Evening star., 1941-04-23
Industrial Home Riot
Is Investigated by
Welfare Officials
Superintendent Soid He
Warmed Bondy z Weeks
Ago Trouble Wos Brewing

Investigating a riot last night at
the Industrial Home School, 2400
block of Wisconsin avenue NV, Di-
rector of Public Welfare Robert E.
Bondy today held a conference
with Home Supt. Earle w. Cassie
and other officials after a personal
inspection of wrecked furniture and
broken windows and screens at the
institution.
Capt. Clarence Talley of the
seventh police precinct. whose Of
ficers quelled the disturbance after
arresting II youths and sending one
to Gallinger Hospital, was also in
vestigating.
Cassie Brings Attorney.
Mr.. Cassie brought his attorney,
John D. Sadler, to the conference,
which was held in the squad room
of the seventh precinct. Others
present were Assistant Director of
Public Welfare Conrad Van Hyning
and A. j. Driscoll, member of the
Board of Public Welfare, who hur-
ried to the riot scene last night.
Commissioner John Russell Young
commented 10 reporters that IT, DID
not appear that anything was
seriously wrong" at the institution.
He said he believed the youths had
been given good food and accommo-
dationS and he had no reason to
believe any had been mistreated.
He took the occasion to urge
creation of a combined institution
for this and other welfare agencies
on a large suburban tract.
When the conference recessed at
noon, Mr.. Driscoll announced that
six of the boys had been ordered re-
turned from the receiving home to
the school. He said the investigators
would probably question some OF the
youths this afternoon.
Mr.. Bondy said he had no COM
ment to make until after he had
studied the problem, and Mr.. Cassie
said he was given similar instruc-
tionS
Mr.. Cassie said, however, that
trouble broke out after boy left
without permission cafeteria dance
floor. where about % young men and
IS girl inmates of the institution
were enjoying themselves. Mr.. Cas-
sic called the youth to his office, and
after some argument, the boy be-
came tractable, he said.
Scented" Riot.
"Just at that moment another
boy, who had been ringleader in
restlessness brewing for several
weeks, bounced my Office door open
with such violence that he fell fiat
on his face on the floor" the super
intendent said.
"I scented a riot Immediately, but
said to the intruder that I supposed
the supervisor had sent him for the
boy and that he should take him
away, since l was through with him.
"I Immediately began trying to get
the police and called in an expert
enced attendant to help out two in
experienced men on duty. heard
chairs begin to break in the dance
hall, and when I came in, the girls
were huddled at one end, looking
scared. 1 told the ringleader to take
the boys on upstairs-not letting
him know I considered him to be re-
Sponsible for the riot--and soon
heard the breaking of glass and hol-
lering up there.
Two Police Came.
Two policemen then came and,
after saying they wanted to wait for
two more. went on up and began
stopping the disturbance.
Mr.. Cassie declared that two of
the IL youths taken into custody
and transported to the Receiving
Home were boys that 1 thought had
been helping me-"
In a letter sent to Mr.. Bondy
about two weeks ago Mr.. Cassie said
he declared that "a critical situation
exists" He reported at that time
that "if some relief is not found
shortly, doubt if we can continue
to function, and certainly not with
out grave danger Of a crisis which
will result in much embarrassment
to this department. Mr.. Cassie
would not outline what the specific
dangers have been, but told reporters
totday that the fundamental diff
Guilty is the age Of the institution,
constructed in 1872, and the fact
that the city has grown around it so
that it Is continual excitement and
stimulus to the inmates-"with
movie house across the street and
the bright lights of automobiles
rushing up and down the avenue
He said the very hilly topography
of the school site makes it difficult
for the small staff to keep an eye
on all the boys without using con-
siderable repression. At this time,
he said, there were about 100 boys
and 81 girls at the institution.
II don't care how many superin-
tendents you have here, there are
forces that will push any of them
irtn an ur1terzhle DOgition.s he said,