South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-31
5RIGHTSIDE At
PLYMOUTH FACES
INJUNCTION SUIT
Julia E. Works "Training
School" May Have Public
Revenue Cut OF.
speclnl - The -:

PLYMOUTH, Ind, july 5l.-Suit
by injunction. 20 restrain the board
OF Marshall county commissioners
from paying further moneys TO
Julia Z. Work. for the care. train
ing. or discipline OF delinquent. de-
pendent. or orphan children. at
what Is known as the Julia +. Work
Training school. sometimes desig-
mated as "Brightside." north Of
here. and 20 restrain said Julia r.
Work from receiving any moneys
from the county. for such purposes.
was instituted IN the circuit court
here yesterday. A restraining order
is also asked against said Julia Z.
Work further advertising said insti-
tuition as an orphans home. or
training school declaring that il is
not properly organized or incorpor-
ated as either. under the state laws,
and is not entitled 30 public patron
age or support under the laws OF
Indiana, and that Mrs. Work the
matron, is an unfit person TO have
charge Of dependent, delinquent or
orphan children under court de-
crees.
William O'Keefe appears as plain
tiff In the petition for the injunc-
ton. and is represented by John w.
Kitch and Martindale & Martindale.
attorneys. though IL is reported
that considerable number Of Ply
mouth and Marshall county citizens
are back Of the proceedings. Mr..
O'Keefe Institutes the suit as a citi-
zen and a taxpayer. He sets forth
that contract has been entered in
10 between the board Of commits
sioners and Julia +. Work. by which
the latter is paid so cents per day,
for the care and training OF each Of
the children entrusted 10 her by the
courts OF Marshall county and il is
10 restrain further payments under
such contract that the suit is
brought. II is cOntended that the
contract is illegal and void for the
reason that "Brightside," so-called,
or the Julia f. Work orphanage or
training school. is not a legally or
gained orphanage or training
school, but is a private institution.
operated for profit.
Children Cruelty Treated.
The petition recites the accumu-
lation Of a considerable amount of
wealth by Mrs. Work. on the profits
Of "Brightside." and points out that
these profits have been accumulat-
ing. orphan. dependent. and delin-
quent children have been most
Il.
have been underfed and food they
get is so nauseating TO many Of the
children that they cannot eat il and
therefore go hungry for days, weeks
and months: that when an inmate
does not eat the food placed before
il at any meal. the food is set back
and returned 70 II for the next
meal and this plan is followed until
starvation compels the child to eat
il; that the quantity OF food is en-
tirely insufficient to support a grow
ing child. and the quality is stale,
unpalatable, and unwholesome"
Proceeding to show that the in
stitution has been operated for
profit, and the extent Of IL, the pc
tition sets forth, that the sO-called
home" started with Il acres OF
land with a modest house and barn,
hut that the acres have been in
creased to 200. and the buildings to
several. at a cost of $4,000 TO $780,
OO0 practically all derived from
moneys paid Mrs. Work for the
care and custody OF children: that
the buildings in which said chill
dren are forced 10 dwell are all
wooden buildings, and are unsafe
unsanitary, and veritable -hretraps;
that large numbers of children, as
many as fifty or more. are crowded
in one small room, locked in parts
of the day ard at nights. compelled
10 sit in rows for hours and are not
allowed to converse with each 9TH
or except in a whisper" II is as
serted that the rooms are lacking in
air and ventilation and that inmates
are required 10 go for long periods
without water
school Township Affair
Further complaint is made that
the only schooling given inmates Of
this training school, is provided al
the district school OF Center town
ship. which is appropriated without
cost TO Mrs. Work. and conducted
at the expense of the township. that
complaints and protests have re-
peatedly been made 10 the county
commissioners and the state board
OF corrections and charities. bur
have brought no honest or efficient
investigation; that children are
placed in the institution. not onl,
from Marshall county. but from
other counties Of the state anC
that~Nfrs Work should be restrained
from advertising her business IL
such false colors as alleged. bring
ing such business to her from such
counties.
The petition asks that the re
straints therein prayed for be made
perpetual. but there will proba 81,
be no hearing until the Septembel
term OF court. Judge Stevens nov
being on his vacation. Parties bacl
OF the proceeding. assert that Their,
will be plenty Of evidence 20 bacl
up the charges made therein