Evening star., 1937-09-29
TRAINING SCHOOL
RIOT PROBE BEGUN
5 Girls Held for Investigation
Following 90 Minute
Battle With Police.

DR.. Carrie Weaver Smith, super
intendent of the National Training
School for Girls, today was investi-
eating riot that broke out at the
Conduit road institution during her
absence yesterday afternoon. The
outbreak was the second to occur
there IN recent months.
Five colored girls were locked up as
result Of yesterdays riot, three OF
them being held in detention cells
at the school and two at the Woman's
Bureau. DR.. Smith said she would
not determine what punishment to
mete out to them until she COM
pleted her inquiry.
The girls removed to the Woman s
Bureau were booked as Annie Marie
White, Is. and Virginia Carter, II,
both colored.
About 20 colored inmates of the
school Joined in the riotine and we're
subdued only after they had fought
police and school oficials for nearly
IN hour and half The riot began
when the girls threw bowls OF hot
soup at attendants and smashed win
dows. They attacked policemen with
bricks and stones after a riot squad
had been sent to the scene
At the height OF the disturbance a
false fire alarm was sounded. send
ing several fire companies TO the
school.
Long Tradition of Riots.
DR.. Smith. superintendent, blamed
the trouble on objection by the girls
to supervision by white teachers The
place, she said. has long tradition
Of riots" She explained that she has
tried new methods of handling the
girls. but that matters have been diff
ficult because some of the girls are n
bit feebleminded besides being incor-
rigible.''
The rioting started after the girls
had marched into the lunch room
for their midday meal Heaps OF
food and broken dishes Uttered the
floor when police arrived.
In the turmoil and confusion many
of the girls broke away from attend
ants and ran into the grounds of
the school on Conduit road near the
District line. AS they ran out of the
building one OF them threw a stone
through the window OF DR.. Smiths
Office.
DR.. Smith told firemen they we're
not needed when they arrived in re-
sponse to the alarm. believed to have
been sounded by one of the rioting
inmates. She asked Capt ]. z. Bow
ers OF the seventh precinct TO have
the members OF the police riot squad
stand by. however, until the girls
returned to their dormitories.
Police Were PeIted.
As the police took their positions
in the grounds they were pelted with
bricks and stones. while girls in the
buildings leaned from the windows
screaming abuse.
Woman attendapts pointed out girls
who they said were leaders in the
rioting. Two then were taken TO
the police station and four others
locked up at school. After the ring
leaders had been removed the other
girls. who had been running around
the officers shouting taunts and in
suits. returned to their dormitories.
AS police were taking the two strug-
Cling girls to the patrol wagon others
crowded the windows screaming.
As a semblance OF order was re-
stored all but two OF the policemen
were removed from the scene.
DR.. Smith explained that condi-
tions at the institution have not been
normal in recent months because
OF the presence Of colored male work.
ers engaged in constructing some new
cottages.
The trouble, although not manifest
until dinner time. really had its in
ception. 1t was believed. in a sewing
class room when girls were dismissed
and ordered back to their cottages.