The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-01
TO PROTECT GIRLS
Legislation Suggested by
Ruth Wheeler Murder.
Coroner's Jury In New York Takes
Only Half an Hour to Find
Verdict-Indictment Is
Equally Speedy.

Albany. ~ ", March 31.-Legisla-
been presented by the murder of Ruth
Wheeler in New York is making its
appearance here.
Samuel Prina deputy commissioner
of licenses of New York city, and
Henry n. Steinert. attorney for the
commissioner, appeared before the
general laws committee and asked that
the Green bill amending the existing
employment agency law be further
amended with n view of more care
fully safeguarding the interests of
girls who have occasion to seek en-
ployment through the various schools
and business colleges which hold out
offers of employment in connection
with tuition courses.
The amendments bring such schools
and business colleges within the scope
of the employment agency law re-
quiring them to be licensed and pro
vide that no licensed person shall send
out any female applicant for employ
ment without making a reasonable
effort to investigate the character of
the employer
Senator Gledhill also introduced a
bill to meet this situation which reg
ulates the obtaining of employment
for girls in first and second class cit
les. This bill prohibits any person,
firm or corporation conducting an EN-
ployment agency, school, business col
lege or other institution TO suggest or
direct that any girl under the age of
eighteen years apply for employment
or to arrange for the employment of
any such girl until thorough inves-
dgation OF the character and reputa-
ton of the proposed employer has
been made by such person, firm OF
corporation unless the latter knows
the proposed employer to be reputa-
BILE.
The bill requires the filing by every
such person, firm or corporation with
the police department of daily re-
port of the name and address of ev-
cry such girl directed to seek en-
ployment and the name and address
of the prospective employer and the
name and address of every such girl
for whom employment has been ar
ranged and the name and address of
the employer. Violation Of any of
these provisions is made misde-
meanOr, punishable by a fine of not
more than 1000 or Imprisonment for
not more than one year or both.
New York, March 31.-Albert w.
Go tl
fifteen-year-Od Ruth Wheeler, was ar
raigned today before Judge Mulqueen
in general sessions. He pleaded not
guilty. and his trial was set down for
next month.
1t required only half an hour for tn,
coroner's jury to decide that Wolter
killed Ruth Wheeler and to hold him
for the grand jury. The grand jury
indicted him for murder in the first
degree in less than fifteen minutes.
Coroner's Physician Philip O'Hanlon
testified that Ruth Wheeler's death
was due TO asphyxiation, strangulation
and incineration. He explained that
she was first strangled until she wa
unconscious and then burned to death. !
W utNItIy u OI hutll.
said that the last time she saw her
sister alive was at their home last
Thursday. She told how she went TO
the police station on Saturday and
identified string of beads that Ruth
had worn when she left home.
Pearl Wheeler, the other sister, de
scribed her visit to VOTERS fiat. When
Ruth failed to return home on Thurs
day evening she got worried and went
TO the stenography school at Madison
avenue and Ftfty-eighth street. TIL,
superintendent told her that Ruth had
answered postal card signed "a
Wolter, secretary. 224 East Seventy
fifth street" and had gone to that ad |
dress to see WOlter.
Pearl Wheeler said that Katie Mul |
Ter opened the door for her when she
was shown TO VOTERS fiat. Katie !
Muller WAS told to stand up, and Miss
Wheeler identified her as the woman
who admitted her to the fiat. Woltel
came to the door and laughed at the
suggestion that Ruth was there. He
told Miss Wheeler he had not sent any
postal card TO the school.
Miss Wheeler told how she went to |
the police station and got policeman,
how they searched the fiat for Ruth |
and called her name loudly and how
WOlter and Katie Muller denied over
and over again that Ruth had been
there or that they had ever seen her.
1t was Pearl Wheeler who identified
Ruth's stickpin which was found In
the fireplace Of VOTERS apartment