1909_public laws_818_3
CHAPTER 817 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A REFORMATORY OR MANUAL- TRAINING SCHOOL FOR THE DETENTION AND REFOR- MATION OF THE CRIMINAL NEGRO YOUTH OF THE STATE. Whereas it appears to this General Assembly that there are in this State many negro youths between the ages of seven and four- teen years who violate the criminal law, and that while such youths should be detained and punished and taught the doctrines of religion, good morals and how to work, it would be to the best interest of such youths and expedient that they be not associated with older and more hardened criminals, but that they should be kept separate therefrom: The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
That the said trustees are empowered to purchase, at some suitable and convenient point in this State, not less than twenty-five acres nor more than five hundred acres of land, whereon to erect and operate a school] for the training and moral and industrial development of the criminally delinquent negro children of the State; and when such school shall have been organized the said trustees may in their discretion receive therein such delinquent and criminal children under the age of fourteen years as may be sent or committed thereto under any order or commitment by the judges of the Superior Courts or the recorders or other presiding officers of the city or criminal courts, and shall have the sole right and authority to keep, restrain and control them during their minority or until such time as they shall deem proper for their discharge, under such proper and humane rules and regulations as may be adopted by said trustees.