The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-07
Throckmorton Says Tt
rade Began at Time
of Cooke Offer.
INMATES UPSET
BY OUTSIDE TALK
Trustees Want State to Take
Over Institution Near Bon Air
on Condition That Girls Are
Provided For-Board's
Side Is Ably Pre-
Sented.

Evidence to show that State home
Tor girls of wayward tendencies,
whether in Chesterfield County or else
where. is an absolute necessity in the
states reformatory system, and that
without 1t the whole idea of the Ju-
renile Court would fail, was brought
strongly before the House Committee
for Asylums and Prisons yesterday
afternoon. II was broadly intimated
by attorneys fos the Virginia Home and
Industrial School for Girls. near Bon
Air. that the agitation for its removal
had its inception in the desire for a
real estate trade of that property for
a certain tract in Augusta County, and
that the later outbreaks of the in
mates had been merely answering
with hysteria the hystcrical attacks of
the opposition.
Recommends New Location.
Trustees OF the home reiterated
their offer made 10 Governor stuart
with the single condition that home
for girls be continued there or at some
other location. In this connection, DR..
;. c. Hatcher. president OF the State
Board of Charities and Corrections,
presented series of resolutions adopt
ed by that board yesterday, recon
mending that the institution be moved
TO another location; that the State ac-
cept the dedication of the property.
and that board to be named by the
Governor, soon II is found prac-
ticable TO dispose of the present prop
erty, proceed to relocate and conduct
the institution.
The whole afternoon was given over
10 the defense, citizens OF Bon Air and
others opposing the continuation OF
the home, having the closing argument
before the committee on Wednesday
afternoon.
G. W. Throckmorton. former mem
Der OF the House from Henrico County,
and II. II. Smith, Jr., presented the case
Tor The institution, both explaining
that they were present without com
pensation, because of their interest in
the work. w. NJ. Justis and Richard
Evelyn Byrd appeared for the Bon Air
citizens seeking the suppression OF tho
home. The committee had before IL
the Baker resolution providing for the
abolition of the home, for turning over
the present inmates to the State Board
of Charities, to be sent TO institutions
for feeble minded. or placed in suitable
establishments, and forbiddinG the flu
ture operation OF a home OF this char
acter at that location.
Tells of Real Estate oTer.
Mr.. Throckmorton pointed out that
the agitation had been TO i large eX-
tent started by A. Il. Holderby, Jr.. of
Bon Air, manager of the Richmond
Evening Journal He then read let
ter. dated about the beginning Of the
troubles at the institution, from Charles
II. Cooke president of the Evening
Journal. to Rev. George w. Mcdaniel,
ID. D., president of the board of trus-
tees, suggesting that, as il might be
necessary to vacate the Chesterfield
location. an exchange might be effect
o ia. rtltV
erty owned by Mr.. Cooke near Mt. Ell
lott Springs, In Augusta County. which
Mr.. Cooke thought would be n suitable
location for the homo for girls.
Il call your attention" said Mr.
Throckmorton. Ito this letter OH the
letterhead of the Journal. showing that
one officer of that paper is Offering
an entirely Legitimate and proper real
estate transaction with this home,
just at the time another officer Of that
paper is aiding in a movement to
drive il out of Chesterfield County"
DR.. Mnclnchinn Speaks.
Rev. II. d. G. Maclacnlan, pastor of
the Seventh Street Christian Church,
read a carefully prepared statement
which clearly showed the history and
present condition of the home. Tho
Virginia Home and Industrial School
for Girls, he said. was established by
n group Of representative citizens in
October, 1909, and chartered by the
state for the care and training OF
incorrigiblc or vicious white girls. who
are without proper restraint and train
ing between the ages Of eight and
eighteen years" The Juvenile stat
utes, he showed, forbid any child under
seventeen being confined in jail. work
house or penitentiafy, those laws MAX
ing the institution necessary and In
tegral part OF the disciplinary and
corrective treatment for the children
OF the State. AT the 1910 session OF
the General Assembly an appropriation
of so cents per day for each inmate
was allowed by the State for custodial
care. Two years later the privilege
was added Of using certain State funds
for repairs and enlargements, ana the
State has an investment of approNi
mately $4,000 in buildings at the
home.
Cripple Juvenile Courts.
TO close the home at this time, DR..
Maclachlan said, would cripple the
work of every Juvenile Court in Vir-
ginia, would be u piece Of special leg
islation in tile interests of private
parties whose rights under the law
have already been passed upon by the
courts OF their own county, an act of
injustice to those who have given of
their time and money to found the
home, and step backward. which 1t
would take years to repair in the child
welfare activitic: of the State
DR.. Maclachlan reviewed in some de-
tail the charges made by the Bon Air
Citizens Association and the efforts to
have himself and three other members
| of the board indicted. Many of the
statements made, he asserted, had been
exaggerated, while others had been en-
ltirely baseless. They were accucations
made in hysteria and brought forth
In some. degree of temper" AS chair
man OF the committee on admissions