The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-09

gestions for furtherance Of the work
in caring for delinquent girls, vindi-
cation Of the management now in
charge. and nothing condemnatory OF
what has been done with little hnan-
cial aid and amid great hindrances
and obstacles
Charges Not Sustained.
So far as complaints that Banks
had direct charge of the girls ana
that he was occasionally harsh with
them ana that the management OF
the institution was poorly conducted
are concerned, the charges vanished
into thin air. The revelation was oil
another sort. 1t made PUBIC the
great good being done by the home,
the sympathetic effort OF prominent
men who have the interests of the IN
stitution at heart and the self-sacfl-
fee Of a woman who is deVoting her
hayward girls.
The more important line of investi-
CATION Yesterday was in regard to the
manner IN which the finances Of the
home were handled. No fraud was
alleged but 1t was charged that the
bookkeeping had been loose ana
faulty, although 1t was shown X Is
now excellent.
the mouse OF ucltkatto AIS"
Hatcher. Peter winston, J. t Mastin
and I. Stearnes were present. The
investigation was conducted by DR.
Douglas S. Freeman, and Hasktns Hob
son. Commonwealth attorney OF Ches-
terfield county
Charles B. Brown, VINO superintend-
ed the cutting of some feed at the
homo in the winter OF 1911-l2; and ;
II Conway, n brick mason, VINO also
had done some work at the home, testi-
fed to seeing the negro at work in the
fields with the girls but could say
nothing against his character
Expert Testifes.
Miss Edna Wright, an expert in edu-
cational and mental tests. said that
she had tested thirty-five girls. She
found two normal four nearly normal
two on the border line, and the rest
feeble minded
Arthur E. Chapman. real estate
agent, told of the attempt made by the
girls several years ago to burn down
the home and OF their utter incorrigi-
blity at the time, He has visited the
home since. he said and found condl-
tons greatly improved.
Or. John B. Fisher said that he had
examined the girls as physician to the
home. and had found most of them dis
eased In some form or other. though
the diseases were not of the worst
type He advocated industrial train
ing rather than too much field work
He did not think that negro overseer
should be over the girls.
A. F. Garrett. william II. Harrison,
r, V. S. Skinner and Oscar Tinsley
took the stand but brought out moth
ing new in the testimony. Robert
Lecky. Jr., a member OF the govern
agI al Nd
ner IL he ever firted with any of the
girls, but Immediately Withdrew the
question.
Investigate Financial Affairs.
The inquiry then went into the f.
nancial affairs of the home. II. E. Bas-
kerville, former treasurer of the home.
said that checks were issued, but the
stubs did not show the reason for the
issuance of the checks. Mrs. Light,
the matron, said that she kept petty
cash amount and that her books would
show how the money was spent. Sam
| uel B. Waddill, a member of the gov
erning board, said that he had checked
up the accounts of the home, and be-
lieved them to be correct.
Examination OF Captain w. Frank
| Smith. special accountant for the State.
showed that blanket" checks were is
sued by DIR. James Buchanan, but that
all the vouchers could not be found.
Mr.. Baskerville Interrupted to say.
however that all OF DIR. Buchanan's
vouchers had been found, and the mat
ter was cleared up. The testimony
showed that the methods Of keeping
accounts and the expenditure of money
| were loose. but there was no sugges
ton or hint of bad practice. Robert
1 Lecky now has~csarge. ofthe' books and
| the State accountant said they are in
| splendid shape.
| The Investigation was finished short
ly before o'clock. The board of in
quiry will make it's report to Govern
or Mann as soon as IL has gone over
| and considered the evidence, a tran
script of which will be ready In about
| two weeks There will be nothing
startling in the report, though 1t may
! recommend a few remedial changes.
Wanted In North Carolina.
- Nd