The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-18
Voice of
the People
HAz1NG AT THE v. P. i.
Judge Christian Makes Vigorous
Reply to "Sincere Mother"

Sir. in your issue of the 18th instant
there appears an article signed IA Sincere
Mother" in which in referring TO the
treatment recently received by my son
and two other students at the hands OF
the faculty and board of visitors OF tho
V. r. L., she commends the action OF
these bodies In these terms. viz:
II cannot refrain from adding word
of congratulation to that able and learned
body OF men and their Just and unselflsh
co-workcrs, board OF visitors OF Blacks-
burg, In their brave decision for right
etc.
And she then asks "R. ABB another
mother ITO whom she Is replying directly,
and who takes an entirely opposite view
of this NATTER. these questions:
Suppose, r. A., 1t had been your boy
or my boy who in young Branch's place.
death: Would you only consider that
physical discomfort? Could you sympa-
thize with these two mothers In their
deep bereavement ETC.?
This writer has so entirely misappre-l
liended my position and that OF ..R. A.
on the subject of the haZing at Blacks
burg, and the grounds of my complaint
against the authorities of the " p. T.,
thut feel compelled to ask space to re-
state these In doing this shall take the
liberty of asking "a Sincere Mother"
few questions which 1 think are far more
pertinent than those she asks of "R. A.
ABOUT the recent occurrences at Annapolis.
In the first place, the case OF hazing at
Biacksburg. which the boy hazed says he
onid not regard seriously at all, bears no
analogy to the cases at Annapolis. and
TINS TACT only shows the extremity to
whicn this writer is driven to find some
excuse for her words OF approval of the
course pursued by the V. p I. authors
ties l repeat what said both to the V.
r. i; authorities and in my article re-
viewing their course in relation to my
son and the other two students, that
AM OPPOSED TO HAZING IN EVERY
FORM; and | would resort to every LIE
CAL q, Al, RIGHT. JUyT and PROPER
not punish the INNoCENT for or the acts acts
OF the GUILTY, or resort to any lille
GAL. WRONG. UNJUST or IMPROPER
means in doing this. 1 would not do this.
WRONG IN ITSELF. but Ito use the
language OF distinguished lawyer and
legislator), that would be 'as unjust and
odious as the practice they (the V. p. 1.
authorities) designed to cut Short" and.
l add. 1t would be FAR WORSE than this
practice, because one Is done by Thoughts
less boys, whilst the other Is done by
the able and learned body of men," who
are the headlights" of n State institl
ton, to use the language of "a Sincere
Mother. But let me ask this sincere
Mother these concrete and pertinent
queStoIS:
a. Suppose you had sent a son to
Biacksburg. and a few days after the
session opened. you had received q curt
notice from the faculty that 1t had re-
FUSED to allow Am TO matrlculate, on the
ground that he Had been adjudged guilty
OF hazing, and had ordered him to leave
the grounds Mt once?"
~ Suppose this Sincere Mother,
should then receive letters both from the
president of this institution and her son.
which letterE a fiSfad no t.,t,., bar .y,,+,,
TO go to Blacksburg and investigate the
charge on which her son had been driven
from that institution, and stigma put
on his fair name, as far as the faculty
could do this2
90 Suppose on getting to this institu-
ton and after investigation, this Sin
cere Mother" had become convinced that
her son was NOT GUILTY OF this or any
this Institution. and that he had been
AND IMPROPERLY
convicted. and driven from this institu-
ton with this stigma on his name?
then learned that her son had been adj
judged guilty of this offence by means of
ILLEGAL and IMPROPER TESTIMONY
IN HIS ABSENCE, and with
it. and in a so-called trial" which our
Court OF Appeals had denomnated
.'MOCKERY" AND A TRAVEsTY on
THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF JUSTICE?
OJ suppose lulS solQCere AlOlner mad
then asked the faculty to permit her with
a friend to appear before and to show it
by new and material evidence, that her
son was NOT GUILTY of the offence of
which he had been Illegally and improp-
erly convicted; and that she had then not
only been refused this hearing, but that
in her absence, and without any adequate
reason. the faculty had adjudged that
the testimony proffered by her was in
sufficient to warrant any e-openLng of the
case, AND THAT. TOO. WITHOUT
EITHER HEARING THAT TESTIMONY
OR ALLOWING HER TO STATE WHAT
IT WAS?
(6) Supple this Sincere Mother" had
then secured this testimony, demonstrate
ing the innocence of her son, had 1t print
ed and laid before the faculty, with q
respectful petition. asking them to re-
open the case of her son and to allow her
and friend the privilege of appearing
before it on his behalf; AND THIS. TOO.
Had BEEN REFUSED?
% Suppose this Sincere Mother" had
then asked for copy cat her own ex-
pense) OF the record Of her sons case in
order that she might appeal to the board
OF visitors on his behalf: AND THIS,
TOO, HAD BEEN REFUSED?
(S) Suppose, In refusing the petition for
the truth of some of the allegations in
that petition, and that this Sincere
Mother had then stated that She was
not conscious of any misstatement, but
IL iIldue tiuy suCit 9ue respectfully
asked that such should be pointed out;
AND THIS REQ UEST, TOO. HAD BEEN
REFUSED?
(9) Suppose this Sincere Mother had
then notified the rector Of this institu-
ton of her appeal to the board of visitors,
and had again requested him to order a
copy Of the. record in her sons case to
be sent to her at her expense. in order
that she might perfect her appeal:s AND
THIS REQUEST, TOO. Had BEEN RE
FUSED? 6
dO) Suppose. in reply to her application
for re-hearing, the faculty had pub
the board of visitors some time in nd
vance Of their meeting. but which It had
never sent to her, In which pamphlet the
writer had made rectals which could only
nave been made for. the purpose Of preju-
dicng her sons case and character be-
fore tho board OF visitors M.