Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-29
RIOT BEGUN BY
GIRLS QUELLED
by PATROLMEN
SMASH FURNITURE AT HOME
OF GOOD SHEPHERD
YOUNG WOMEN SING ON WAY TO
CITY JAIL
Fourteen Inmates of Institution, AL
Ieging Mistreatment, Become
Turbulent and StrenuousIy
Resist Arrest

A CTUATED by what they believed
n to be unjust and cruel treatment,
- fourteen girls of the Home of the
Good Shepherd broke out. in open re-
bellion at the home yesterday morning,
and before the incipient riot could be
queled doors were smashed, windows
broken and a hurry call was sent for
the police.
AS a result eleven of the leaders of
the revolt were taken to police head
quarters yesterday morning, and later
three more, who persisted in keeping
up the rebellion, were taken to police
headquarters. All were later removed
to the county Jail.
When the girls were brought to police
headquarters they presented dis
heVeled appearance, their dresses were
in many cases in ribbons and their
loosened hair fell in snarls about their
shoulders. The majority of the dis
turbers bore distinct marks of the
strenuous affair, with hands and faces
scratched, and one of the number, Bar
bara Crane, had a badly lacerated right
arm, which necessitated dressing in the
receiving hospital.
Enjoy Trip to Jail
The young rioters viewed the situa-
ton with hilarious pleasure and on the
way to the police station cheered and
sang and impressed the fact on passers-
by that something had been doing"
A great crowd followed the police
patrol to headquarters, and the noise
of the singing and dancing girls at
tracted such a crowd that it was neces-
sary to close the Jail doors while the
girls were being booked. They all
wanted to tell their story and all
wanted to do it at the same time, and
the babble that resulted nearly drove
the officers to desperation.
We're pinched and we're glad of it,
sang one of the girls, and the state
ment was greeted with a burst OF
cheers and laughter that made the pris-
oners in the tanks believe a wild west
circus was being enacted
Chief of Police Dismman did not APP
prove of the levity, and when some OF
the girls began to use language thai
would not look pretty in print he or
dered the corridors cleared, and the
jewellers were taken into Capt. Dixon
office.
| A consultation was held and it wal
decided the county jail instead of thu
detention home was the proper place
for the stubborn and refractory girls
Complain of Treatment
The story the leaders of the crowt
told at police headquarters was that
they were made to work too hard, Were
not given proper clothing, had poor
| food and but little of that, and that
some of the older girls had attempted
to chastise one of their number, and
they resented in force. They proudly
asserted that they had not come out
second best" in the fight, either,
Barbara, Crane, who received the
worst mauling in the fight and who, ii
| it said is the leader of the set, as soon
as she emerged from the receiving hos
pital gave out statement.
1--WE are out of that place, and |, FOR
one, will not go back unless 1 an
dragged back, and then the one who
tries that game will have to go some.
! A mingled burst of cheers from hei
comrades greeted the speech.
1--WE only demand our rights, and we
won't see one of our number picked on
will we girls?"
you betcher life!" was the response
unanimous response.
1--WE don't get half enough to eat We
have to flop on our knees and scruE
and iron most of the time, and we have
struck FOR the right of freedom. Ism
that right, girls?"
"Yu betcher lifel' was the response
again.
BY this time the patrol wagon was
ready, and marching two by two, sing
ing "There'll be a hot time in the old
town tonight" the girls were taken &c
the county Jail. They numerically Jol-
lied the officers as they left the sta
ton.
But the serious side of the story puts
an entirely different aspect on the mat
fer. In an interview the sister superior
of the home readily told the circum-
stances which caused the trouble.
She first told of the nature OF the
/ ir611Ct rial inGtit1l-
ton, where girls of all religious denolil-
nations are taken from reform schools
| Although a Catholic institution at pres
ent of the sixty inmates one-halt afe
ProtestantS.
Outside of a few voluntary cohlripu-
lions the institution is self supporting
which necessitates that the inmates
should do some work: In auultloIl ~
working in the laundry there is also
sewing class. The material OF the
clothing necessarily must be cheap, but
she explained that the clothing is al
WAYS neat and well mended and the
torn appearance of those who We're ar
rested was the result of the morn
ing fight.
Saws Girls Are Well Treated
She explained the financial resources
do not allow fancy food, but that there
is plenty of good substantial eatables.
The appearance of the girls bore out
this statement, for they appeared
strong and healthy. as the officers who
attempted to quell the disturbance will
testify. The sister superior said the
sisters work as we'll as the inmates
and the hours of work are not long.
Work begins at 1870 o'clock each morn
ling and two hours are allowed for
noon. The younger inmates then work
until g o'clock and none work after
o'clock in. the afternoon.
Two hours are allowed for recreation
at 7 20 O'Clock each night.
According to the sisters story, the
trouble arose during the recreation
neriod Thursday night. when a num-
her Of those who were arrested yes
terday cursed and used vulgar Ian
euaee to the sister in charge. Their
boisterous actions were stopped and all
sent to bed.
Yesterday morning, according to the
sister. the undercurrent of disturbance
was evident and it broke out when one
of the girls dared another to break a
window. The girl dared promptly put
a handkerchief about her hand and
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