The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-20


field Circuit Court, in session for tho
pas, two days at Chesterfield Court
house, refused yesterday afternoon 10
rclnd;ct tho Virginia Home and Indus
trial School for Girls near Bon Air.
AZ common nuisance, or its officials
FOR maintaining nuisance. It recon-
monded. however. that the institution
be put under strict and new man
agcment, and that the Inmates should
rot only hc completely isolated from
the general public but should be pro
hibitod from travelling the public high
ways unless under guard
Tho decision OF the grand Jury was
announced shortly before 3 o'clock.
after a deliherntion Of several hours.
Evidence had been taken tho previous
day. and IL number OF witnesses W"v.
examined IN the forenoon. As the
hours dragged by. the large number
or spectators ana witnesses pr-moaed
~ other matters under iuvcstirAuOn.
sat around the court green ard COR
nontod freely on the result. IRE re
port was received in silence ~ tho
dozen or moro residents OF Bon &ir,
vito were coinplauants against the in
hittution. and responsible for tic court
proceedings.
May Drop prosccution.
Commonwealth Attorney iaskins
Hobson who represented tho proseCu-
lion. was probably ihe tuos5 .urari7rd
person In the courtroom Tic secured
the nrst Indictment without 9t!licult',
and confidently expected that tho grand
fury would readily amend the docu-
mont which was held last week. by
Judge Robert q. Southall. 70 be faulty,
in that IL failed 10 name specifically
,hc charges against the institution.
When seen last night hc declined 10
"a, ,a 81
I, is considered more than probable
,lat no further action Will be taken
urtil the next acssion of the General
Assc,nbly which convcnes in January.
although. under the ruling OF tile court.
the Commonwealth can still proceed
against rho institution and It's officers
under the two remaining counts ia the
original Indictment These counts
however. have been robbed or their ef-
fcctivcness ~ tho striking out OF two
others, upon which they depended Tor
rupport By agreement Of counsel. no
trlal will be held until the FIRST week
III Januarr postpoucmeut Viii
probably bc sought then, III order 10
sivo tho Legislature a chance to con-
slider the future Of tho institution
Compininnnts Morally Sustained.
Ia its recommendation to the courts
the grand jury is OF the opinion that
the institution IS necessary for the
health and good morals or the general
public. but practically scores its man
arcment and conduct II recommends
that the buildings and grounds be iso-
lated. and that the inmates be guarded
so that the inmates can. under no cir
cumstanccs. containinate the public.
and particularly recommends that they
pc kept from the highways, unless un-
der proper qua ardanship. While these
recommendations have no actual legal
effect. morally they sustain the con
tentions OF the complainants. and they
AFRO accordingly jubilant
On the other hand. officers OF the
Virginia Home and Industrial school
for Girls see a virtual victory. The
grand jury refused to consider the in
stitution as common nuisance, while
its recommendation. according 10 one
OF the officials would be contrary to
the act OF the Legislature which Great
cd the home. This act prohibits the
inmates from being treated as Grim
inals. while the recommendation Of the
grand jury, If carried out. would, Ii is
contcnded. make the home 4 penal in
stitution
Hns Been Long Under Fire.
Tho Virginia Home and Industrial
School for Girls has been in the lime
light for many months. The escape OF
an inmate. and the pitiful tale she told
when captured, coupled with vague ru-
inors which had spread concerning the
management OF the home, particularly
The working Of white girls In the fields
under negro ovorscer resulted in an
investigation at tho hands Of the State
iioard OF Charities and Corrections
several days was taken up In hearing
or evidence. The inmates OF the insti-
tuition rcDuaiated former statements,
ana hnaliy clean bill Of health was
given.
Not content with this action, the Ron
.Nir Citizens Association. several weeks
iatcr. met and passed resolutions con
demning the institution. and presented
y petition before Judge Robert c.
SouthaN in tho Chesterfield Circuit
Court. asking that a grand Jury inves-
tiGation he held.
Tne grand jury returned two indict-
mcnts. each containing four counts
orc was against tho house and tho
other It's officers. The case was called