Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-28
Pearl Boyd's Life
A Journal Reporter Visits Her in
the County Jail,
Pearl Enjoys Being Incarcerated-She Is
an Item of Much Expense to the
Taxpayers.

For the past ten days the Marion
county Jail has contained an Inmate
in the person of Pearl Boyd, the
Gypsy girl, who is well-versed in
crime for one so young in years. She
is a study in herself and seems per-
fectly Indifferent to crime and the in
evitable punishment that follows
each criminal offense. When asked
as to her motive for committing the
otfenses, with which she is charged,
the girl with laugh, will reply that
she prefers to spend all her time
in jail.
Pearl made her debut in local police
circles on October 2S, when she sought
protection of the police from the fam
lily with which she had been living,
alleging that she had been abducted
from her eastern home while a child.
The story, which was told in a
straightforward way, elected consid-
erable sympathy for the girl and a
delegation of w. G. L. U. women, be-
ing convinced that the girl desired to
desert the itinerant life she had been
leading, for more useful future, de-
teTmined to provide for the girl suit
able home, iD the meantime not re-
Vealing her whereabouts for fear her
alleged relatives might regain posses
sion of her. Finally a comfortable
home was found for the girl with a
Portland family whence she was
taken, but wiGhin few weeks she
deserted her home and returned to the
people from whom she had run away.
In addition to the expense involved
in the proceedings related above, all
Of which was met by individual sub
scriptions by those interested in the
girl, Pearl has been an item of con-
siderable expense to the taxpayers Of
this county having appeared twice
Before court Of justice and as result
made two cost bills to be met by the
county. But there remains third
charge against the girl-that of the
larceny OF an umbrella which will add
to the expense thisyoung incorrigible
has already created against the
county.
On Christmas Eve a number of
articles OF clothing belonging to Ruth
GabrielSOn we're stolen from the First
Methodist church and suspicion was
fastened upon Pearl, who appeared
the following day attired in the miss
ing clothing. Her arrest followed,
entailing an expense of Sl4.50 TO the
county. She was detained few days
during which time an attempt was
made TO have the girl placed in the
Boys and Girls Aid Society at Port
land but this would cost the county
at least S25. Finally the parents Of
the girl promised TO leaye the city I'M
mediately upon the release of their
daughter. The request was complied
with but it develops that the family
did not leave the city at all. The ap-
pearance Of Pearl In police court on
Dec. 2S last, on this charge, cost the
county sl4.5O apportioned as follows:
5, l.. Hayden, So; Ed n. Edes, S7.20;
and A. c. Dilley, $3.50.
Nothing further was heard of the girl
until Sunday evening Jan. l6, when
she appeared upon the streets dressed
IN male attire. She was arrested by
Constable VAIN and on the following
DAY was taken before Justice II. A +.
Johnson and given l2i days for san
act contrary 10 public morals and
uecency," The cost 10 the county in
lhls case will amount TO sl2 or Sl5.