New-York tribune., 1921-11-28
Margaret Ballard, 20, Sent
by Saugerties Judge
Without Trial, Is Freed
by Justice Morschauser
Foster Father Said
She Was Vagrant
Friends Say She Was En-
ployed; Case of Chum
With HerWill BeProbed
Special Dispatch 10 The Tribune

BEDFORD, Nov. 27.-Margaret Bal
lard, twenty years old and pretty, has
just been liberated from the State Re-
formatory for Women here, it was
learned to-day, on an order issued by
Supreme Court Justice Morschauser, in
White Plains, after it had been shown
that she was sent to the institution
nearly five months ago without the
semblance of ,hearng or trial.
Justice Morschauser has interested
himself in the plight of Eta Beattie,
chum of the Ballard girl, who was com
mltted with her from saugerties fol-
lowing irregular proceedings before
Judge William Chidester, aged Justice
of the peace of the little Hudson River
village.
Taken Home by Marshal
Miss Ballard was liberated last night
by Major Amos T. Baker, superintend-
ent of the reformatory, and returned
to her home in Saugertes in care of
Mrs. Louise Engle, marshal of the in
stitution. Mrs. Engle represented
Major Baker yesterday morning at the
habeas corpus hearing in White Plains.
"All we know about the commitment
of the Ballard girl" said Major Baker
to-day, lis that the papers were per
fectly regular. When we get the re-
quired papers that is as far as our
responsibility goes"
Investigation of the foregoing dis
patch, undertaken last night by The
Tribune, revealed in mass Of con-
tl1ctlng statements but one unGisputed
fact: Margaret Ballard was committed
to Bedford at the request of her
foster father, Madison Ballard. not
only without hearing, but the papers
committing her we're put before Judge
Chldestcr, as he recollects the circum-
stances, even before she was arrested
BY Chief of Police William Richter of
Saugerties.
Morschauser Scores Proceedings
"The commitment was entirely
irregular and illegal" said Justice
Morschauser over the telephone last
night. "The papers were signed at
Judge Chidester's home while the girls
were in the police station. Such things
cannot be allowed to go on in this
country
The release of the girl was brought
about by Grant Brinnier, an attorney
of Saugerties, retained by her foster
father, who is house painter. 1t was
Ballard who caused her arrest on a
charge of vagrancy, though her friends
declared she was regularly employed
as a pianist in Saugerties motion
picture theater
Judge Chidester admitted over the
telephone last night that he probably
had erred in the proceedings by which
he committed Miss Ballard and her
chum. He said ne had never before
handled such Ease, though he had
been in Office eight or ten years, the
nearest approach to it being instances
of juvenile delinquency in which he had
committed "some children"
Judge Chidester is not lawyer Be
fore he took office he was retired
farmer. Asked if Chief of Police
Richter was correct in saying that he
said "sixty-fve would be nearer the
mark"
Chief Richter was emphatic in say
ing he thought that justice had been
done as nearly as could be judged from
the circumstances at the time of the
arrest. He said that so far as he was
able to determine Miss Ballard had not
been regularly employed and that
when her foster-father asked that she
be arrested and sent to an institution
he thought it his duty to comply.
Says She Seemed Willing to Go
"The girl had been an inmate on two
previous occasions of the Hudson River
Training School for Girls, also a re-
form institution" he declared. "Judg>
Chidester is an old man and when he
sent the girl to Bedford he thought he
was acting for her good. She seemed
willing to go when she learned that
her foster father had caused her ar
rest. The other girl had never been in
trouble"
Apparently the police of Saugerties
were without evidence pointing to
wrongdoing on the part of Miss Bal
lard and made the arrest solely at the
request of her foster father. The other
girl was taken into custody, Chief
Richter said when she was found Ill
her company.
Judge Morschauser, it is understood,
has asked Major Baker to come to
White Plains and discuss with him the
case of Miss Beattie. If he finds that
she was illegally committed he will
order her immediate release.
Judge Chdestcr holds Office in Sau-
gerties at the pleasure of the village
board Of trustees, of which Mayor
Ziou1or proc