The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-18
HOW A WOMAN
TAILOR SUCCEEDS
Nine. Porchet Rules Swiss Pris-
on With Womanly Genius
SHE Is SIX FEET TALL
And Can Carry Fighting burglars to
Their Cells, But That Is Not Her
Only Claim ON Recognition.
None Ever Escaped
SHE Is SIX FEET TALL


From the Kansas City Star.
What more could the most ardent suf-
fragette desire than to control the liber-
ties of scores of mere men? That is the
privilege of Nine. Jenny Porchet, the
only official woman jailer in the world.
Her prison lies in the pretty town of
Aigle, with a population of four thou
sand. in the valley of the Rhone in Swift
erland. 1t forms part of an imposing
range of castellated buildings, the most
conspicuous erection in that region.
Thirty years ago Mime. Porchet married
the chief warder of the Aigle prison.
When her husband became i'll she acted
in his place without the local authorities
being aware of the fact, though she hid
nothing and thought little of the matter
or the work. Then, after three years ILL.,
ness, Porchet died and the place of chief
warder becoming vacant, applications
were invited. Several men applied for the
post, which is fairly well paid, and many
of them had excellent credentials. Mme.
Porchet. however, presented herself be-
fore the local commission, explained that
in the three years illness of her husband
she had carried on his duties SO as not
to lose the place, had introduced several
minor reforms, which had strengthened
discipline and at the same time made the
prisoners more contented. She concluded
that she could carry on the same Nbrk If
the commission would appoint her.
IT know it is an unusual request
make for woman to rule men prisoners
and keep them in order. but I am not
Enlightened of a man or half dozen of
Them
This statement brought smiles and mods
of approval from the members Of the
commission, for Nine. Porceht is veri-
table Amazon, nearly six feet tall, pow
erfully built and in the prime of health.
Her face shows a character as strong as
her frame, with powerful square jaws,
large mouth and piercing but kindly eyes.
But No One Tried
Gentlemen" she continued, you may
still think that if l were attacked by a
prisoner 1 would be helpless. Will you
kindly ask the heaviest gendarme on the
premises to step here SO that can DEM
onstrate to you what | could and would
w Will d HAL WIN Qdl gu " dlldCh
The smiles of the members of the
commission developed into laughter Nine.
Porchet's stern features also relaxed and
she added in lower tone, with her eyes
twinkling, 'Of course, If one of the gen.
tlemen present would like to test my
strength"-a roar of laughter, however,
cut short the sentence, and Mrs. Porchet
had practically won her case.
The president asked Nine. Porchet to
re o,,1 h.
sidered the matter for quarter of an
hour she was informed that 1t was unan-
imousy agreed to give her a years trial,
and If she gave satisfaction the post
would be a permanent one. The president
added that the appointment was an UNI
usual one, and that frequent inquiries
would be necessary the first year.
There was a touch of the feminine in
the result. for this strong woman had
tears in her eyes when she heard the
verdict.
Gentlemen, l thank you and am sure
that l will give you every satisfaction. |
did not want to appeal to your sympathes
as l have seven children to bring up and
the loss of the position would have meant
much to them and me-"
Indignation burst upon the commits
sion when it became known that a woman
jailer had been appointed at Aigle. Many
month and that the post would be again
vacant shortly. The prophets did not
know Nine. Porchet nor her character.
She rules the Aigle prison today, and it
is regarded as pattern by all the prison
administrators in Switzerland. particular
ly because from several prisons, during
the last three years-for example, the
Thornberg prison, In the Canton of Berne
escapes of prisoners have been so fire.
n1lpnf 10
used the subject for laughter making.
None Has Ever Escaped
All the year round the Aigle prison con-
tains good complement of men prison.
ers, sentenced to terms of Imprisonment
varying from six months to three years.
The woman jailer often has no man at
hand on the premises to help her in the
case of an attack by the prisoners. for
her only immediate assistants frequently.
are woman cook and woman who
cleans the so cells. These on pain of i'm
mediate dismissal are prohibited from
saying word to- the prisoners under
any circumstances.
Nine. Porchet, though threatened sew
eral times by her guests" as she always
calls the prisoners, has only been at
tackled twice. The first time the offender
was an italian, who tore her dress. but
she slung him around her waist and
On the second occasion, however. II
was more serious matter A powerful
burglar attempted to strangle her in or
der to escape with all the prisoners. Aft
err long fight the only woman TALLER
in the world" though badly injured, car
ried her heavy opponent to his cell and
dropped him on the floor. The burglar
was ten days in bed, while Nine Por-
Chef, who was replaced by several gen.
darmes, recovered after two days, when
she sent the gendarmes away
But 1t is not by strength alone that
she rules in Aigle. Because of her steady
discipline, justice, common sense, good
advice and perhaps. above all, her kind
ness of heart, Nine. Porchet is TODAY
held to be a model for governors OF
Swiss prisons. She has reformed by
her kindly care and advice, many Grim
inals who are now living honestly They
look upon her as a friend and sometimes
visit her, to find a cordial welcome in
their former jail.
Gowns for Old Ladies'
F rom Harper's Bazaar.