The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-19
COURT FOR WOMEN
IMPERATIVE, SAYS
WOMAN LAWYER
Attorney for State Federation
Argues for Separate Po-
lice Tribunal.
NIGHT COURT A MENACE.
Habitual Offenders Pay Fines
and Suffer Less Than
the Innocent.
NIGHT COURT A MENACE.

Prominent women who have been
active for the uplifting OF their untor-
tunate or oppressed sisters and whose
work has brought them in cA,se contact
with the life and surroundings OF police
Investigating Committee to-day. Several
women probation officers We're also at
the hearing.
Among those who urged n separate
court for women were Mrs. William
Cummings Storey, Mrs. Rose Chapman.
Mrs. Gabrielle Stuart Mulliner, Miss
Alice Smith, Mrs Cornela X. Hood.
Mrs. NJ. Coe Stuart and Mrs. Philip
Moore.
Mrs, Mulliner, who is a lawyer. also
appeared as attorney and Chairman OF
the Legislative Committee of the New
York State Federation Of Womens
Clubs.
Women's Court Imperative.
She said tina. the establishment OF a
women's court is imperative Women
defendants should not be arraisned with
men, many of the latter depraved Grim
inals.
A separate room or court should also
be provided for the exclusive determlna-
tion OF domestic cases" she insisted
Women attendants should be employed.
Hospital treatment and sanitary as well
as moral surroundings should prevail
Mrs. Mulliner read letter from DR..
Mary b. Jewett, chairman OF the Com
mittee on Hygiene of the Womens
Prison Reform Society advocating fully
the attendance on women prisoners by
women officials.
III woman comes under the arm OF
the law she should be taught an honor
able occupation which will make her
self-supporting and prevent her becom-
ing a confirmed criminal said Mrs.
Mulliner. The witness added that the
woman's court In Boston is a success.
Primarily a woman Is woman"
said Mrs. Mulliner. and do not want
to appear sentimental. II woman is a
felon she should be treated as such, but
let that treatment be surrounded by the
best Of influences.
In this respect the Night Court is
a menace. don't want to preach.
but the Night Court does not deal with
the proposition. Women arrested on
the streets are admitted to bail the
same night to go forth and ply their
callins
Women arrested for drunkenness
should he taken to a place of deten-
ton, where they Could be taken care
Of by women, sobered up, counselled
and sent home.
Opposes Probation Practice.
Mrs. Mullner expressed her opposition
TO the present system Of allowing con-
riCted women OF the streets to go free
on probation.
Il would send such women to q home
where they would be under State sur
velance and taught a trade, making
them self-support!ng." said Mrs. Null
liner.
Miss Alice Smith, who has been a
probation officer for seven years, tes-
titled that It should he the duty OF the
probation officer to visit the homes OF
the prohatoners, especially in the case
OF young girls.
ne DptTdllUn VI tIlt W omen ) court
In Boston which ! have visited" said
Miss Smith, lis admirable. All women
prisoners or defendants are arraigned
In the same Women's Court. This con-
centrates the keeping of records and
centralizes effort Women prisoners
never minglc with men prisoners. and
the arresting officer Is always kept re-
mote from his prisoner, who, from the
hour after her detention, Is attended by
women officials
Mrs. Cornelia X. Hood, who was for
years connected with the Legal Aid
Society gave the Commission the bone
fl OF her experience and labors among
women In police courts-ei,he. as
plaintiffs or defendants. She said. after
advocating the creation of separate
court for women:
The court Is a woman's last resort.
II she is an abused wife. II Is to TIE
court she must go for protection. Bg;
that protection is, in too many cases,
sadly lacking.
She cannot under present conditions,
obtain absolute justice or even Cons,j-
Grafton. and she returns to a dishesr:-
enirg strUsrle HitI a bitter ~ ,l,ucA
facing her, or she taxes the other rem
edy-tha streets
IAN abused or abandoned wife is no.
a criminal, and why should she be
obliged to appear with criminals"