Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-19
MORE NATIONS WANTED
Effort to Secure Additional Force at the
Police Stations
Congress to Re Asked for an Appro-
priation-Care Of Cranks and
Demented Women.

1t is probable that an effort will be made
by the authorities to have Congress pro-
vide a number of additional matrons for
the police department At present there
are only three for the nine precincts. and
experience has shown the officers that this
number is entirely too small. Two of the
three matrons are stationed at the first pre-
einct, while the third one is at the sixth.
While many women are arrested in these
precincts, there are others in which ma
irons could render the officers much valu-
able assistance. The one matron in the
sixth precinct cannot do justice to her posi-
ton, for the reason that at times her serv-
ices are required for two or three days, in
succession.
1t is not only the searching and caring
for female criminals that the matrons have
to do but they are intrusted with the more
important work of handling hayward girls
and caring for women whose minds are at
fected. Many of both classes frequently
get into the hands of the police, and IT is
no easy task to properly care for them. A
number of women cranks come here each
year to have the President or Congress
right some imaginary wrong. and these I'M
fortunates have to be cared for and enter
tanned until they are restored to their
friends.
Labor Under Decisions.
While most of the cranks of the other sex
call at the White House and land at the
first precinct, it is believed a majority of
the women labor under the telusion that
they would better keep close to the house
where Congress meets. Some of these are
made to believe that the police station is
hotel, and they are satisfied to remain but
others cause trouble. The women who call
at the Capitol and get arrested usually find
temporary quarters at the sixth precinct
one well-dressed woman, arrested recent
i needed MT
the west She imagined she was under a
spell of some kind, and she was of the
opinion the United States Supreme Court
could right her wrongs and restore her
health. Money, she thought. was neces-
sary, and from time to time she deposited
amounts with an express company to be
forwarded to the court. Because of an
Understanding with the woman's husband
the money was accepted at the express
office and afterward turned over to the
husband. When the woman had deposited
$1,000 in this way she came to see the
justices of the court.
Il followed the crowd to the Capitol" she
remarked. land found the court
Another woman possessed of wealth had
widows fund" Her object she said was
TO Keep lay quiet. When her efforts
failed she came to the President.
u want Congress to pass a law to pre-
vent the throwing of dead dogs and cats
IN my yard, was the statement of Penn
sylvania woman. She believed that cats
We're also thrown in the city's water sup
ply In order to have the people of the city
turn TO cats. This woman had to be kept
several days. and she caused the matron
some annoyance.
Haunted by Evil Spirits.
a woman from Russia came to the city
TO call on the President. Evil spirits had
haunted her, and she feared her money
would be taken. The object of a call at
the Capitol on part of a Massachusetts wo-
man was to have her drinking capacity in
creased Several women with suicidal or
homlcldal manias were cared for by the
matrons last year. Some of them were
violent, and the matrons' lives were con-
stantly in danger. Many troublesome and
dangerous cases are cited by the matrons
IL Is stated that there fewer matrons
connected with the local department than
lnere are with the departments of many of
the other cities of prominence,