The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-12
BON AIR CITIZENS
ASK HOME REMOVAL
TESTIMONY BEFORE PRISONS AND
AsLYUMs, COMMITTEE Is
REVOLVING.
ASK LADIES TO LEAVE
AFTER GALLERIES CLEAR -ATTOR-
yEYs FOR CITIZENS AssOCIA-
T1oN GIVE REASONS FOR
DEMAND.

Before the house committee on priS-
ons and asylums, the citizens of Bon
Air Yesterday afternoon presented their
side OF the question as why the Nir-
ginia Home and Industrial School for
Girls should be removed from that sec
ton. The testimony of the citizens In
regard to the conduct of the place was
so revolving that the chairman had
to request that the ladies leave the
galleries
Every horrible detail Of the behavior
of the inmates of the place was barred,
for the purpose OF showing why the
citizens of Bon Air had a right to re-
quest that this evil be taken from their
doors.
the floor He said the citizens had not
taken this step in a state of hysteria-
as had been stated but because the
conditions at Bon Air were such that
no man dared leave his wife and chill
dren alone in the village while he was
away at business. for fear of some
hurt at the hands of these girls who
were allowed to roam the country as
they choose. He then related the tales
that caused such publicity to the school
and its conduct, telling of the tremen-
dous evils attending the placing of
such an institution in such a community
as Bon Air.
Declare They Run Wild.
He said that these depraved crea-
lures had run wild over the country,
armed with shotguns, and had even at
tempted murder, but they spread an
evil In the neighborhood for worse
than murder.
Mr.. Justis was asked why he did
not have the girls arrested and he an
swered that because they would only
be reeommitted TO the home. where no
discipline or restraint was placed upon
them
He declared that much had been said
about the late Polk Miller in the hear
incs. but Mr.. Miller was the first man
In Bon Air 10 demand an investigation
Of the home,
He then told of the grand jury pro-
cecdings. which opponents of the Ba-
ker bill which would abolish the home,
declared had been farce Mr.. Justis
showed plainly that not only was the
grand Jury with them. but that even
the judge of the court had stated ii
was an evil that must he remedied.
r. E. Byrd. former speaker of the
house of delegates and attorney for the
Bon Air Citizens association. followed
Mr., Justis and made an eloquent ap-
peal for the adjustment of the school,
declaring that the girls were feeble
minded and should he distributed
among the epileptic colonies; that the
bill had heen presented TO two of the
best alienists in the State. and they
had approved it. He said there were
too many OF these small institutions
In the state and the states back was
being broken by the enormous expense
OF keeping them up, when the larger
institutions would fill the bill.
To Epiieptic Colony.
DR.. A. S. Priddy. of the state epilepr
tic colonv, stated that he had heard
that at least twenty out of the thirty
inmates Of the home, were feeble mind
ed and that the epileptic colony would
receive these girls provided they were
sent there after having been subjected
to the feeble minded test.
Colonel T. NJ. r. Talcott. and Will
liam Ellyson, brother of Lieutenant
Governor Ellrson, made short addresses
requesting the removal of the school
from the Bon Air district. The hear
ing lasted enc hour. then the COM
snittee went into executive session.