The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-07
LAND DEAL BEHIND
ATTACK ON HOME,
LAWYER CHARGES
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and dismissals. ne discussed ut length
the character and type of inmates
While It was probably true that there
were some predetermined among them
he said. tho State had no present place
for tho care Of such people. An effort
to get a commission Of lunacy to COM
init four OF the worst cases to an asy-
ium had failed, the commission return
Ing verdict that they were not In
sane.
Many Have Reformed.
For the opponents to speak OF girls
of this type as irreclaimable, he said,
was to show Ignorance. az the insti-
tuition now has on Ats parole list girls
who have been guilty OF nameless per-
versions" who are now In good homes.
OF the twenty-four girls paroled, only
two arc known to have proven failures.
One ran away and married. but, as the
speaker expressed II. that could hard
ly be classed as an objectionable sin.
In fact, there were men in the hall, In
whose families these girls had been
placed, and who testified that they
were making marked Improvement.
Every step had been taken with the
close advice of the State Board OF
Charities. The so-called outbreaks at
the home whatever they were, were
not due to the mismanagement of the
home. Dr. Maclachlan commended. but
to tho misjudged actions OF the citi-
Gems of Bon Air.
For three years there had been no
disturbance. "he said. Then came the
investigation: the newspapers were
full of the Bon Air Home--the com
munity seething with rumors. What
wonder that girls. some OF them feeble
minded. all more or less suggestible,
should get wrought up to acts which,
after all. only met one kind of hysteria
with another. They thought tho home
end their beloved matron were being
attacked and their wrath was wreaked
on every show OF interference from the
Miss Wright and old Man Turpin
episodes. Had there been no investi-
CATION, there would have been no out
breaks, and Bon Air would have gone
on as II has been doing. blissfully I'M
aware that the home was anywhere
In it's vicinity.
Offer Property to State.
I'VE have presented a bill to the
Governor which we hope he will rec
ommcnd for passage, in which we
would hand over TO the State the physi-
cal property OF the home in fee simple,
to be governed by board to be named
by the Governor. II. in the opinion
Of this board. it is advisable in the
interests of the work that the home
shall be located elsewhere, it shall, of
course. have power TO do SO, provided
the home be kept In operation until q
new home is opened elsewhere"
S. p. Waddill. memoer OF the
board. told In detail of the employment
of Beverly Banks. the negro farm
hand. about which so much was said
At the time Of the investigation. AS
to the excitement of the citizens of
Bon Air, he pointed out that the homo
was three-quarters OF a mile through
woodland from Bon Air station. Mr.
Glinn asked IL II were not true that
several OF the girls drove to the sta
ton daily for freight and mail Mr..
Waddill said they We're TRUSTEES
"Distinguished CriminnIs.n
Mr.. Smith closed the argument for
the board. referring to Dr. Mcdaniel.
DR.. Maclachlan. Mr.. Waddill and Mr.
Lecky the most DISTINGUISHED
| criminals he had ever defended. In n
criminal practice for many years. both
in defense and as Commemorative at
tornes, he had seen the need of such
an institution. and believed no other
could take Its place. He introduced as
his final witness Police Justice John j.
Crutchheld. Of Richmond. who testified
that he had seen the need for such an
institution for many years: that. while
this home has inmates from twenty
counties, II had started from CONVEX
St,iioii MS ONCE between LIT. Jane -
Buchanan, of the Associated Charities.
and DR.. MCDANIEL. of the First Baptist
Church. and was followed by a con-
ference In the Mayors ONCE, at which
John =. Branch presided.
Il regard il as one OF the greatest
institutions We have" said Justice
Crutchfeld. In my experience fully
SO per cent OF girls sent to Jail are
ruined for life. I am n law to my
self, and 1 won't send them there, IL
I can help IT, You might as we'll abol-
ish your Juvenile Court laws IL this
home is to be abolished"
DO the girls you .have had in your
court, as for instance. those In the
'houseboat cases In Richmond. strike
you as being feeble-minded?" asked
Mr.. Smith.
Home Needed. Says CrutchaeId.
They were vile creatures" said
Justice Crutchfeld, but very intelli-
gent. The girls IN the houseboat
cases were above the average in intel
ligence. You are compelled to have a
place for such girls somewhere
don't say at Bon Air.
What you ought to do is to estab-