Case Histories of Minors in the Care of the State.
Twentieth Annual Report State Board Lunacy and Charity, Massachusetts, Jan. 1899; Boston; State Printers, 1899

Submitted by C. Horton, ©2007

As illustrative of the work of the Division of State Minor Wards, a few abstracts of histories of typical cases are here presented.

F. 1336. Born about August 21, 1896, and abandoned in the hall-way of an empty house when about 10 days old, and committed to the Board. The following is an extract from a local paper giving an account of the finding of the child :

"The Police Matron gave, as her opinion, that the child was about two weeks old and that she had been cruelly neglected by her mother; the little limbs were nothing but skin and bones, and the hand, when opened, could have been hidden by a silver quarter. The skin was clean, but the general indications were that the babe was half starved."
The child was received August 31, and was placed at board with a family in Maiden. She developed into a healthy but rather diffident child, not especially attractive in appearance, but of an affectionate disposition. When about one and one-half years old, the child was seen by a number of people who had applied for a little girl to adopt, but was passed by for children with curly hair and a more doll-like appearance. Finally, a sea captain from a town on the coast of Maine came to the office and applied for a little girl to adopt; he was sent to see this child, she took to him at once, and he was delighted with her. He sent for his wife, and as she was pleased with the child they took her home on trial for adoption. In October last the legal adoption was completed, and she is contented and happy in her new home.

F. 1560. This child, a girl, was born in November, 1896, and committed to the custody of the Board by the Overseers of the Poor of Boston. In September, 1898, she was brought to the State House by her mother. On the day of commitment both were scantily clothed, ragged, and filthy to a degree. The mother had been drinking, and admitted that she had given her child a little brandy. The child was little more than a skeleton, and did not weigh as much as most babies at seven months ; her eyelids were swollen and her eyes were heavy and red; her arms and legs were shrunken and useless, and she was suffering from chronic diarrhea. She was taken to the Nursery for a bath and clean clothing, and then sent to board (the same day) in a comfortable, licensed home in Roxbury, where she could receive constant medical attendance, good food and nursing. In less than a month she had improved so rapidly and changed so much in appearance that it is doubtful if her own mother would have recognized her. This child is legitimate.
Both parents are intemperate.


F. 1312. Maggie R , born in Rhode Island March 15, 1896, committed to the State Board of Lunacy and Charity by the Overseers of the Poor of Southbridge July 14, 1896. The child's mother, at that time, was an inmate of an insane asylum, and the father claimed that he was unable to support his child. Maggie was placed at board with a family in Everett. August 15, 1896, the mother was sent to her home in England. The father told the transportation officer that his child Maggie was dead. August 23, 1897, a letter was received from a rector of Shropshire, England, stating that a woman was living in his parish who had been sent home from Massachusetts and who had a child in the care of that
State, and asking that the child be sent to her. The people with whom the child was boarding had become very much attached to her, and would gladly have adopted her had no one claimed her. August 28, 1897, Maggie was sent to England in the care of a responsible woman who was also being sent by the State Board. September 17, 1897, a letter was received from the rector informing us that the child had arrived safely and was taken by her parents. Since then the mother has written several times, saying that Maggie was well, and that both she and her husband were delighted to have her with them again.


F. 1734. This child, a girl, was born in August, 1898, and when one month old was taken into the custody of the State Board under the provisions of Section 15, Chap. 318, Acts of 1892. The mother, being unable to support her on account of her own ill health, voluntarily surrendered her for adoption. She was small and poorly nourished, but fairly attractive. She was placed at board in a licensed home in the country, and in less than two weeks she was placed on trial for adoption without expense to the State.

F. 1704. This child, a boy, was a foundling of unknown parentage, only a few days old when left on a doorstep, where he was found by a milkman about 4 o'clock one morning in July, 1898. The child was committed to the custody of the State Board by a Board of Overseers of the Poor. He was much emaciated, and ill with gastro-enteritis, when received. He was sent at once to the Nursery, where he remained a few days before he was placed in a licensed home. He failed steadily and died of marasmus seventeen days after being received by the Board.


F. 1558. This child, a girl, was found upon a doorstep about 7 o'clock one morning in October, 1897. She was about three weeks old, small, feeble, and suffering from purulent ophthalmic. She was committed to the custody of the Board by a Board of Overseers of the Poor and placed at once in a licensed boarding-place, where she slowly improved. When six months old she was well and plump. In August, 1898, she was placed on trial for adoption without expense to the State. In September, 1898, the following report was received : " Baby is well, happy, and a lovely child. We could not part with her."

F. 1593. This child, a girl, was born in the New England Hospital in January, 1897, and remained there with her mother, who was a free patient, about three months. The mother then placed the baby to board in Roxbury, and abandoned her. The woman who took the child found out where the mother lodged, and took the baby to her room, and left her with her, in August, 1897. The mother placed the child at board the same day in Medford, paying $4.00 to the woman who took her. She again deserted her. The baby was very ill with cholera infantum at this time. In October, 1897, she was taken ill with whooping-cough and mumps, and the Overseers of the Poor of Medford notified the State on a sick State poor notice; the child was supported on this notice till January, 1898, when she was committed to the State Board as a deserted infant. After the child was committed, she was brought to the State House by the woman who had had the care of her many months. This woman expressed a great attachment to the child and a desire to adopt her. She was permitted to take her home on trial for adoption, without expense to the State. An officer was directed to find the mother, with a view to making some arrangements for the support of her child, or to getting her signature to the petition for the authority to adopt her. The mother was found leading an immoral life, under an assumed name, and it was shown that she had been addicted to the use of alcohol and opium for years. She was living at this time with a man who had been divorced, and was about to establish a cheap theatre in a town a few miles from Boston. When requested to come to the office to make some arrangements for her child, she refused to do so. Then a complaint was made for abandoning her child; a warrant was issued, and in February, 1898, she was arrested, and thereupon gave her consent to the adoption of her child. On her arraignment the next day, she pleaded not guilty, and the case was continued a few days. At the trial she was found guilty and sentenced to the Reformatory Prison for Women at Sherborn, for one year. From this sentence she appealed to the Superior Court. When the case was called there, the Judge directed the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty, and the case was placed on file and the following record made:
"Upon the motion of the District Attorney, with the approval of the Court, this case will be placed on file, if within ten days the defendant and the man with whom she was living shall be lawfully married to each other, and a certificate thereof filed in Court;. otherwise to stand for sentence."
The mother was married within the time stated to this man, under another name. The child had improved in health and was legally adopted, with the consent of her mother, in June, 1898.

F. and A. K , 7 and 5 years, dependent children. Parents separated, mother a drunkard. Received from the State Almshouse August, 1893. Children placed at board in the country, did well at school, and were well behaved. The mother applied for the children and was refused. Three years later, as she had apparently reformed, it was decided to discharge her children to her, but she was again arrested for drunkenness, and the children were retained. September, 1898, the mother again applied for the children and they were placed with her, she having started house-keeping again with her husband, having made a neat and attractive home for the children, and having shown herself sober and
industrious for a period of two years. October, 1898, the mother is still devoted to her children, who are well and happy.

C. and M. W , colored, 7 and 12 years, found in a most degraded house, exposed to vice and disease. Committed to the custody of the Board, as neglected children. Mother dead, father deserted children. For two years C. did well at school and in the home in which she was placed at board, then began to be untrustworthy, and untidy in her habits. She promised to do better, but became untruthful, and, a year later, was expelled from school for her saucy and rebellious behavior. The school committee agreed to give her another trial, but she was often tardy, was untruthful, and a constant care, though always promising to do better. "May, 1898, C. has continued to give trouble by stealing
and has lately begun to stay out nights. Two days ago was out all night and found sleeping in the ash barrel the next morning." She has been tried in several homes, and now at eleven years of age is showing the result of her training by behaving well and improving in many ways.

M. J. S.- A. C. S., and L. S., neglected children, committed to the custody of the Board, January, 1897. Ages when committed, — 9, 6, and 5 years respectively. The woman with whom they were found claimed to have adopted them, but their condition showed that they had received
almost no care or kindness, and were almost starved. They were placed at board, have attended school regularly and are well behaved, attractive children. The youngest, a boy, has been placed on trial for adoption, without expense to the State. A fourth child, an infant, has recently been removed from the same woman in order to try and save its life, and a complaint has been made against the woman for aiding and abetting the abandonment of the baby. S. L. in August, 1890, when ten years old, was committed to the custody of the Board for larceny. He had stolen from a dwelling house a door mat, a pair of rubbers, and some brass. He had been guilty of several petty offences before, but the police on account of his age allowed him to go, hoping he would do better. His parents are good, respectable people of some means. He was placed in a good home in New Hampshire, and for three years did well, and gave satisfaction. Then he showed an inclination to steal, but improved again. Three years later he was again found to be stealing. "He will take the first thing that comes in his way whether he has a use for it or not." Two years later he ran away to his own home, and on finding that he had been abusive to his mother, he was again placed in a home in the country. He eloped again, was captured and held, placed, and again eloped. He was then sent to the State Almshouse, where he was held a short time. He was then placed with his mother, February, 1898, and has behaved well and worked industriously ever since. It is to
be hoped that he now realizes that it is for his own interest to behave himself.

B. M., just under fifteen, was a girl with respectable parents and a good home. For some time she had made herself conspicuous with the employees of the street railway and other men, and had shown immoral tendencies. At last she left home with a worthless farm hand, with whom her father found her the same evening in a room on Kneeland street. She was taken home; a complaint of stubbornness was entered, and she was committed to the State Industrial School. She is there now, and seems filled with shame and repentance.

E. F., colored, twelve years old, was brought into court upon her father's complaint of stubbornness. E.'s mother died when she was eight years old, and from that time the child was boarded and left with families who took little care of her, and allowed her to spend her time on the streets. She was a good girl in school, and bright; but needed restraint. The relations between the father and the woman with whom E. boarded were questionable, and it seemed necessary to remove her from these influences. She was committed to the custody of the Board, is now in a pleasant home, attending school, well and happy.

A. S., a girl nearly sixteen years old, had been under the care of the court probation officer, but had got beyond his control. Her mother had entered the complaint of stubbornness, but it seemed a pity to deprive her of A .'s aid, while there was a hope of saving the girl without removing her. She was transferred to the care of the Board's agent, and, by constant vigilance, was made more helpful and less saucy at home ; gave her earnings to her mother and was kept off the streets at night for ten months. At the end of that time it was found that the influence of A .'s former companions had proved too great for her powers of resistance ; and she was spending her evenings on the street with men and boys as before. She was committed to the State Industrial School.

G. G., was committed to the custody of the Board as neglected, when about seven years old. Her mother, an actress, bad died during G. 's infancy, and the child had been taken by a woman who was subsequently arrested for abusing her. G. was placed in the State Primary School, and later was taken from there by a family, with a view to adoption, but she was returned from this home, charged with being thievish, untruthful, and immodest. For the next six years there was a succession of places, usually kept but a few months, with intervals at the Primary School. It was not until she reached her fifteenth year that a home was obtained where she seemed to fit. Her employer had many trials and
needed much assistance from the visitor; but G. seemed at last to realize that all these efforts were being made in her behalf; that she must do her part to make them effectual; and that if she were faithful to her duties she would gain not only a living, but a home. Such it proved to be; there was but one child, a daughter of about G.'s age; she became, as they fondly said, a second daughter to them. Although of age some three months ago, she remains with them, and she is told that this will always be her home. On her twenty-first birth-day her foster-parents gave her a gold watch ; and she has a bank deposit of eighty dollars.

M. S., was committed to the care of the Board as a neglected child, at the age of nine years. Her father was dead, her mother in the House of Correction. M. had one defective eye, and her right arm was partially paralyzed. She was placed in the State Primary School, where she remained two years. With her infirmities, it seemed doubtful whether she could become self-supporting; still, the attempt was made to find her a free home. In her first place she was kept five months, and then returned to the School. A second trial was given; this time she stayed nine months. Finding some improvement, a third effort was made in February, 1893, when she was sent into a farming community; from
that time she has been entirely self-supporting, and is still in this section, although she has made two changes. She has not only kept herself comfortably clothed, but has sent nearly forty dollars to the central office to be deposited for her. She is within a month of her majority. Her visitor feels confident that M. will remain in her district, and says she is capable of caring for herself when no longer subject to visitation.

E. S., was committed to the State Industrial School at the age of sixteen, on a charge of " stubbornness." Her father was colored, her mother white; their whereabouts unknown. E. had been for some time a member of a Church Home, having been placed from there in a private family some six months prior to her commitment. She had a violent temper and was very untruthful. After nearly two years' training at the State Industrial School, she was sent out to work in a private family. For about two years frequent changes were necessary, usually owing to her temper, but she finally seemed to be gaining more self-control, and last year was placed in one of our best country homes, where
there were four young children. Since that time there have been no complaints; the children became very fond of her, and she has proved faithful in her duties, being especially kind and patient to the little ones. She became of age October 1, but her services were so appreciated that she was asked to remain at an increase of wages. She did so, and is proving a credit to all who have endeavored to help and guide her in the past.

M. L., was committed to the State Industrial School for drunkenness, at the age of sixteen. She was born in England, her parents died, and she came to this country with an older sister, into one of our large manufacturing cities. She went to work in a mill, but got into bad company, was out late at night, and was known to have been drunk several times. While in the School she was found to have a very violent temper, but was strong, and grew to be a good worker. She was placed out under the direction of one of our oldest visitors, in whose district she had four places. She finally attempted to run away, and when caught was so violent that it was necessary to return her to the School. After two months of school-discipline she was placed again, and ran away in a month. Unsuccessful efforts were made to find her, but at the end of six months she wrote telling that she was at work in a mill; this was followed by a letter from her relatives asking to have her taken into our care again. She was accordingly returned to the School, and this time, on being sent out, did well and remained contentedly in her place till of age. She succeeded in controlling her temper, and never showed any disposition to yield to former temptations. Her employer, an extremely neat housekeeper, said M. was the best worker she had ever had from us. When M. was of age she returned to work in the mill, but soon wrote offering to come back ; they were very glad to have her services again, and she returned, doing as well as while under our visitation.


?? was a juvenile offender, taken with several other little boys from the State Primary School. He had been found difficult to govern in the School, and was soon returned as unsatisfactory. He was subsequently placed out several times, but has now been nearly two years in one place where he was recently sent by the visitor who first placed him. He is greatly improved, and is much liked in the family.

A colored boy committed to the Lyman School as a stubborn child. He was placed by one of the visitors with a man who kept a country hotel, where he soon became veryuseful, being a good table waiter, and since his placing has been able to earn his own living. Was placed by one of the visitors in a family abundantly able to provide for him, but who must have failed to take a proper interest in him, for he soon fell in with low associates, and was consequently removed from the place. He was afterwards tried in a family in a village, but was found noisy and rowdies on the street. As a last resort the visitor prevailed on a friend of his, a retired minister, who had a large farm, and had formerly kept a boys' school, to try him, and there was soon evidence of a marked improvement in the boy. He received instruction from the man with whom he lived, afterwards attended an academy for a year, then became an attendant in one of the State hospitals for the insane, last Spring enlisted from there in one of the Massachusetts regiments that went to Cuba, has since returned, and is now a very promising young man.

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Care of the Juvenile Wards of the State in 1892

Submitted by C. Horton, ©2007

JUVENILE WARDS OF THE STATE.
The juvenile wards of the State consist of the following classes.

1. Dependent children, or children between three and sixteen years of age, without local settlement, who by reason of orphanage, or the poverty, sickness or criminality of their natural guardians and protectors, are dependent on the State for their support. Of these there were 617 at the close of the official year.

2. Neglected children, or children between three and sixteen years of age, without local settlement, who by reason of the neglect of their parents are committed to the custody of the Board. There were 434 of these at the close of the year.

3. Juvenile offenders, or children between the ages of seven and seventeen years, convicted of crime or misdemeanor, and sentenced to the Lyman School for Boys, the State Industrial School for Girls, or the custody of the Board. There were 957 of these at the close of the year.

4. Foundlings and destitute infants, or dependent and neglected children under three years of age.
There were 84 of these at the close of the year.

Dependent and neglected children, when received into the care or committed to the custody of the Board, are, if less than ten years of age, placed directly in suitable families at board, or, if above the age of ten years, in such families without payment for board ; and in either case, they may be placed temporarily in the State Primary School. This disposition, however, would not be made in the case of children so defective mentally or physically as to require asylum care or hospital treatment, all such children being provided for in some institution especially adapted to that purpose.

Great care is taken in the selection of the families in which the children are to be placed either at board or otherwise; and after such placing, frequent visitation is made, for the purpose of seeing that the material interests of the children are properly provided for; that they are well used, well fed, clothed and sheltered; and that, so far as practicable, they are treated as they would have been had they been blessed with judicious parents.

Juvenile offenders, when committed to the custody of the Board, may be placed directly with their parents, when the offence is slight and the home an exceptionally good one ; or, if the home is not suitable, in some previously selected family ; but the greater number are placed temporarily in the State Primary School, whence they are from time to time removed, so far as their conduct may qualify them for such change, to their homes on probation, or to some family other than their own, in this or some other of the New England.

States. Should all efforts fail, and release on probation, placing in families, and retransfer to the Primary School, and subsequent release or placing, serve no good purpose, the Board is authorized by its original mittimus to commit such refractory boy or girl to the Lyman School, or to the State Industrial School. If committed directly to the Lyman or Industrial School by the Court or the magistrate before whom arraigned, the children usually remain there until it is deemed advisable to release them on probation to their homes, or place them in selected families. When thus placed, the boys are visited by an officer whose whole time is given to this work. The girls so released on probation or placed in families are in charge of the Board's Visitor-at-large, aided by the Auxiliary Visitors. Neglected children and juvenile offenders, arraigned before a Court or magistrate, must be tried " separate and apart from the trial of other criminal cases," and in presence of an officer of the Board, the latter being charged with the child's defense. Sufficient notice of all such trials must therefore be given the Board for that purpose. The "court notice" being sent, the officer in whose district the trial is had proceeds at once to the vicinity, carefully examines the arrested child, his parents and neighbors, and acquaints himself with all the evidence in the case, and, as far as possible, with the guilt or innocence of the suspected child. In the disposition of the case, after a judgment of guilt, the magistrate consults with the attending officer, and is almost invariably guided in such disposition by that officer's advice. Of the 617 dependent children on record at the close of the official year, 419 were in the custody of the Department of In-Door Poor, and 198 were in the State Primary School.

Of the 434 neglected children, 319 were in the custody of the Department of In-Door Poor, and 115 were in the State Primary School. Of the 957 juvenile offenders, one was in the State Almshouse, 104 were in the State Primary School, 92 were in the State Industrial School for Girls, 199 were in the Lyman School for Boys, 176 were in the custody of the Department of In-Door Poor, 265 were in the custody of the Lyman School, and 120 were in the custody of the State Industrial School. The 84 infants were in the custody of the Department of Out-Door Poor.

Of the whole number of 2,092 children, 1,049 were placed without payment of board.

Of the children in charge of the Department of In-Door Poor, five were legally adopted, and one indentured, during the year; and of those in the Department of Out-Door Poor, twenty were legally adopted. There are no longer any State wards at the Massachusetts Infant Asylum; the eight that were there at the beginning of the year having been either adopted or discharged. The officers of the Department of Out-Door Poor succeeded in finding the parents of abandoned children in 51 cases. Of these, settlements were found in seven cases. Twelve children, including one having a settlement, were returned to their mothers, four died, two were returned to the place of settlement, three were sent with their mothers to the Reformatory Prison for Women, and thirty were, for various reasons, retained in the custody of the Department, their mothers, so far as able, contributing in part to the cost of their support.

There has been a marked increase in the number of infants received during the year, due in part to the enforcement of the law of 1889, by which the agents of the Board are empowered to remove illegitimate children under three years of age from their boarding places, when, in their opinion, this course is necessary in order to preserve the lives of these infants. In most instances, where such removals have been made, very little hope of saving life was entertained ; but the extreme neglect and abuse to which the infants were subjected demanded that they should be taken away at once and placed where they could receive the care and treatment they so urgently needed.

The work of breaking up baby farming has been vigorously carried on. Several of the worst of these places in Boston have been closed and their keepers driven out of the business. One notorious woman has served a term of imprisonment for offences connected with this occupation. Another, who had at one time in her house twenty-three children, twelve of whom were infants under five months of age, was constantly visited, and when it was found that the children were not properly cared for, she was restrained from receiving more. Six of the infants were removed and taken into the custody of the Board, and others were sent to their parents or to hospitals. In another instance, a boarding place was visited where two infants were found in a state of extreme neglect, covered with vermin and filthy rags. One was immediately removed and taken into the custody of the Board. The other child, which had to be left there because its mother was an inmate of the house, died soon after.

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