The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-10
GOVERNOR ORDERS
THOROUGH PROBE
Bon Air Home for Girls to
Be Carefully Investi-
gated.
MCDANIEL ISSUES STATEMENT
Trustees Welcome Fullest Scru-
tiny and Express Confidence
in Superintendent.
M'DANIEL ISSUES STATEMENT

formal investigation OF the con-
ditions and methods OF conducting tho
Virginia Home and Industrial School
for Girls at Bon Air Will begin on
Saturday morning at o'clock, and will
be conducted by the State Board Of
Charities and Corrections at the re-
quest of Governor Mann
No direct evidence of any irrcgu-
1arities have been laid before the Gov
ernor or the officials of the State Board
OF Charities. but for some time there
have been persistent rumor5 OF mis-
treatment OF inmates II any OF tho
methods OF the institution stand in
need OF correction the Governor desires
to know II at once. II the reports in
circulation are without foundation in
fact and the institution Is doing Its
work well. tho Governor thinks the
public should know II.
The Governors Letter.
After consultation with Rev J. T.
Mastin. State Superintendent of Chart
ties and Corrections. and with DR..
ing. the Governor sent the following
letter to Rev. S. c. Hatcher. chairman
OF the State Board OF Charities and
Corrections. at Ashland:
Various reports OF distressing con-
ditions at the Virginia Homo and In
dustrial School for Girls have come to
my attention. which reports. IL true.
would seem TO threaten the welfare Of
this institution and Its future useful
ness to the State. Knowing that work
of this character Is most important. and
that even rumors of mismanagemenf
however ungrounded. may injure tho
cause which this school represents. I
hereby direct an investigation OF the
said institution under authority Of
section 16 Of act entitled An act
TO establish a State Board of Charities
and Correctional (Ac;s OF 1905. chap
70 nd fnr hnv n trnr tt,-t >, T.
investigation be made complete and
comprehensive. covering the admins
trntion of the said institution In all i,s
aspects. You Will please report your
findings TO me"
investigation Saturday.
Secretary Mastin communicated with
DR.. Hatcher. and call was issued for
meeting of the State Board of Chair
ties and Corrections 10 be held at the
Bon Air Home on Saturday morning
At o'clock for the purpose of going
into the Investigation. The board is
composed OF Rev. :. G. Hatcher chair
man; Or. Peter Winston. OF Farmvilie
Or. Douglas :. Freeman, Of Richmond
J.. r Stearns. OF Newport News. and
DIR. Paulus =. Irving. Testimony may
be taken from the officials employees
and inmates under oath
Reports of irregularities have been
current for some time. Matters came
TO head some weeks ago when Marie
Mcnamara. seventeen years old. and
Sadie Miller. both OF Norfolk. escaped
from the institution. The Mcnamara
girl was placed under arrest and told
Magistrate Chcatham. of Oak Grove.
that the conditions at the home were
intolerable. She charged that inmates
OF the institution were forced TO work
in the garden under the immediat tie
supervision OF n negro man.
VIII lie Open TO Public.
Later the girl called at the Cover
nors Office but Governor Mann was
out OF the city. and she told her story
TO Secretary owen. Other reports have
reached the Governor and he decided
yesterday that II was best for all par
ties to order an official investigation
so that, II true. steps may be taken
TO correct the abuses. and IL not true,
Idle rumor may be cffectUaily set at
rest. The Governor stated that he
wanted all OF the hearings to be open
to the public. and that all the facts.
regardless Of who might be interested
)r concerned. might be brought out.
dr.. MaSun stated that the investiga-
Ion would be thoroughly conducted,