Page 34 of Coram House

ML:Yes. The sisters reported to Father Foster.

AS:A number of former residents of Coram House have made allegations of sexual abuse against Father Foster.

ML:Yes, I’m aware. I’m one of them. One of hundreds, probably.

AS:Could you tell me more about your experience?

ML:Father Foster was a pedophile who used his position of power to prey on children. For me, it started when I was about eight and lasted until I was ten. I’d be brought to his office, usually as a punishment for something I’d done, and he’d force me to perform oral sex.

AS:About how many times did this happen over the seven years from 1959 to 1966?

ML:A dozen. Maybe more. But it stopped the year before I left.

AS:Did you ever share what was happening to you with the other children or an adult?

ML:The kids didn’t talk about it, but most knew what was happening. Maybe not the details. But he tended to have favorites. So there was this feeling that once he moved on from you, you were safe. And you didn’t want to do anything to risk that. Before me, there was another boy.

AS:And what about the nuns? Did you believe they knew what was happening?

ML:There’s no doubt in my mind that they knew. Or if they didn’t it was because they didn’t want to. I mean, they knew everything else happening in that place. And they knew which boys to take to his office. Which were his favorites.

AS:You mentioned the abuse stopped in 1965. Did anything happen to precipitate it?

ML:I think Father Foster was particular. I think I just aged out of it. Though there was something else. One of the nuns, I think. She put up a fuss of some kind.

AS:A fuss?

ML:I don’t know what happened, exactly. I’d met a prospective family. I was just focused on getting out. But I remember she wouldn’t send the younger boys to his office anymore. Only the older ones. The teenagers. I’m sure Father Foster didn’t like that.

AS:Do you remember her name?

ML:No. She was new, though. And quite young, I remember that. Celeste? Cecilia?

AS:Sister Cecile?

ML:That sounds right.

AS:It sounds like she was a friend to the children.

ML:It’s hard to know, really. I don’t think any of us had friends in that place. Not even each other. How do you make friends when you’re in hell?

March 27, 1988—US District Courthouse

Violet Harrison

Alan Stedsan:Good morning, Mrs. Harrison. Would you mind stating your full name for the recording?

Violet Harrison:Violet Dolores Harrison, though I used to be Smith.

AS:Thank you, Mrs. Harrison. How are you today?

VH:Fine, thanks. A little nervous.

AS:Nothing to be nervous about. We’ll just be asking you some questions about your time at Coram House—what you remember, things like that. If you don’t remember, just say so. It’s your memory, so there are no trick questions.

VH:[Laugh] I guess not.

AS:All right, then. Why don’t you start by telling us how long you were at Coram House?

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