New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-05
New Director
At Bedford to
Stay 2 Weeks
Mrs. Frank Christian Will
Serve as Superintendent
Pending Appointment of
Miss Jones's Successor
Was Called In During Riot
Husband Is Head of the
Elmira Reformatory; for
More Recreation for Girls

superintendent of the State Reforma-
tory for Women at Bedford Hills. Mrs.
Christians administration will last for
only two weeks, but during that time
she expects to make many changes in
the present methods of caring for the
inmates Of the place.
During the race riots at the reforma-
tory two weeks ago the board of man
ayers sent for Mrs. Christian and for
three days she acted as disciplinary
officer. 1t was the remarkable intlu-
ence she exercised over the girls at
that time that led the managers to re-
quest her to accept the post of super
intendent.
Mrs Christian acquiesced with the
understanding that her term of Office
was to last not longer than two weeks
and that during that time she be given
a free hand in the matter of reorganiz-
ing the business of running the insti-
tuition.
Mrs Christian is the mother of three
children, and her husband is the SUI
perintendent of Elmira Reformatory.
She has had considerable experience
in dealing with prisoners and has made
an intimate study of the methods in
vogue at Elmira.
Miss Jones Departs
The superintendent Office at Bed
ford Hills was taken over by Mrs.
Christian yesterday an hour after it
had been vacated by Miss Florence
Jones, who resigned as superintendent.
Miss Jones left Bedford Hills for Bos-
ton without commenting on her own
stormy administrations or the prospects
in store for Mrs. Christian.
Mrs. Christian said that while Miss
Jones's administration had been
marked by number of disturbances
among the inmates of the Bedford in
stitution she believed that The former
superintendent had handled the vari-
Gus situations to the best Of her
ability
Running an institution Of this
kind" Mrs. Christian said to a Tribune
reporter who called on her at the re-
formatory "presents many extremely
difficult problems To administer the
affairs of the place properly one must
use q lot of common sense and tact. |
think that the liberal use Of common
sense will prevent a recurrence Of the
outbreaks we have had here recently.
Most of the girls here have the men
tally of children of twelve years Of
age and it is impossible to treat them
as though they were normally de-
vcloped. When we recognize this fact
we shall probably see things running
along smoothly"
The arrival of Mrs Christian found
the affairs of the reformatory as quiet
as a mill pond in summer. The girls
who had been ringleaders in the race
riot two weeks ago were in most
docile mood when The new sUperntend-
ent visited them Most of the rioters
were still confined to cells yesterday,
but after she had talked with them
Mrs. Christian said she would arrange
Immediately to have them released
Fifty in Solitary Confinement
There are fifty girls, black and white,
held in solitary confinement. All will
probably be restored by Saturday to
the freedom they enjoyed before the
riots.
With DR. Menas S. Gregory of Belle
vue Hospital, who is member Of the
board of managers at the reformatory,
Mrs. Christian, who is also on the
board, made a complete tour Of the in
stitutlon. She visited the new psyche
pathic ward, where Dr.. Gregory is
treating inmates afflicted with hystera
and nervous disorders. There the new
superintendent met Lillian Rosenstein,
Dorothy Jett, Marie Davis and other
prisoners who figured prominently in
the riots.
Most of these girls had been receiv-
ing the "ice pack" treatment to quiet
their nerves. Judging from their de-
meanor yesterday. the treatment had
the desired effect. They were COM
pletely cooled off.
When the girls complained that they
had been kept on a bread and water
diet for more than week and had
been confined to small cells for two
weeks, Mrs. Christian promised to see
that they were allowed regular daily
exercise periods.
Mrs. Christian said she did not be
lieve that enough recreation was pro-
vlded for any of the girls, and this will
be one of the first problems to which
she will give her attention. In Elmira
the new superintendent is captain of
tho girl scout troop Of that city. and
she said she would employ at Bedford
many of the recreation ideas used by
the scouts.
"Ice-Pack' Treatment
The so-called 'ice-pack treatment
accorded eXcitable prisoners has drawn
much criticism on the institution but
1t will not be abolished under Mrs.
Christians administration.
81 believe in the ice treatment in
some special cases. Mrs. Christian
said yesterday, "and I think we win
continue it in limited way. 1t is not
the brutal performance one would
think from reading what has been
written about it IN the newspapers
III cases of volen hysteria it has
proved very beneficial in bringing the
patient back to a normal condition. Six
of the girls we have treated in this
way told me to-day they had no OBJ
lection to it,
The so-caled "ice pack" is really
only a cold bath in which the temper
allure of the water is gradually lowcrcr
until the patient has been thoroughly
chilled. In some cases, according &c
reformatory officials. the ice treatmen,
has not answered the purpose and no;
baths have been found to be more
efficient.
Neither DR.. Gregory nor Mrs
Christian could say yesterday who
would be named permanent superin-
tendent at the end of two weeks Mrs
Christian said the the board OF
managers was trying TO find a woman
who could qualify for the position, but
as yet had met with no success.
While the present superintendent at