The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-30
Instructed by Judge Witt to Place
Responsibility for City Home
Murder.
CORONER TAYLOR A WITNESS
Failure of Other Agencies to De.
tect Crime Forces Court to
Act.
Murder.


Both coroner's jury and the Commit
tee on Relief of the Poor having failed
to establish any responsibility for the
death of Baby Vaughan. in the City
Home last week. the grand jury yes
terday. with strong charge by Judge.
Witt as to its duties In the case. and
as TO what was expected of It by the
public began an investigation into the
affairs of this public institution and
into the causes that led up to the
death of the infant.
The coroner's jury was unable to
fasten the blame on any particular
person, but roundly condemned the
City Home authorities for mismanage-
Relief OF the Poor did nothing, either
in the way OF bringing more light on
the mystery or in uphoidins the con-
demnation Of the coroner's jury. 1t
found fault with the rules governing
the institution. and directed that they
be changed so as to fit such emergen-
cies should they ever again arise.
The public was not satisfied that the
blame should be placed only on tho
rules, since those rules could have been
improved years ago. and because re-
Eponsibility for sudden and tragic
death, even of nameless and un-
known infant, cannot, as 1t believes.
be properly laid only at the door Of
printed regulations.
Grand Jury Begins Work.
Determined that his end of the city
government should not be made to ap-
pear derelict, Judge Witt presented a
strong charge to the grand jury. CALI
ing upon that body to make full and
thorough investigation and to cast the
blame-if blame there be--on the re-
sponsible party or parties. otherwise
to exonerate those to whom suspicion
of dereliction of duty had been at
tached. Thus no middle course Is left
to the grand jury. 1t must. If 1t fol-
low out the charge. consider persons,
not rules. exen AZ those persons be
members of thes,committee which failed
to do more than had already been ac-
complished during the investigation by
the coroner's jury.
Much stress is laid on the fact that
the coroner's jury, disinterested body,
condemned the management Of the
home while the Committee on Relief
of the Poor, which acts as sort of
final authority In the direction of the
institution, eXonerated everybody,
Judge Wits Charge.
Judge Witt is thoroughly aroused
to the dire need OF fuller investiga-
ton. and he so charged the grand jury
To the grand jury he said:
Your attention has been called to
the conditions which are said to exix,
at the City Home. Up to this time al
sorts Of charges have been made agains,
both individuals and the institution. I,
will be your duty carefully and with.
out prejudice TO seek for the truth anL
to place the blame where 1t belongs
PRIMARILY, your duty will be to nscer.
tain how and by whom this unfortu.
nate child came to its death. In nsccr.
tniuing, or rather Investigating, this l.
VIII be necessary for you to give Mt.
fcntion TO the conduct of those who's,
duty II was to guard and protect til.
unfortunate and helpless of the hos.
pital
l, therefore, call your attention I.
the law of criminal negligence. Yo,
Will benr in mind that not every ac
OF negligence Is inLictahle. But tn,
better opinion seems to be TINT wher
ever specific Responsibilities has bee,
Imposed by law on any person, an,
an omission OF neglect In ita perform
nnce In the usual course of events /
followed by IN Injury 10 another per
# son or to the State, then the party q
parien on whom the public duty vest
are Bile TO Indictment. Thus you WI
observe that your duty will be to ns
certain whether or not the parties +
whom the infant has been given h
law have been flasrantly and outrng
eOuAly neglectful, aud that from suc
neglect 1t came to Its DEATH Then
will be your duty to indict such part
or parties.
The public demand, that this mnttc
shall be thoroughly Investigated.
good men and faithful public SERVANT
have been wrongfuliy accused. III.
should have full and complete yinttc,
"a tinn.
On the other hand, If there he thu,
y, ho have so far forsutten the laws
the land and the pronpttlgs of hums,
tty as to cause by their negligence ii
93S deaf h of this child, they should recei,
the hternest condemnntionh of the juri
and the courts.
This IL the States buslness, you a
the States Representations aud 60
fidently commit it's interests into 20
hands.
Many Witnesses Called.
Many witnesses. far more than we
{S examined by tlre committee, have he
summoned 70 appear before the gra
juig Among the most important
those who have net previously ties
fled is j, q. Farrer. a former patie
whose disclosures in regard to I
mana cement OF the home, II is sa
VAIL border on the sensational 7
5tN