The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-19
WILL BRING
INFANTS BACK
Mrs. Dunkley, Matron of In
fants Home, Surprised at
Report from Tampa
AUTHNRITIES KNEW
ALL ABOUT CASE
Superintendent of Charities in the
Florida Town Promised to Take
Care of Children and Advised
Her to Return Here.

OF the seven infants VINO were taken
from Richmond several weeks ago to
be atupreu m Tampa Cr'ta.J homes,
indicate that If there is anything In
the nature cf a baby brokerage busi-
ness in connection with the matter.
the Virginia Home for Infants OF
which Mrs. Seiena Il. Dunkiey is the
fnatron, has no knowledge of ii.
The report, which has caused quite
u sensation In charity circles OF the
city, was the outcome of a letter re-
txissd By the police department from
s. I. woodward. the chief OF police
OF Tampa In his letter Mr.. Wood
ward stated his suspicious that the
children were not being properly
treated in the way OF finding homes
anu requested Information concerning
The character OF the home here and
the reputation OF those I'm charge.
After investigating the case at this
end the police department has writ
ten to Chief Woodward advising him
that Mrs. Dunkley acted in entire
,od faith In taking the children TO
Tampa and that she did ST. with the
assurance that they would he provided
with good homes in that city. They
explain that Mrs. Dunkley bears an
excellent reputation and that she IS
willing to do anything that may lie
GtLtcSaiS 10 HtA Ah' HsfstNNi wv
Chief Woodward is advised further
-ghaI-t A4s-+ss-.- 1.sss-l.s.-ss
Rev. Joseph r Mastin, Secretary OF
tile State Board or Charities and Ger
rec ons, and that II anything develops
from his investigation he will be ad~
xised.
Mrs. DunkIcy's Statement
Mrs. :. H. Dunkley, the matFon of
the Virginia Home for Infants, who
81 1rNfa IA
was seen at The home Saturday morn
ing and talked freely concerning the
matter She explained her part of the
4 case in detail and said that she viii
he glad 10 do anything in her power
q tn satisfy the authorities OF Tampa.
ever To the extent of going there for
the children and bringing them back
here Her statement follows: The
facts of the matter so far AS the Viz
giuia Home is concerned are these
Mrs Gudgeon. of Tampa, Fla. visited
the home here ahagt tna years ago
bearing papers from minister in
Tampa as TO her character and IN
compaxry with her husband. She bears
a good name and has been living with
al her husband for ten years. While
here we let her adopt boy infant
land when she visited her relatives
here last summer she brought the boy
With BfI anu iAt ~ as q oF't'fNa' 7P'N'7
men OF perfect health. She was SO
. we'll pleased that shc wanted another
child and we let her have little six
months old girl
For Mrs. Gudgeon's Friends.
Mrs t;udgeon wrote me that she
had seven friends who were SO pleased
With the children She had that they
would like Also to have one each and
she asked me il / could bring them
toad ys..kH
homes. | gladly consented as we
hve TO lind homes for the children
y \ account OF the large number we
Va Ne We sent out eighty children
last year and those sent to Mrs
Cudgeon are the only ones that have
gone our of the state. started for
Tampa on February ] with the seven
children and two competent care
takers. Mrs. Harvey and "A nurse, went
In Pullman car and took the vers
test possible care 81 the children
during the trip. Upon arrival there
Ne were welcomed by Mr.. Albert f.
Sinks superintendent of Associated
Charities and Mrs. Palmer, of that
= s.izatie,n. and Captain Matthews,
] think of the police. They seemed
to understand in fun the part that
Mrs Gudgeon was taking in the mat
ter and with their sanction. four of
Int SnjuItH Wftt PiaNSN ia h'iSS
while we were there. The other three
children were left In the care of Mrs.
GuaSeun and we were told by nir
Sinks that there was no reason for
us 10 remain as he would see to II
that The remaining children were
properly taken care OF and given good
bonner
We left Tampa upon the advice OF
the authorities mentioned and reach
a 2ssHF Inc
Tho first intimatien that ! had of any
difficulty reached me Friday night.
When | war informed that all seven
~ the children were now in home
In Tampa. / Immediately wrote TO
4 Mr.. Sinks. and have wired him to-
= day asking an explanation. ! would
rather go there and bring the chill
drcn back. and am ready to go upon
m hours notice. As soon as ] have
= rcr,y from Mr.. Sinks ! will know
what to do. have the nurse ready
and can take the next train. All
NJ tho correspondence that | have
had with Mrs. Gudgeon and letter
Z recently received from Mr.. Sinks
have been given to officer John
Wiley, who called here Friday.
have sacted in entire good faith in
this matter and do not see that any
thing wrong has been done so far as
this home is concerned. The letter
I received from MIR. Sinks stated that
All was well and the children would
B have good hcnes. ] am both sur
pr4sed and 81 eyed at the turn affairs
have taken. and would like to have
the Infants back"
Letter and Telegram.
TheS.1etter that Mrs. Dunkley has
sent "a Mr.. Sinks at Tampa follows.
*Mr. Albert f. Sinks. Tampa. Fla.
Dear Sir.--F am very sorry that
Il there seems to be so much trouble
\ about placing the babies. I went to
your city on THE invitation OF q lady
I Whom | considered 10 BE reputable
Y person. asked and received no
pOney whatever, paid all our ex-
sHAes and stand ready to legally