF the rooms,
hut not hrc.tus. NO attempt has been
made OIL Mrs. Dunphy's part, Tor th'
doors OF the building are AS clean a. "A
sew England kitchen.
eli i because the entire plant. build
ng-. nclp and means tr" inadequate
TWu-third- ct the help employed at the
island haze been uudisripllned uil-
skilled prrsnlls--JuSt buns. Th"N lGtNt
been sent over from Ncw York to work
about th. place. GENERALLY they remain
about Il month. Then they get their pay
amt h,at H.. Tn average is 100"
changes q wear. rs there are 200 per
sons employed there ALI the time ~
means eight changes IN "ach position Il
year. .\ud for years and years MIS-
puuphy has been sending reports tell
ing OF these conditions to IN" Hoard OF
Estimate and Apportionment. Yet no
funds were forthcoming
AS To the corporal punishment OF the
crildren. II depends on the way YOU
ask nos unfortunate children a ques-
ton about their treatment. II you asked
one. Did the Car OF Russia spank
YOU this morning" the child would no
doubt answer yes ON the other hand
if YOU said. The car didn't spank YOU
this morning, did he" ~" child would
probably reply negatively. They'rr not
respunsiblc-thats why they are at
Randalls Island. Mrs. Dunphy tells me
that only tve times since she has been
IN charge has she heard OF any one de-
liberat-ly Furnishing a enid. Va each
,tsc the guilty one WAS promptly dis
missed
81 talked to the doctors, the sdler
patients. alisn!sts and other PERSONS
acquainted intimately with the working
OF the institution. They all deny that
any such conditions az are alleged exist.
Tho doctors state that there never has
been on. instance where "A child was
restrained without ar order.
II saw several frightful cases during
my visit where the children were unable
10 control themselves unless they were
I restra ned. one girl had bitten several
large pieces out of one of her hands,
The hands were restrained so she could
not repeat IL. others, semi-maniacal,
are included in the class embraced in
tNr order, restraint hen necessary
TT is also charged that crippled chil-
Gren WhO were unable 10 walk down
stairs have been left on the second floor
of au iniiammablc structure. That liz true
Conditions make II so, but there IL "A
kirkcr BENDER Are escape chute through
WpiCh they can be- quickly passed IN
safety. The fire drill several times each
week has become part of their plea suros,
" want a fair trial of the charges
ptfor. the public. the press and an inn
J partial arbit.r, Mrs. Dunphy IL an aged
woman u she Is unfairly dismissed /,
W!l terminal, her means ~ livelihood
and leave her a broken old woman"
II was learned from . source close t.
I Commissioner Of correction klngsbury
. Mat ne has no Intentions OF withdrawing
the charges against Mrs, Dunphy. II ID
understood that Commissioner Kingsbury
regards the charges as far too serious e
Ice dismissed or withdra wn and too grave
TO permit Mrs. Dunphy's resignation
while they are standing against her.