The Washington times., 1922-06-08
SIX DWELL
in A|RLESS
BEDROOMS
Screams Of Agony Reach
Neighbors, Reporter Is Told.
Investigation Continued.

Six child wards of the Board
of Children's Guardians. it was
revealed today, are living-in a
manner of speaking-in airless
bedrooms in the northeast section
of the city.
The Board of Guardians is said
to know, by personal visits. Of
the condition of this Boarding
home" -
'.... Cruelty Is Charged.
The board is said to have sent six
small children to this particular
home to be given the benefits OF
"home atmosphere" in preference TO
the advantages Of open air and good
food at the Wisconsin Avenue In
dustria1 Home School, which the
board Is depopulating of its children,
sending them into such homes" as
these.
Cruelty and malnutrition is
man and his wife, who are keeping
the children.
"She, beats them frequently" said
q neighbor, speaking of the woman's
treatment of the children. Last
Friday night, about 1890 o'clock, !
could hear their horrible sobbing.
She kept on beating them for fifteen
minutes. / know this, because l
held my watch and noted the time.
Two Have Disappeared.
1.-The children began coming there
shortly after we made our home
here-about three years ago. Since
then, two children have disappeared,
and no one seems to know what hal
become of them.
Zone of the smaller children was
weak and pale, but picked up wonder
fully when we began to give l. milk.
AT meal time-or what they call
meal time-I have seen them come In
and out with a slice Of bread, spread
with peanut butter. They never
complain, for they are constantly
threatened"
Jennie E. Doolittle, an investigator
from the Board of Children's Guar
dams, and the Rev. DR.. Kerby, OF
the Board of Charities, made an in
vestigation of the home a few days
ago.
A reported also visited the place.
and a glance into the front rooms of
the home" through the Inwashed
windows showed only tawdriness and
general delapidauon. The windows
on the sides of the home, which
should have opened on the rooms
where the children slept, were COW
cred with faded imitation stained
glass and apparently had been closed
for a long time.
House Generally Run Down.
The house generally was in a run.
down condition, and so were the chill
dren.
The subcommittee of tho Board of
Charities, headed by Mrs. Whitman
Cross, which is investigating the
complaints made in the controversy
over the Industrial Home School, to-
day is visiting several horhes in Vri-
ginia, where wards of the Board Of
Children's Guardians are being kept.
Numerous complaints have been
received by John Joy Edison, of the
charity board. When the board met
yesterday reports on a number on
placement homes were made by
the subcommittee, but additional
complaints made II necessary for the
board to continue its inquiry.
1t was said today that this sub
committee, in its visit TO several
homes the early part of this week,
had made criticisms in several in
stances.
Board To Frame Report.
The board will meet either Satur-
day of Monday to hear the report
of the subcommittee. At this time
the board will frame a repor: and
forward 1t to the Comnlis sioners.
1t is expected the ooard will urge
that the Industrial Home be con-
tinued in operation lfter July 1.
The board probably will point out
that 1t Is necessary to keep up this
home to care for children temper
arily, while good homes are being
found for them.