The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-26
al
HOME NEAR BONA|R
OFFERED TO STATE
Directors Willing to Deed En-
tire Property if Provision Is
Made for Girls.
DIDN'T SEEK FINANCIAL AID
Bill Prepared Under Which Com
mission May Move Institution
to Another County.
DIDN'T SEEK FINANCIAL AID

While tho fact was not made public
at the time. 1t became known yesterday
that tho board which controls tho vir-
ginia Homo and Industrial School for
Girls. near Bon Air, has formally Of
fered to deed tho entire plant and
property to tho State without strings,
provided the State agrees to caro- for
the Inmates. This proposition was
Submitted to the Senate Finance Com
mittee at an executive session early
in the month. The appropriation bill
reported by that committee did not con-
tain any item for the support of tho
Institution. and mono was asked, 1t
being understood then that tho Com
monwealth would probably take II over.
bill has already been prepared for
the appointment OF n commission which
shall act for tho State 1t will be in
PRODUCED in the General Assembly this
week.
May Locate Elsewhere.
Undor Its provisions the commission
Will have largo discretionary powers
1t must determine. for instance, wheth-
or the homo Is to remain in Chester
field County, but 1t will have authority
to sell the property, valued ut $4,000,
at conservative estimate. and build
elsewhere. The homo tract contains
200 acres, fully developed, with sewer
age and other assets
When representatives of the board
appeared before the Finance Committee
no statement was given out az to the
nature of their requests. and 1t was
assumed that they had asked for the
regular appropriation. They made
none They simply offered the prop
erty to the State. with tho one stipula-
ton that the thirty-nino girls be cared
for in suitable institution. Richard
Evelyn Byrd urged tho committee not
to give further help to the home. stat
Ing, the reasons which actuated that
plea. He recited many of the recent
disturbances. and explained why the
Citizens Association of Bon Air was
opposed to it's retention near their
community.
Recent Court Proceedings.
The institution and Its management
nro now under indictment on two
counts In the Chesterfield Circuit Court,
the former as a common nuisance and
the officers for maintaining nuisance
The trial was docketed for the early
part of this moisth, but pending action
by the General Assembly the prosecu-
ton was suspended indefinitely
Court proceedings against the homo
were brought on complaint OF the cIti-
zens of Bon Air. an indictment con-
tanning four separate counts being re-
turned by the special grand jury In
paneled by Judge Robert G.. South IL
TO investigate the alleged conditions at
the school. The case came to trial. hut
on motion OF counsel for the defen-
dants the two principal counts were
quashed by Judge Suuthali. While re-
serving tho right to go into trial on
the subordinate counts. the prosecution
ment, but failed.
The t,,r, x,,y,tIz
Dict made number OF pertinent rec
concentrations in regard to the con-
duct of the Institution. among them
being the suggestion that tho whole
plant. which is supported by State
FUNDS, be turned over to the State as a.
public institution. Other recommends
lions In regard to the supervision OF
the inmates had already been carried
out by the board OF directors
Why Citizens objected.
Objection to the home on the part
OF Ion ALI citizens arose over the I'M
pleasant notoriety brought down on
the village by tho close proximity OF
such place. This was augmented by
the frequent outbreaks OF the inmates
who on several occasions engaged in
rioting. and succeeded In driving off,
GERS OF the law and other persons Off
the premises. Bon Air also resented
the practice of sending tho girls over
the public highways without escort.
Tho board Of directors of the school
orc Rev. George W. Mcdaniel D. D..
Rev. III. d. G. Maclachlan. d. D., Sam
ue' p. Waddiil and Robert Lecky. Jr.
These officers were indicted on a charge
OF maintaining public nuisance. The
case caused considerable criticism at
the time, and II. NJ. Smith, Jr., and Hill
Carter offered to conduct the defense
There was no effort on the part of the
prosecuting officers to proceed against
tho directors criminally. but tho whole
object OF the Commonwealth was to
establish the fact that the institution
was common nuisance, and as such
should be abated.
Tho residents of Bon Air and Ches-
tcrheld County In general are anxious
to have the home moved to some re-
mote place-providing Chesterfield Is
not selected. The school, has several
handsome brick buildings. and the sur
roundings are ideal. 1t Is located moro
than mile south OF the village.
Richard Evelyn Byrd, who Is against
further appropriations for the insti-
tuition, assisted Commemorative At
torney Haskins Hobson and William
Marshall Justis In the court proceed
Lays. The State now pays per diem
amount for each individual at the
school. although the management is
vested wholly In private hands. The
Laurel Reformatory. similar insti-
tuition for boys, is supported In like
manner.