Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-23
FINED FOR VIOLATING
STATE: SANITARY CODE


Humphreys. on January >. 1915. was
fined in the Police Court for failing
to provide adequate sanitary facilities
i'll his store as required by the state
regulations. Complaint against him
had been registered by Miss Lily NJ.
Barbour. an Inspector OF the State
bureau of Labor and Industrial Stats
ccm.cr and learned of its failure to
conform to the stat" law with respect
10 sanitary ARRANGEMENTS.
According to Miss Wilson. as set
forth in her declaration. Miss Barbour
visited the store and after obtaining
the consent Of the manager. talked with
several of the employees. Miss Barbour.
she said, asked her about the sanitary
arrangements. ana she answered truth
fully the simple question put to her
The arraignmcnt OF MIR. Humphreys
in Police Court followed Immediately
and likewise Miss Wilson's dismissal
In her declaration Miss Wilson relates
that upon informing her OF her dis
charge MIR. Humphreys. the manager.
:oid her that that WAS what she got
for telling the truth"
DEMANDS DAMAGES FOR
CHARGE OF "INEFFICIESCY"
The suit grows out OF statement
made by Mr.. Humphreys In the Police
Court when called TO answer the charge
OF violating the state sanitary code
Labor Inspector J. l.. Clincdinst. in the
course OF his testimony, in which he
told the court among other things that
Humphreys had been warned twice be-
fore that he WAS violating the law. di-
crossed to refer TO Miss Wilson's dis
missal as her punishment for telling
| the truth.
Humphreys demanded 10 be sworn
and thcreupon told the court that he
did not discharge Miss Wilson for
telling the truth, but for inci'iciency
thereby meaning TO charge and In
tending to mean and charge" accord
ing TO Miss Wilson's declaration. that
the plaintiff was unable to fill the posi-
ton of cashier and Incapable of prop
crly discharging the duties of cashier
and to iniurc here in her occupation as
such cashier.
DENIES CHARGE As
FALSE: AND MALICIOUS
The plaintiff claims that while Mr.
iumphreys's statement was intended
to reduce his firms liability for the
law violation, il was not pertinent to
the point of issue namely, whether or
not he had provided adequate Sani-
, tary facilities In his store, and that
therefore. the words wcr. spoken
falsely and maliciously. with the de-
sign and intent TO injurc the plaintiff
ana 10 fNln ItT III neT Ginning tS
cashier, and thereby 10 prevent her
( from obtaining like employment. which
was. and is. plaintiffs only means Of
supporting herself
For tho Injury alleged to have been
done her good name and character and
/ her reputation as a cashier. Miss VIII
son demands damages in the sum Of
/ $4,000. Attorney Wyndham II. Mere
dith appears as her counsel
! WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION
INTERESTED IN CASE
4 The discharge Of Miss Wilson last
( raiEnmcnt OF the Great Atlantic and
J Pacific Tea Company upon the com
! plant o! tho State Labor Bureau
J authorities. was given wide publicity,
/ and her cause was taken up by in
I nucntial women. Several wOmen's or
ganiZations Interested themselves in
| the matter, and after looking into the
/ circumstances. came to Miss Wilson'S
assistance.
/ Miss Wilson asserts in her declaration
that she had ut all times performed
faithfully, worthily and efficiently all
the duties" required OF her, and as
pioyers cites the fact that a short
! time before her sudden dismissal she
: had been given an Increase In salary.
y letter written by her to the home
Office of the company In New York.
asking that she he given proper CON
/ sidcration and treatment. was never
answered.