The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-12
Rev. James Buchanan Totally
indicated as Result OF
Investigation.
WORK HIGHLY COMMENDED
Should Have Thanks OF City for
Work Of Constructive
Charity.

Fulfilling the universal expectation,
the committee appointed to Investigate
Buchanan. superintendent of the AS
ISOLATED Charities. has reported
complete vindication. Not only this,
but positive commentator is given to
the minister and to his work. The
committee takes occasion to say that
so far from being condemned your
general secretary deserves unqualified
praise. and should have the thanks of
the whole community for what he has
accomplished along the lines of con-
structive charity"
u'he report was presented to a
meeting of the board of directors Of
the Associated Charities, held yester-
day In the Office of President Robert
Lecky. Jr Resolutions were adopted
thanking the committee for it's labors
and asking that the entire report be
made public.
The committees statement Is signed
by all the members save Rev. J. T.
Mastin, who was out of the city, and
who. 1t is believed, will concur in
Its conclusions.
: Mr.. Buchanan was present and ex-
pressed his appreciation Of the public
confidence which had been made mani
fest to him since the charges were
brought. The evidences of friendship,
he said, have been most welcome.
The Committees Report.
To the Board of Directors of the AS
ISOLATED Charities of Richmond
The Undersigned committee. appoint
ed for the purpose of inquiring into
certain charges rejecting upon the
work of this organization in general.
and upon its secretary. Mr. James
Buchanan, in particular, beg leave to
submit the following report:
Your committee received notice Of
is appointment on Thursday. June q,
and realizing the Importance of prompt
action. IT was decided to start the in
vestigation on Friday, June g. at 4
o'clock P. NJ. in the gymnasium of the
Associated Charities building. Notice
of this meeting was given by publca-
ton in the daily papers and otherwise
and at the hour named we began our
work. which was diligently prosecut-
ed from time to time until Tuesday,
June Z. when the examinat ton of wit
nesses closed. Full minutes of these
proceedings were carefully noted by
the secretary and are returned here
with as part of our report. From this
record 1t will be seen that twenty
seven witnesses We're formally ex-
anined, and number of informal
statements made. We spared no eff
fort to secure the attendance of all
those who had, or were supposed TO
have, any information Touching the
matter in hand, and every one who
wished to be heard was accorded the
opportunity of doing so without let or
hindrance. All rules of evidence were
disregarded in the earnest desire to
make our investigation SO thorough
and complete. that no one. however I'M
friendly. could question Its fairness or
fail to acquiesce in the result
Indictment Formed.
The first step for your committee
was to formulate for itself something
like an indictment upon which to try
the case. After due consideration OF
what was available it seemed that
such Indictment would contain five
counts. namely: "a that the Associated
Charities building was kept In filthy
condition; CO. that the food supplied
to the beneficiaries was mean and unfit
for them; CD, that there has been
graft in the administration of your
affairs: (4). that Mr.. Buchanan is
cruel in his treatment of those under
his care, and (5), that he has been
guilty of improper conduct. These sew
eral charges may be disposed of very
briefly in the order named:
1. The filthy building. This charge.
though figuring in the origin nal publ
cation, seems to have been forgotten
by the critics of your institution when
put upon the stand as witnesses. There
is not word of evidence tending to
et, .tafr S1,a ,1,o n,,s ! y,
1t abundantly appears that the Ballard
House is kept "marvelously clean";
that when the Associat ed dog Charities
took possession of this place 1t was
In horribly dirty and dilapidated
condition: that the building has been
completely renovated and finely adapt
ed to It's present purposes; that this
was done by the labor of men who
would otherwise have been supported
in idleness; and that the improve
ments SO made upon the property
amount in value to many thousands
of dollars.
Food wholesome.
2. The food supply. Very little evil
dence was given in disparagement of
the fare which is furnished by the as
sociation. and that little was anything
but impressive. on the other hand, 1t
is shown by persons of unimpeachable
veracity and we'll acquainted with the
facts. that the food, while plain, as 1t
should be. is always Wholesome and
the best of It's kind. being supplied
by leading merchants of this city.
3. Graft in the administration. It
was said that Mr.. Buchanan had sent
clothing given him for the poor to the
store of one Siesel and shared in the
profits accruing from the sale of same.
This Mrs. Siegel was examined as a
witness and emphatically denied ever
having received any clothing from Mr..
Buchanan or divided with him the
profits of any transaction. The testiy