The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 116

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 116

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1832.]

HOUSE OF REFUGE.

409

ly long since it commenced its carcer, to afford evidence of the failure or success of the experiment; and it has been sufficiently before the public to prevent misappre- hension, both as to the system itself, and the manner in which it has been conducted. The confidence and good will of the Legislature have again been manifest- ed in a renewed grant of ten thousand dollars per an-

An important alteration has been made in the build- ing, for the better accommodation of the sick. Four- teen dormitories of the north range, have been convert- ed into an infirmary. The general health of the inhabi- num for three years, payable one half out of the state ; tants has been good. Occasional cases of slight indispo- treasury, and the other half from the county of Phila- sition have appeared throughout the year. During the autumn, endemic dysentery prevailed; and two deaths occurred out of about thirty cases. delphia. The continued care and patronage of the Le- gislature, have been fartber cxhibited in certain changes in the government of the institution. Instead of the managers deriving their appointment from the contribu- tors only, three members of the board are now to be se- lected by the Court of Quarter Sessions of the county, and two by the Mayor of the city of Philadelphia.

As the object in view, in establishing and protecting this institution, is the improvement of destitute youth in morals and education; it is always interesting to learn whether the impressions which are made by its disci- pline are deep and lasting. Ifence we inquire with soli- citude, as to the conduet of those who have been bound to apprenticeships from the house. Reports from their em- ployers continue to be as favorable as could be expected. We have practical proof, at least as satisfactory as the re- ports themselves; in the earnest desires continually ex- pressed to take others into service. These desires are communicated both by persons who liave already some of our pupils and ask for more of them, and by other persons whose observation has enabled them to judge of the character and conduct of the individuals bound from the House of Refuge, to their neighbors. The tone and feeling of the communications on this subject, may be understood from a few letters which are append- ed to this report, as specimens of many that have been received.

Our general plan has been pursued without material alterations. The schools have been considerably im- proved during the last year. While the discipline of every part of the house has continued unimpaired in vi- gour and efficiency, that of the male department has been sensibly benefited. The accommodations of the buildings have been increased, and these must vary from time to time, as experience points out defects and advan- tages. It is in our power to provide school instruction without much difficulty. Suitable teachers are fortu- nately to be found; and regular discipline, without un- necessary sternness or severity, will naturally lead to profitable attainments. But the whole time of our male pupils, cannot and ought not to be devoted to the mere acquisition of learning from books. A prominent part of our system consists of imparting the immediate means of earning a subsistence when the connexion with the House of Refuge shall cease. This is done by instruc- tion in useful trades. Ilere, unhappily, our means are limited. Few persons are willing to trust their fabrics to workshops where the artizans are composed only of beginners. Few descriptions of manufactures seem to be susceptible of being conducted by inexperienced workmen. It necessarily happens that all our pupils are of that description; for as soon as they have passed the carly stages of instruction, they are generally consi- dered in a condition to exchange the labors of the house for employment elsewhere.

Some few additional manufactures have been recent- ly introduecd; those especially of cut nails and watch chains. The small boys are employed in winding bob- bin. It would be very agreeable to receive from any quarter, suggestions which would assist us in extending and varying our trades. It is more than probable, that among the manufactures which the public prosperity at this time creates and animates, there may be some not yet thought of among us, which might be materially aided by our boys. The lowness of price at which work could be procured here, would render it an object with manufacturers to seek such parts of their labor here, as may be performed by young and inexperienced persons.

VOL. IX. 52

Wherever much skill is not required, we can unhesitat- ingly promise to perform whatever can be done by the force of numbers, activity, and zeal.

Each succeeding year confirms our conviction of the advantages to be derived from admission to the House of Refuge at an early age; and shows the difficulty of effecting reform among those who are farther advanced. The boys bound out under sixteen years old have, in al- most every instance, done well. The same may be said of the females who have not passed that period. A mark- ed difference is found in the reportsreceived as to those of both sexes who have left us when beyond sixteen. We cannot too often repeat that the institution is de- signed for the young. In proportion to the tenderness of years is the hope of reformation. If manhood ap- proaches while habits of vice remain, the chance of amendment becomes gradually less and less. If the public, and especially the officers of justice, would ena- ble us to withdraw the unhappy children of iniquity, in actual childhood, from the haunts and the practices, and the temptations of crime, we could almost insure their restoration to the world with virtuous habits formed, and hearts strengthened to resist the allurements of vice. But if the love of wickedness has become a master pas- sion, in consequence of a long course of habitual indul- gence, the second nature thus formed, defies in most in- stances, the efforts of instruction and restraint, and leaves the victim of it to subside again, when opportu- nity recurs, into crime.

It will be agreeable to the contributors to know, that although confinement within the walls be indispensable as a part of the discipline of the place, yet it is unac- companied by unnecessary restriction or any suffering. Recreation is provided as regularly and as freely, in due proportion, as work. Exercise is encouraged and pro- moted. Gymnastic plays are allowed and invited. No reasonable want or desire is left without moderate and regulated enjoyment.

To the different persons engaged in the immediate di- rection of the establishment-the superintendent, the matron, and the teachers -- we publicly offer the renew- ed expressions of our entire satisfaction. To the medi- cal gentlemen who have gratuitously devoted their time and talents with untiring fidelity and zeal to the institu- tion, acknowledgments are rielily due. The managers cannot close their report without expressing their sense of gratitude for the kind and invaluable services render- ed to the establishment, by the ladies who form the committee which regulates the female department of the house.

All which is respectfully submitted. JOHN SERGEANT, President. Attested, JAMES J. BARCLAY, Secretary, II. R. .April 24, 1832.

The House of Refuge in account current with Thumas Eurp, Treasurer.

DR.

To cash paid sundry drafts of the execu. tive committee, from Ist May, 1831, to 30th April, 1832,

Money loaned on interest to .A. Benson & Co. 12,500 00

Paid interest on borrowed money,

1,482 64

" commission on moncy collected, 32 91

" repairs, taxes, and ground rent on pro- perty in the Northern Liberties, 36 86

$16,831 81

410

HOUSE OF REFUGE.

[JUNE

Paid loans returned,

$5,750 00

ny virtues be embalmed in our hearts. Mrs. M. Col- lins, one of the former members of the committee, has likewise been removed from this stage of action, to a more exalted state of being, where every one she had been instrumental in rescuing from vice, will add a jew- el to her crown of glory.

REBECCA SIMMONS, Directress. ELIZABETH BOYD, Secretary.

To the Board of Managers of the House of Refuge, the' following statement, and olso the Report of the Teacher, are respectfully submitted by the Superintendent.

The number of inmates remaining in the House of Re- fuge on the 1st of May, 1831.

Boys,

Girls,

for interest received,

419 23

for rent of property, N. L.

115 50

from estate of John Ayres, dec'd,

100 00

from Geo. Williams, for advance money,

100 00

for money borrowed from the - Commercial Bank,

4,000 00

for sundries sold by superinten- dent,

282 23

received from Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company, for depo- sit money refunded,

180 00

Discharged from May 1st, 1831, to May 1st, 1832.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

By indenture,

As not proper subjects,

As of age,

Returned to their friends,

Sent to sea, *

Died,

Remaining on the 1st of May,

112

151

From Northampton county, were received,

Bradford county,

Susquehanna county,

Philadelphia county,

110

114

The whole number indentured since the opening of the institution, amounts to 116 boys, and 26 girls.

Boys.

Girls. Total.

Favorable accounts have been received from

Served out their time satisfac- torily,

Not heard from and supposed to be doing well,

Left their places and return- ed voluntarily to the house, Returned by masters,

Ranaway,

Colored boys who were inden- tured without reference to reformation,

116

142

Notwithstanding the great exertions made by the indenturing committee, in inquiring into the characters of the numerous applicants for boys and girls, they sometimes inevitably make unfortunate selections; and we are induced to believe that some of those who leave their places, have good reason for so doing.

The number of applicants for boys and girls, that we have not been able to supply, is about 60.

* Six have been sent to sea, four of whom have been regularly indentured.

The Ladies' Committee of the House of Refuge, respect- fully report:

That during the last year, and while engaged in the performance of their duties, they have had occasion to observe an evident improvement in the character and demeanor of the girls. A number have left the house during the last year. The ladies believe that those who have been admitted within that time, have profited by the facilities afforded them for attaining a good English education, and have formed a higher standard of moral character, than they had ever before known. Many of these children had been exposed to the temptations of the lowest vices, without ever having any virtuous or re- ligious principles instilled into their minds. The task of reforming them is difficult in proportion to the time which they have spent in sin. It is, however, a task to which we are urged by the highest considerations, and while we discover any improvement in the hearts and minds of these our fellow mortals, we will persevere in our labors. Under the management of our excellent matron, and her assistant, the female department of the house has fully sustained its character. Order, indus- try, and neatness prevail throughout. Several useful trades are taught, and every girl in her turn becomes acquainted with house-work. The committee have lately been called upon to deplore the removal of a most useful and valuable member, Mrs. E. Biddle, who filled the office of treasurer, and was deeply interested in the welfare of this institution. Her example will be long cherished by us, and the remembrance of her ma-

295 00

To balance carried down,

165 24

$37,094 46

CR.

By balance received from Charles Bird, late Treasurer,

$ 29 69

By cash received for labor of boys,

3,128 03

subscriptions and donations,

439 78

received from county commission- ers, for legislative appropria- tions for 1831 and 1832,

20,000 00

received on account of loans to A. Benson & Co.

8,300 00

138

Admitted from the first of May, 1831, to the 1st of May, 1832.

Boys,

Girls,

114

Eight of the boys and one girl had been indentured and were returned, and one boy who had been sent to the Almshouse, was returned.

$37,094 46

By balance brought down, ERRORS EXCEPTED.

$165 24

THOMAS EARP, Treasurer. Philadelphia, 1st May, 1832.

Agreeably to appointment, we have examined the account of Thomas Earp, Treasurer of the House of Re- fuge, and find it to be correct, and that there is a balance in his hands of one hundred and sixty-five dollars, twen- ty-four cents.

SAMUEL SELLERS, 2 JAMES CRESSON,

Committee.

Philadelphia, Fifth month 5, 1832.

1832,

101

Paid insurance on House of Refuge,

1832.]

THE ANDALUSIA MURDER.

411

INDENTURED DURING THE YEAR.

: To farmers, fourteen; house-carpenters, two; Store- keepers, two; hatter, one; bootmakers, five; auger and siekle maker, two; chairmaker, one; cotton spinners, two; boat-builder, one; cabinet-maker, one; oak coop- er, one; miller, one; printer, one; glass-blower, one; tailor, one; confectioner, one; wheelwright, one; sca- men, 4; house-wifery, (girls, ) 9.

The boys have been employed in the manufacture of brass nails, cut nails, bandboxes, hat cases, watch chains, buttons, boots and shoes, and at bookbinding, winding bobbins, and picking wool.

The girls have been employed at tailoring, common sewing, knitting and house-wifery. The clothing for the male subjects, is chiefly made by the girls.

Of the one hundred and fourteen new subjeets re- ceived during the year, twelve had been in habits of in- temperance previous to their admission, and one or both the parents of forty-seven were intemperate. About one-third of the whole number have no parents living, and only about one-third have both parents li- ving.

Sixty-three were born in Pennsylvania, of whom fifty-one were born in the city or county of Philadelphia, fifteen were burn in other states, and fourteen ir foreign countries, *

All which is respectfully submitted ..

EDWIN YOUNG, Superintendent.

May 1, 1832.

Report of the Teacher.

The teacher of the school in the House of Refuge, respectfully reports to the superintendent, that during the past year, one hundred and fourteen subjects have been received, and one hundred and one discharged. The number now in the Refuge, is one hundred and fifty-one. From those committed during the past year, forty could read intelligibly-write some, and knew a little of arithmetic; thirty could read in easy lessons, but had never used the pen, and knew nothing of fi- gures; twenty-three knew their letters only; and the remaining twenty-one, were ignorant of the alphabet.

Those that have been discharged, (with the excep- tion of ten offifteen, who, for proper reasons, remained with us but a short time, ) could read with correctness and case, understood the simple rules of arithmetic, and many of them the more complicated rules, including practice, rule of three direct, simple and compound in- terest, &c. Seventy of the one hundred and one could write legibly, and twenty-five Ind given considerable attention to geography.

From the one hundred and fifty-one that are now in the house, ninety-four read with case and correctness; two read distinctly, by spelling the more complex words, and the remainder, thirty, are now spelling po- lysyllables. Seventy-five are in the compound rules of arithmetic, and fifty-three in the simple rules; the re- mainder, twenty-three, are committing the tables; eigh- ty-five write on paper, many of them with considerable freedom and neatness; the remainder, sixty-six, are form- ing and writing letters on slates. From the study of maps, and weekly lectures, the whole number are ma- king some attainments in geography. Two are study- ing Latin grammar, and three have made some progress in algebra. About one hundred draw books from the library. The inmates give close attention to their stu- dies; and appear pleased and profited with their instruc- tions.

JOHN O. TAYLOR, Teacher.

May 1, 1832.

From the Bucks County Intelligencer. TIIE ANDALUSIA MURDER.

It becomes our duty to present to the readers of this paper, a narrative of the transaction which we have de- signated above, and which, from its extraordinary cha- racter, is not likely soon to pass into oblivion: for the peace of the community, and for the honor of human nature, may it not find its parallel in ages to come. We do not take up the pen to embody an effort of the im- agination-to palm upon the reader the over-wrought details of a romance, too strange and frightful in its plot and its catastrophe to wear the garb of reality. If indeed it were so !- then might an honest and honorable fellow-citizen be at this moment in the calm and peace- ful enjoyment of his home, his family, his friends: sur- rounded with the comforts which this life affords, and privileged to prepare and hope for the blessings, of that which is to come. Then might he look for solace in the society of a wife, whose conjugal solicitude and kind- ness, and whose exemplary conduct would find a wil- ling witness in every friend; and, as on the night when the destroyer came, he might now be in his rocking-chair, nursing his infant boy, and blest with the companion- ship [of his beautiful children. Then might that ill- starred young man, reclaimed from the error of his ways, and ambitious henceforth to walk in the paths of virtue, have been restored to society, perhaps to friends, and made comfortable in the prospect of future useful- ness. Then would not the poisoned remains of that un- happy father have been now mouldering in the grave! then, would not that mother have become an astonish- ment and a bye-word to the world, subject to the keen obloquy and unpitying taunt of an offended commu- nity! And last of all, that man would not now have been chained down to the prison floor as a dangerous animal, having before him the sure prospect of a painful and ignominious death!

But it is of no avail to imagine what might have been. The tragedy has been enacted-the plot which had thickened, and seemed impenetrable, has almost dissi- pated; the fatal blow has been given, and cannot be re- called. But we mistake. There is yet one concluding scene, before the curtain falls-a scene full of terror to the guilty prisoner-a scene to which this town must, unwillingly or not, be witness. Such is the doom which the righteous sentence of the law has pronoun- ced, and we proceed at once to record the facts, which have led to such a result. We must premise, that the circumstances, however interesting, will not allow of more than a brief detail, consistently with the limits of a newspaper.

On the 17th March, 1830, a young foreigner, calling himself Celestino Almentero, was indicted, tried, and convicted in the Mayor's court in the city of Philadel- phia, for stealing a breast-pin, a silver watch, and a mu- sical box; and was sentenced to eighteen months im- prisonment in the Penitentiary. He was there employ- ed in winding bobbins for the weavers; and was (it is said, ) rather exemplary in his behaviour. On the 9th April, 1831, he addressed a letter' to Mr. Phipps, in- spector of that prison, (by the aid of a fellow-prisoner, as he himself could not write English, ) stating that he was from Cuba, that he had been in the expedition of General Barradas against Mexico, (of which he gave a detailed and interesting statement,) from whence he came to New-York, and proceeded to Philadelphia in search of a countryman of his. While there, a Captain of a vessel offered him a passage to ITavana, as soon as he could take in a cargo; and in the meantime he was arrested for stealing "a common breast-pin, a very com-

* The birth places of the remaining twenty-two, have not been ascertained.

.This letter which is nf some length, was obtained from a gentleman of Philadelphia, (not the Inspector, ) by the reporter of Mrs. C.'s trial, with a view to annex it to the supplement containing Mina's trial, which is now published.

412

THE ANDALUSIA MURDER.

[JUNK

mon silver watch, and a musical box." They were (of course, ) a gift, instead of a theft. He asked for the interposition of tbe inspectors with the Governor, that he might obtain a pardon, promising to leave the coun- try immediately, even if he should have to work his passage. The representations in this letter, coupled with his youth and good behaviour, operated favorably for him, and on the 9th of May, he was pardoned and liberated. On the 16th of May, about dusk, he came to the door of Mr. Chapman, at Andalusia, a village in this county. It will be proper, before entering into further detail, to make known to the reader something of Mr. C. and his family.

Mr. William Chapman was born at Newport, Pagnel, England, in the year 1778. It is not known to us at what time he came to this country. Ile was here, how- ever, in 1817. He had been fortunate enough to cure himself of an impediment of speech, by some secret process which he, in after life, turned to profitable ac- count; having had, during the 14 years preceding his death, 411 pupils sent to him to be cured of stammer- ing: In 1818, he married Miss Lucretia Winslow, a hative of Massachusetts, who had been for several years, an assistant teacher in Mrs. Lebrun's Seminary, Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, from that time kept a boarding school in that city, until about three years since, when they purchased and removed to a large stone house, (formerly a public house,} standing in the angle, formed by the Bristol turnpike and. Hulmeville road, about eleven miles from Philadelphia. Here they continued their former pursuit; and on the 16th May, there were four boarders there. The rest of the family consisted of five children, (two sons and three daughters,) and a servant woman, considerably advanced in years.

As the stranger approached the house, the dog bark- ed at him, until called away by the servant, who was milking. He knocked at the door, and asked for victuals and lodging. He was brought into the sitting room, where Mr. C. was sitting in the rocking chair, nursing "little John," and where the other members of the fa- mily also were. Mr. C. at first was opposed to the stranger's staying all night, but upon Mrs. C.'s interpo- sing, he consented. Forlorn as were his appearance and actual condition, the stranger began by informing them that his father was Governor of California, a Mexi- can state; that he had travelled to France in company with a Doctor; while there, the Dr. died suddenly in church; the effects of both were seized and carried away; in his destitution, a gentleman gave him $100, to make his way home; he found no ship about to sail for his own country, but there was one for Boston; he set sail, and arrived at that port. From thence he pro- ceeded to New-York, in quest of a friend; finding no friend, he came on to Philadelphia; from which place he had walked that day on his way to Count Bonaparte's, where he expected his friend was. He gave his name as Lino Amalio Espos y Mina. He lodged that night in a neat 'room in the third story. The next day he was permitted to remain and rest himself. On the day fol- lowing, at the request, or with the approbation of Mr. C., Mrs. C. took Mina (in company with a boarder, ) to Count Bonaparte's, at Bordentown, to see the friend, from whom he expected to obtain money. The visit was unsuccessful, and they returned together. The next day he proposed going with her to the Mexican Consul's, at Philadelphia. They accordingly went, taking with them one of the children. They introduc- ed themselves to Mr. De Cuesta at his office, and Mina gave a long detail of his parentage and misfortunes; re- questing the Consul to forward to the American Consul On the very next day, (June 17th,) Mr. Chapman was taken sick. This was on Friday. On Sunday, Mina was sent for Dr. Phillips, of Bristol, who made a visit to the house on the same day. Ile found Mr. C. labouring under what he supposed to be a mild attack at Vera Cruz, certain letters written by Mr. and Mrs. C. to his parents in Mexico, which he had brought with him. (Copies of these letters were produced at the trial.) In the meantime Mrs. C. went away, leaving Mina there, and promising to return for him soon. In of the cholera morbus; so light, that he merely pre- her absence, dinner was announced to be ready, and the scribed some mild course of treatment, and thought

Consul, out of a courtesy which is common to the peo- ple of every nation, invited him to take a seat at his board; which invitation (rather unexpectedly) Mina ac- cepted. Mrs. C. returned while they were at dinner, and one of the Consul's sisters sat with her in the par- lor, until Mina had dined. This lady, for want of other topics of conversation, spoke of the young stranger, saying it was a pity he had been so unfortunate, as he represented himself to be rich in his own country. This expression was perverted, in the already mis-led imagi- nation of Mrs. C., to an additional evidence of the truth of his story, for she afterwards told a lady that the Con- sul's sister represented Mina to be a young gentleman of very large fortune in his own country; and Mrs. C. added, "I can declare upon holy writ, that if she had not told me that this young gentleman was a gentleman of large fortune, I should not have been deceived; but she said so, and I believed it." That she did not say so, however, we have the more sure testimony of the lady herself, through her brother the Consul.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 116

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440