The Washington times., 1919-02-14
GREER BAKERY
DOOR CLOSED.
TO ORPHANS.
SAYS OWNER

The door of the Greer bakery IS
closed to orphans.
Mrs. William A. Greer, general
manager and financial agent of the
institution, last night formally an
nounced she would never again, "un-
der any consideration" conduct an
other orphan asylum.
She was testifying in her own be-
half in Juvenile Court, where she Is
jointly charged with her husband
with failing to provide a suitable
home for destitute children.
Eight children are involved in the
proceedings.
Doesn't Want Children Back.
Asked by her counsel, Levi II. David,
il she would take the children back
should the court decide in her favor,
the witness said:
Il do not want these children again.
The court proceedings have simply de-
stroyed any hope 1 may have had Of
training them properly. They would
be incorrigible.
These proceedings have destroyed
all the good / have ever done.
don't feel like 1 could go on any long
er.
Il don't think, under any consideca-
tion, l would ever have another or
phan in my home"
This declaration was made by Mrs
Greer after she. had been on the wit
ness stand about six hours.
The witness made IL plain that she
nd 81 hnr hue hlv ~ gar T., ~
the establishment at 116 Twelfth
street northeast.
Considerable real estate has been
amassed by the Greers in the last
twenty years, Mrs. Greer said, nam
ing property in the District and in
Virginia. She has always manipu-
lated the deals, but the property is
in the name Of both she and Mr..
Greer.
Always Gave Her His Pny.
''My husband has always brought
his pay envelope home and given II
to me-" Mrs. Greer said in detailing
the relations between herself and her
husband.
81 don't think that in all our thirty
two years of married life he has ever
opened his pay envelope. He always
turned it over to me and saved it,"
Mrs. Greer said she had been in
the cake-making business here for
twenty-five years.
Whose business is it?" asked At
torney David.
Mine only" she answered.
"Are you the sole owner?'
81 certainly am. My husband has
had nothing to do with it."
Mrs. Greer said she first got the
idea Of making cakes for sale from
her mother. At the start she used
ordinary cook stoves and did all the
work herself. Later she employed
colored help.
"Who did the bulk Of the work in
later years?" asked her counsel
81 did the bulk of the work al
ways" she declared. "I can do more
work than any three girls ever in
my home, and I'm ffty-four years
old"
As near as she could remember,
Mrs. Greer said, she began taking or
phan children in her home in 1905.
Asked how many she usually had,
she said the number varied. At one
time she had as many as ten girls
and four boys. 1t was her sisters
suggestion. she said, that she get or
phans in the home.
How long did they stay with you
as a rule?" asked Attorney David.
"SOme stayed a short time and
some long time" she answered.
Some OF them 1 returned TO the
homes because J got a lot of girls
I didn't want. but the sisters asked
me to take them and try and do
something with them"
Witness said she got children from
the Home for Destitute Children in
Philadelphia, from Boston, and from
staten Island.
Mrs Greer said she sent to school
those she had promised an education.
Asked if she made a test to deter
mine whether others should Ge given
special training. she said:
Yes; l sent Lillian German to
school, but she simply would rot
learn, and here is her school report
to shO" it,"
The report was offered in evidence.
Girls Worked About Five Hours.
Asked how many hours a day the
girls in her home worked, Mrs. Greer
said:
The girls in my home were at
home They did not consider they
were working out. Any of them
could do all that was required OF
them in about five hours
1t has been claimed directly, or
indirectly, that you got these boys
and girls to work there. what about
that?" asked counsel.
Not entirely" Mrs. Greer eN-
planned. Il took the children to raise /
just as ] did my own. often the
sisters asked me to take Il boy or a !
girl when no one else would take !
them. Some of them have turned out |!
nicely. too"
Did you take these children t. !
work therc?" again asked counsel dj- !
reCtly.
Not to work them to death. but to |
work them like I did my own" sail /
Mrs Greer.
Mrs. Greer named several boys who ]
have been inmates of her bakery