New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24
One of Miss Davis's
Dreams for DelinquentS
Realized.
ROCKEFELLER GAVE
$4,000 FOR PLAN
Women Will Be Studied
from a Psychopathic
Standpoint.

One of DR.. Katharine Bemcnt
Daviss plans for the welfare Of delin-
aueat girls was realized yesterday with
the opening Of a new psychopathic nos.
p;tal established as a laboratory OF
social hygiene at the state Retorma-
tory for Women at Bedford Hlils.
III / were a ear Dr.. DAVIS thch
superintendcnt of the reformatorS'
told q group Of city magistrates ~, ~
conc TO Bedford Tor luncheon IN 1917
81 would have clearing house where
experts could study these women AFTER
their conviction, but before they were
sentenced. ! would have them re-
turned to the magistrates with rec
concentrations from the Investigators
AS to the proper disposal Of each
case"
A repor. containing her suggestion
came 10 the attention OF John y. ROCK
ofellcr. IT.. who had just completed ms
work as foreman of the grand Jury
which investigated the vice trust Inc
idea appealed to Mr.. Rockefeller,
a few DAYS later he came to Bedford
with Starr J. Murphy, secretary ana
treasurer of the Bureau of Social Hy-
eiene. Inc. They spent the afternoon
talking with DR.. Davis about her plan
for bringing scientific knowledge 10
bear on what was admitted TO be one
of the greatest problems OF modern
society.
"Don't you think it will be difficult
10 get the state 10 undertake tnls
work ?" Mr.. Rockefeller asked. Ut
Davis agreed that more prompt action
could be obtained through private en-
tcrprn.e. She informed Mr., Rocke-
Teller that it would be possible to carry
on psychological tests in connection
with the state reformatory -
Il, THAT is the history and this is the
result" said DR.. Davis yesterday
afternoon in welcoming the judges, SCI,
-cn:ists and social workers who attended
a reception in the new $4,000 building.
,"ln a few days we shall be ready 10 be-
Gin work. Our preliminary study OF pa
tients received at Elizabeth Frye Hall
demonstrates the need of this hospi-
tai.
Fl "Of the first one hundred women we
Investigated the experts found that
only fifty-six were proper subjects for
reformatory treatment. In the other
cases we differed from the maSis-
trates.
To Study "CuSSedneSs.
"One group of offenders sent to Bed
ford constitutes the chief disciplinary
problem. This is composed of young
women who are unstable mentally. II
they are sent to institutions for the
.feeble-minded invariably they. are re-
turned here with verdict that they
are not insane, but merely 'cussed.
sIn this cottage we propose TO STUDY
these cases.
"The purpose of the laboratory is
,threefold. First, we shall study the
delinquent woman as an Individual, TO
find the treatment needed for her par
ticular case Second, we shall work out
a system 10 be in readiness for the
state whenever it decides TO take over
this work in a larger clearing house.
And, finally, for the Bureau of Social
Hygiene we shall be able TO gather
large volume of data on the problem OF
the social evil"
Dr.. Elmer Z. Southland, director OF
the psychopathic hospital in Boston,
said Harvard University authorities
had been puzzled a few years ago at
the task Of trying TO classify crime.
First they thought that crime should
be studied in the divinity school, he
said. president Eliot protested
against giving it to the law school on
the ground that the lawyers had done
nothing to solve crime in the 500 years
they had had charge Of It.
Doctors Are Designated.
$50 they designated the doctors to
study crime. OF course, we medical
men will not make success OF the
task. but | think we arc making prog
ress. OF 900 cases referred to the
psychopathic hospital in Boston we
found that only lightweight were Tree
from medical significance"
DR.. Edith r. Spauldihg, director OF
the New Bedford Hospital, said that
the institution has been planned to
diagnose md treat not only type OF
women which represents the insists OF
cOciety, bat which represents also the
insists among the insists IN society:
1.-The patients we are planning 70 take
she said, have been insists IN every
known institution and are still an un-
solved problem from the point OF view
Of intensive, individual study
The DAYS OF the grand jury are num-
bored, according 70 DR.. Adolf Meyer,
director OF the Phipps Institute, con-
neCted with Johns Hopkins "An in
stitution founded 10 protect the rights
Of peasants against an unjust ruler
will eventually be supplanted by com
mittee Of investigation" he said The
attitude Of the courts toward person
under arrest should be one OF inves-
t.sa.ion instead OF punishment"
Among those at the reception were
Starr }. Murphy, representing Mr..
Rockefeller; Charles o. lieydt. director
OF the Bureau Of Social Hygiene;
James Wood, president Of TIC board o.
rouaccrs II the Bedford Ref0rmatory;
Nrs. Henry Marquand. Burdettc g..
lc-.Is. Commissioner O. Correct on:
Clty Magistrates Charles Z. Simm- and
W. Bruce Cobb; Luther B. White, SUI
plintcndcut OF industries for the De.
plf'mcut of Corrections; Charlie H.
Johnson, the ncw secretary Of the State
Icard Of Charities, and Henry o.