History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
• Whenever any child above the age of seven and under the age of fourteen years shall be brought by any policeman of the city of New York before any magistrate of said city, upon the allegation that such child was found In any way, street, highway or public place in said city, in the circumstances of want and suffering, or abundoinnent, exposure or neglect or of beggary, . . . and it shall Ixt proved to the satisfaction of such magistrate . . . by competent testimony, or by the examination of the child, that by reason of the neghict or vicious habits of the [mrents, or other lawful guardian of such child, it is a proper object for the care of this corporation, su<rh magistrate, . . . by warrant in writing under his hand, may commit such child to this corporation, to be and remain uuder its care until therefrom discharged in numner prescribed by law. . . .
'"Whenever the parent, guardian, or next of kin of any child between the ages of seven and fourteen years, about to he finally committed for any of the causies specified in the preceding sections of this act, shall request the magistrate to commit such chiM to sjiid corporation, it shall be the duty of such magistrate so to commit such child.
"If, at any time after a child shall have been committed to said corporation, as above provided for in the act, it sliall be made to appear to the Siitisfaction of the said corporation that such child was, on Insufficient cause, or otherwise wrongfully so committed, the said corporation shall, on the application of the ]>arents, . . . discharge the child from the said asylum, and restore it to such parents. . . . If. after a child shall have been properly committed, . . . any circumstances should occur that, in the juilgment of said corporation would render expedient and proper a discharge of such child from the asylum, having a due regard to the welfare of the child and the purposes of the asylum, the said corporation . . . may, at discretion, discharge the child from the said asylum ... on such reasonable conditions as the said corporation may deem right and proper.