Evening star., 1937-06-25
GIRLS HOME HEAD
|SQU|zzED ON RIOT.
Dr.. Smith Explains Liberties
Allowed at Training
School in Trial.
BACKGROUND

OAI n honoCND-
Once called hell hole" bv SEN
0tor Copeland, National Training
School for Girls long has been oper-
croDded, population currently be-
tng held do1Dn pending construction
OF neD cottages. Main building once
had cells, but these ,Dere remoped
Dithin past te,p years.
Mrs. Roosevelt visited school last
gear, had inmates to tea at White
House.
DR.. Carrie Weaver Smith superin-
tendent OF the National Training
Schol for Girls, was summoned to
Police Court today to explain liberties
allowed inmates at the institution,
where police were called to quell q
riot last night.
DR.. Smith was sent for after Judge
John P. Mcmahon halted the trial of
Agnes Thomas, colored IT, who was
arrested at the Training School on an
intoxication charge. He was told the
girl had been allowed to leave the
institution alone yesterday and was
intoxicated when she returned.
After comforting with DR.. Smith and
Miss E. M. Koehler, parole supervisor
at the training school, Judge Mcmahon
said he was satisfied the Thomas girl
had left the institution on a legitimate
errand. He does not intend to probe
circumstances surrounding the riot,
Judge Mcmahon added He said he
will pass on the Thomas girls case
tomorrow.
Miss Koehler told Judge Mcmahon
1t is the policy at the training school
to allow girls who have been behaving
to leave the institution alone during
the day to search for employment
They are required to return in the
evening.
Eight Arrested.
Eight girls were taken into custody
at the school in the riot that devel-
oped when police we're called to arrest
the Thomas girl on an intoXication
charge after white and colored prison.
erS started to fight.
The riot started, according to Dr.
Smith, when two colored girls and a
white girl started an argument in the
Office over the outcome of the Louis
Rraddock heavyweight championship
hght.
The dispute spread among a score
Of girls who were playing croquet on
the lawn in front of the Office, and
police we're summoned.
Maliets, Flower Pots.
Officers John Burke, J. A. Wheeler
and r. w. Davis. all of the seventh
precinct, plunged into the melee.
Wheeler lodged a flower pot, which
crashed into the side Of a scout car
and a second later was stunned by q
blow from a croquet mallet. Burke's
shirt was torn. Davis turned in a riot
call. Three scout cars and reserves
Erom the seventh precinct responded.
DR.. Smith. after order was restored
Issued prepared statement, which
Said.
"The disturbance at the National
2ldlIlIS oCnOOl lot SflrS on tne
night of June "a was in the nature
Of race friction. Such occurrences,
unfortunately, have not been uncom-
mon In institutions all over the coun-
bry, and indicate that there is no
problem in America more urgent than
understanding and sympathy between
the two races, white and colored.
Fortunately, no property was destroyed
and no one was injured"
Place Called Hell Hole"
DR.. Smith was in a downtown mo-
tion picture theater when the riot
started. She said today that she has
not yet obtained complete report
on the fracas.
Fifteen employees Of the institution
were on duty when the trouble started.
DR.. Smith said. They summoned
police when the situation got beyond
their control.
When the riot started last night, "a
eolored girls and seven white girls were
held at the institution DR.. Smith said
10 OF the colored prisoners took no
part in the battle.