Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-07-31
WOMEN RIOT In REFORM HOME.
Scores of Bedford Inmates ana Sew
eral Police Hurt III All Day
Battle.
COUNTRYSIDE IN A PANIC.
Discipline Cast Aside After Three
Escape: Shake-up in Management.

As a climax to twelve hours or un-
easincss and grumblng in which
three inmates escaped and others at
tackled guards the ITS prisoners In
the New York State Reformatory for
Women at Bedford overthrow every
semblance of discipline yesterday to
engage in a riot that has no dupll-
cato in the history of the States
prisons. Before the fighting was
stopped the headquarters Of the State
Coastabulary was in receipt of fran
tic appeal for help and police from
towns near Bedford were closing i'll
on the reservation.
Scores of women, both white and
colored were cut and burned and 9th
erwisc injured, a State trooper had
a finger bitten off, half a dozen POI
licemen were battered and scratched
ard the country side for miles around
was in q panic. 1t was feared that the
riut!ng women would escape and turn
their attacks OH one another to at
lacks on the residents.
The ljcts and the escapes We're de
clared by Miss Florence Jones new
superintendent Of the reformatory to
be the expected outcome Of sentiment
shown by the prisons board Of man
ayers In directing discipline. Just be
fore the fighting began Miss Jones
announced she was resigning her
post because she did not have free
hand in the administration Of her
duties. |,
LONE POLICEMAN BREAKS RIOT
When the situation became known
to DR.. Pearce Bailey, member Of the
board of managers, he made desperate
efforts to communicate with Gov. AL
fred e. Smith. The Governor was to
have visited the reformatory yester-
day, and it was DR.. Pearces intention
to have him ON the scene while the
fighting and hairpuling was in pro-
gress.
- Ono policeman, Thomas Wade, mem
her OF tho Bedford Police Department
was responsible for tho end OF the
biggest Of the riots. With n club
strapped to his hand he struck down
women who attacked him and spread
fear and respect for his uniform. His
coat was ripped from his back and he
had lodged dozen hot flat irons and
carving knives before his ASSISTANTS
were over powered.
A serious situation developed when
the ten troopers and two officers Of
the State Constabulary ready to
charge the fighting women, were
told to put down their sticks. A mem
Der Of the board Of managers gave
the order, following out the under
standing that Kindness should be
shown every inmate. Kindness could
not be administered from the end of
hickory sticks, he argued, and the
troopers tried to corral the prisoners
nnarmcd.
CONSTABULARY SCORNS |
PACIFISM
1t was here that Trooper James
Montgomery of White Plains was bit
ten. Others were bruised and scratch
ed, and finally it was reported
Sergt. Daniel Fabcr. who had led
slN Of the conStabulary up from
White Plains refused flatly to risk
the lives Of his men.
Let them protect themselves or
stop your own riot he was qHotod
as saying in effect :
The member Of tho board OF man
ayers refused to give permission ana
the constabulary drew away. !
Rumors that Miss Jones was about !,
to resign spread through the reform
atory as early as Friday night There
was growing uneasiness among both
the white and colored prisoners. Dur
ing the early hours of the morning
the inmates OF one Of the cottages were
thrown into an uproar by the escape
of three white women Anna Najelski ,
and Irene Miller, and another whono
name was not given.
The escapes led to comment and
i'll feeling among the colored employ
ed in the laundry. Soon after break
fast they began an argument in ,
which Mary Peters white prisoner
led the opposition force. !,
IRON MISSILE rs SIGNAL.
Women guards outside and inside
the laundry failed to realize what was !,
about to happen, bat were galvaniz-
ed to attention when red hot flat
iron hurled by colored womanI
through a window after knocking
Down two whites
The alarm whistles we're blowing !
in few minutes from one end Of tho
reservation to the other and the To-.
cal police were being called in.
In an instant the fighting mass of
aundresses was rolling across tho
grounds. Knives were flashing in tho
hands Of the colored element, and
the white women in spite Of the fact
that they outnumbered the colored
IL to 8, were being badly beaten.
Shouts OF pain and cries Of help
rose above the shouting Of guards,
and presently the women were be.
ing reinforced by those from other .
parts OF the reforrnatory. |,