Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-14
HANDSOME, BUT DEPRAvED
Florence Jordan, Lovely Nineteen-Y Year
Old Girl, Under Arrest.
She CoOlly Discusses Her Past Career
Charged With Bicycle Stealing.

A girl still in her teens whose handsome
face and figure have not yet begun to
show the effects Of the reckless life upon
which she has entered. reclined this after
noon in a careless attitude on the trundle
bed of a room In the woman's ward of the
first precinct station house.
Her splendid black eyes flashed merrily
at a group including a couple of officers
the ma tron, an angel of reformation in the
shape of another woman who has de-
voted herself to the succor and relief OF
her fallen sisters and Star reporter. She
ran her fingers over her auburn hair and
now and then smoothed her black crepe
dress over the tan-clad ankles that disap-
peared In russell shoes.
Her name is Florence Jordan, and she
lives near the corner of Sd and f streets
northeast, the second door from Coombs'
drug store, where devoted mother and
sister are suffering agony over her way
WardnesS and what II led to- She is nine
teen years DID, and her appearance at the
station today in the custody Of Detective
Sutton was the second she has made there.
This time she was charged with the theft
OF bicycle from Henry Thompson, a deal
er on 9th street near New York avenue
On the previous occasion she was found
wandering in the Division clad in q bicycle
suit. with her hair hanging down her back
and In half intoxicated state. She was
all VI oilt u TIE HOuSeS III Thai
locality at that time and 1t was thought
she was under sixteen years of age but in
qufry developed that she was older than
that and she was released with a repri-
mand. Both times she displayed care
less and wanton Indifference to her posi-
ton and the probable outcome of it.
CInims She Didn't Steal 1t.
The charge upon which Florence is held
at present Is stealing bicycle on Septem-
Der last. Dealer Thompson rented the
wheel to Florence that day, and as she did
not return it, notified the police Detective
Sutton was assigned to the case this morn
ing. and about 10 o'clock found the bicycle
at Norris saloon, 18th and r streets north
west. where the girl had left 1t, and an
hour later arrested her at Pennsylvania
avenue ana 1ith street.
Il didn't steal the bicycle" said Florence
to The Star reporter this afternoon. 81
hired 1t from Thompson, and that night
left 1t at Norris. The young man that
vas with me-ne said his name was Geo
Danning-promised TO return it to the 9th
street place for me. and 1 thought he had
done 1t. won't pay a cent for it,
When asked about her past experience
with the police Florence glibly related IL tc
the SIN allest details.
They put me in :his very ROOM" she
said gaily, and l just laid down on this
very bed and went sound TO sleep and en-.
Joyed pleasant Dreams too
No Signs Of DcIicacy.
Hers was evidently case of precociou.
depravity. steadily developed until wo
manhood was attained. There were nc
bushes. no trembling of eyelids, no hes
itating speech, no downcast glances. She
talked openly about herself, and freely
spoke of the men and boys with whom she
had associated.
She decl1red she had been engaged 10
become member Ct the "A Boy Wanted
company, and then said she lad intended
going to Hoboken today with a Young
Washingtonian. Mere of the old-timers in
police experiences who were present had
ever before met such a peculiar study as
Florence Jordan presented, ard there " as
an opinion that a medical commission
should examine TO her sanity.
When the interview was being closed
Florence said she wasn't alarmed about
the future. She had not stolen the bicy-
Gle and had not broken any law, and she
knew nothing could be done with her.
She created a great laugh by mentioning
a well-known young man who, she said.
would procure her release when he learned
of her arrest and incarceration.
If she .ells half much in the Police
Court as she did this afternoon in the sta
ton house. she will create an undeniably
great sensation.
Florence says she has been living recent.
ly at the Hotel Lawrence, where she 4.
registered under the name Of Macarthur.