Death of a 16 year old girl who was a resident at the Wayne County Training School

In an attempt to save her roommate Darphelia Cheeks of 2818 Beaubien St, Detroit, MI. from jumping through a window from a room in their cottage at the Wayne County Training School August 16, 1937. Viola Brandyberty of Twenty-third Street in Detroit, also 16 years old gave her life. Viola’s death according to Dr. A.M. Astimiter (questionable spelling) who performed a post-mortem at the facility believes the cause of death is from acute heart dilation caused by anesthesia. Twenty-five girls lived in the school cottage at the time of her death. A flower pot was thrown through a glass window, breaking it out of a door of the cottage Ms. Cheeks was attempting to jump through. Viola tried to stop her and that is when she was pushed sustaining a severe laceration to her right hand. She died while an anesthetic was being administered. E.H. Williams, Chairman of the institution has asked that an investigation be made by the prosecutor’s office into this case. The Northville Record, August 27, 1937, p. 1