Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26

After her appointment to a precinct the
success or failure Of a matron depends
largely on how she deports herself during
the three months she is on probation. Oc-
casionally there is a resignation before the
three months are up, or after a few years
Of service. Police matrous, especially the
widows, have been known to give up their
job to get married. Said ar official at
police headquarters:
'"The New York police department now
includes siXty-nine matrons, distributed
among thirty-five precincts and Bellevue
hospital, which has two all the time
guarding prisoners under observation in
the psycopathic ward. The number Of po-
lice matrons is regulated by the appropria-
ton allowed. and the present appropriation
permits of only seventy.
"In the Tenderloin district. which is the
busiest, perhaps, are three matrons. who
have eight-hour shifts. In most Of the
other precincts there are two matrons. In
1903, when a good many changes took place
In the department, twelve new matrons
were installed, but that was an exception.
the usual number taken on in any one
year since 1901 being from two to five.
The status of the police matron has
changed so much in a decade that the
old and the new type can hardly be com
pared. Greater proficiency is exactsd now,
and the rise in salary has encouraged
women Of good education and some execu-
tive ability to enter the field. The prospect
Of retirement at the end Of twenty years on
half pay is an inducement to some.
Once the matron was a nondescript
looking person because of her clothing,
which was made In any old style and of
any sort and color Of fabric. For the last
five years the police matrons when on
duty have worn a uniform corresponding
to that of a policeman, shield and all.
The winter uniform is of dark blue
heavy storm serge furnished by the de-
partment and comprises a perfectly plain
skirt and close fitting basque fastened
straight up the front with a single row Of
brass buttons. with this Is worn a plain
white standing collar and black apron.
The summer uniform is the same except
that a dark blue lawn shirtwaist plainly
made and with long sleeves may be sub
stituted for the serge basque
One of the best liked Of the police
matrons, a widow, stationed at one of the
busiest precincts, said that speaking merely
from what she herself had seen, she
thought there were more married than
single police matrons, and that the married
a III NSIS Nv SuCNCSoLhA DtCduSN
OF their larger experience.
Intuition" she said, rs one Of the
principal aids in dealing with women I'M
fortunates, and this is why a matron can
often find out more about one Of these in
five minutes than a policeman can discover
in a week. A dull witted woman lacking
tact and strong lntuitions can't do good
work as a police matron, no matter how
] qtrppu nj atblafIc she he She
keep her position, but the work will be
hard for her and she will probably have
to keep up with a good deal of fault find
ing from headquarters.
"All women and children arrested and
brought to the station house are put in
the matron's care as soon as they leave
the lieutenant's desk. Immediately one is
brought in. in fact, the matron is sent for
and goes through the form of searching
her before the lieutenant. If the woman is
arrested for larceny or attempted suicide a
closer search is afterward made in the
mstron's room, and this is one of the
times when physical stength and agility
count for a good deal.
las a precaution there Is generally a
policeman within call, and once, l remem-
Der, Il barely had time to give one yell
before the woman / was searching had me
by the throat trying to choke the life out
Of me. But that sort of thing doesn't hap
pen often, and it is not the most nerve
racking experience of a matron's life.
Keeping tab on women determined to
commit suicide is much more nerve wear
ing to my way of thinking and here is
where intuition helps most.
One night a woman was arrested for at
tempting suicide in the subway. She was
a Swede, young and good looking. 1 did not
reach the lieutenant's desk to take charge
of her until after all the facts were sub
mitted by the policeman who brought her
In. 1 knew nothing whatever about her at
tempt to commit suicide. But no sooner
had 1 looked in her eyes than l suspected
she would commit suicide, given the
chance, so l searched her with extra care,
finding nothing, though, which could be
used for this purpose.
II put the woman in a cell and turned
to other prisoners, uneasily going back in
less than five minutes to take a peep at
her. 1 was barely in time to cut her down
before she strangled to death in a halter
made OF a couple of pocket handkerchiefs.
l laid the woman on a cot and went for
remedies and when 1 got back she was
trying it again, with her shoestrings for
a rope. After that, OF course, she was sent
to Bellevue for observation.
I'm spite OF what the public may believe
moral suasion is the principal means every
conscientious matron takes and is ex-
pected to take to aid most Of the prisoners,
and a great deal of missionary work that
never gets into religious papers is done
by the police matrons. The police matron
OF today is not easily discouraged even
though she does find that perhaps 80 per
cent or SO OF the women pTt In her care
are morally obliQue and past help.
II spent considerable time one night rea-
soning and pleading with a handsome
young woman arrested for keeping a dis
orderly house. Why l asked, do you not
marry and nave a respectable home, or
else engage in a reputable business? With
your intelligence l told her. you could
make good in almost any business I pre-
fer the business l am in she answered
coolly. MY mother and my grandmother
followed it. and l consider it perfectly le-
climate
Il could do nothing with the girl, she alb
sOlutely refused to admit that she was do
ing anything wrong. And she was per-
fectly sincere. 1 believe.