New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-14
Harmful and Dangerous,
Says W. L. Russell, Med
ical Superintendent of
Bloomingdale Asylu m
Ducking Also Condemned
IL Women Tell of Being
Strung to- Cells and
Doused With Water
staff Correspondence


BEDFORD HILLS, N. y, Dec. 49,
The "stringing ups" and duckings
which prisoners and guards Of Bedford
ReformatogY have testified are used to
enforce discipline in the institution
were condemned to-day by DR.. William
L. Russell, medical superintendent of
Blooiainzdale Asylum. DR.. Russell ap-
peared as a witness before John S.
Kennedy, vice-chairman of the State
Prison Commission, who is conducting
an investigation here into the admins
tration of the reformatory.
Under questioning by Mr.. Kennedy
the physician said he disapproved en-
tirely of the alleged treatment of the
women imprisoned in the institution.
He pointed out that many of these were
and should be disciplined only by an
experienced psychiatrist.
He was asked whether he considered
the "stringing up" such as has been
described by various witnesses, the
proper treatment for psychopathic
cases. To this he replied that force in
such cases was harmful in nearly every
instance, and should be used only in
cases of life and death
Ducking Called Dangerous
When questioned concerning the ad-
visibility of ducking recalcitrant girls
in cold water, DR.. Russell said he con-
sidered such methods dangerous and
not proper treatment for such cases.
Hot and cold packs, he said, should be
used. In reference to the testimony
of Ruth Carter, whose trial for assault
upon one of the keepers of the reform
atory caused the present inquiry, DR..
Russell said he had examined and
questioned the girl and believed the
"stringing up" and duckings which she
says she was forced to undergo were
dangerous and harmful"
A dozen women and young girls, all
prisoners in the reformatory, testified
to-day. Without exception each told
of having been strung up and many
added that they had been ducked as
we'll
Elizabeth Nichols, twenty-eight years
old, who is said to be sub-normal, said
she was kept for four months in Re-
becca Hall, the disciplinary building,
and that three guards and Miss Julia
Minogue, assistant superintendent, en-
tered her cell one day and accused
her of shaking the bars of its door.
Handcuffed "a Hours, Girl Says
''They bound my arms and legs with
a blanket" she said, "and ducked my
head in cold water several times"
She also related how in June of this
year she was handcuffed to the door
of her cell for twenty-four hours. She
was made to stand all day, she asserted,
but was allowed to sit down at night.
Several times while telling her story
she made wild gestures and laughed in
a vacant manner. At the close of the
prisoners story Mr.. Kennedy turned
to Mrs Mary Vida Clark, representing
women's organizations in New York
City, and said:
"Ths girl should not be detained in
an institution such as this. Would
you interest yourself in this girl and
have her sent to the Rome State School
for Feeble Minded ?"
II won't go to Rome!" the witness
screamed. you'll bury me there for
life. You'll never get me there. l
won't go!"
She was still screaming as she was
led from the room.
Bread and Water for a Week
Lillian Rosenstein testified that two
weeks ago when Miss Cobb, the super
intendent, was showing a photographer
through the institution, she asked her:
"Why don't you have a picture taken
of me strung up in my cell ?"
TO this, she said, the superintendent
replied, "I'll attend to you later"
That night, the witness continued,
Miss Cobb. Miss Minogue and Quinn
and Bowman, keepers, took her to
Rebecca Hall, where she was fed on
bread and water for a week. She also
said she had been strung up twice.
"Was your head ever dipped in
water" Mr.. Kennedy asked.
"Not only my head, but my whole
body" she replied. Last June, Mary
Lane, Marie Davis and myself were
strung up, feet off the floor, for
twenty minutes. They threw four pals
of water on each OF us and washe !
our mouths with soap and water"
Letters that Mr.. Kennedy had writ
ten to John d. Rockefeller jr and
Everett S. Elwood, secretary of the