The Washington times., 1919-02-01

dScsn 81 tElt OF her sister, but she
added:
Il was anxious to know where AL
bert did get that money. so after we
were sent from the room I slipped
around to a side door and looked on
until Mrs. Greer gave out and didn't
have strength enough to go on Al
bert was so done Up Mrs. Greer had
to hold him up by his two hands
while she struck him across the back"
Albert. she said. finally told Mrs.
Greer that he had taken the money
from another boys pockst.
He didn't tell her that until Mrs.
Greer told him that Mr.. Greer was
going TO kill him when he got home
4 he didn't tell" the witness added.
J. Z. Peterson, one Of the two Dis
trict labor inspectors, was one OF the
last witnesses called by the District
before Attorney George P. BarSe an
nounced that the Districts case was
in
Peterson told Of his inspection OF
the Greer home after charges OF vio-
Lation Of the child labor law had been
made against MI and Mrs. Greer.
'T have seen the little children
from Gresr's bakery come out and sit
on my automobile and gnaw on bones
they got from the Greer kitchen.
They were poorly clothed, ragged,
and dirty. They appeared cold and
hungry and always seemed to be
overwoTked.
II have. never seen them we'll
dressed. not even. during the bitter
cold spell earlier in the winter"
This was the sworn testimony OF
n lawyer-F. D. Dawson, of 1i12 East
Capitol street. who for the last two
years has kept two OF his automobiles
in the Greer garage at the rear Of
the home OF Mr.. and Mrs. W. A !
Greer, lis Twelfth street northeast |
In the course OF the examination |
OF Mr.. Dawson in Juvenile Court last |
night, where the Greers are facing 1
charges Of providing improper homes |
for several orphan children, the /
lawyer-witness declared that he was |
so moved to pity by the children's
condition that he did what he could i
10 relieve them.
sI often gave them nickels and
dimes when they came around" Mr.. !
Dawson said.
NelEhbOF Tells Same story.
A neighbor OF the Greers, William /
T. Hammack, who resides at 1S4
Eleventh street northeast, at the rear
of the Greer bakery, gave substan-
TALLY the same testimony.
had noticed the clothes worn by the
Greer bakery children, Mr.. Ham
mack said: I
They did not appear TO me to be
weIl-clothed. I noticed this psrticu-
larly during the cold weather earlier
in the season.
Frequently, 1 saw the girls in rhe
hey or In the street, wearing no
coats or outer garments. They. wore
II.
they wore inside the house.
Il remarked to several persons at
the time about II. On one occasion I
saw the little boys from the bakery
going down the street. They had on
70 coats, and ! don't THINKS they even
had on hats. The day was bitterly
cold. Behind them walked the girls.
J ley wore the same light clothing ]
l,cd seen them wearing when I had
looked through the windows and seen
them working in the bakery"
swore at Laughter.
Mr. Hammack told OF passing che
z reer home some time ago ard hear
ing Mr. Greer swearing at the girls.
"'I heard the girls laughing and
: talking inside the house" the witness
said. "Mr. Greer was in the alley
TO leave in his automobile.
He Ewore at them and then told them
10 Shut up or 1 will come in there
shut you up" They ceased
Il have never at any time seen
those children we'll clad" he con-
{ nued. They wore on Sundays just
what they wore on week days"
Labor Inspector Peterson said that
he was accompanied on his visit to
The Greer bakery by Mrs Nina c. Van
Wrinkle police woman.
Several children were present
shen we went into the bakery Mr..
Peterson said we asked them if
ney had labor permits. All OF them
3 answered in the negative.
Gave older Ages.
when we asked their ages, they
gave ages older than they later ad-
nitted were correct" il
Mrs. Van Winkle had previously
testified that she heard both Mr.. and
Mrs. Greer whispering TO the chill
5ren TO SAY sixteen years old"
The Labor Inspector told of his in
spection Of the sleeping quarters Of :
the children. Is
we had 10 climb up perpendicu- {
ar ladder and crawl through trap
r.oor to enter the boys rooms, he said. [
There were six beds or cots in '
te tOOlN. lfg we're very ClOSF ~ I
rether. There was no stove or heat I
ing apparatus in the room. Ii
In the girls room. there were |
seven little iron cots very close to-
Eether. There were some girls in I
here very busily engaged in clean :
.ng up" .
Made Several Visits.
On cross examination Peterson ,
said he had been to the Greer home /
several times :
Asked why he did not take action. }
e said he did not know there were r
hildren working in the bakery under
'sEteen years old. His concern, he
ala. was for children under sixteen
The District rested its case at 1882 {
''cloCk. Assistant Corporation Coun- I
'el Robert +. Barse reSeTVing the !
RHBNCTINFC /,