Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-26
MISS DRESSES
AS LAD FOR TRIP
TO FIND MOTHER
YOUNG GIRL IS ARRESTED IN
TROUSERS AND COAT
CLIPPED OFF HAIR IN ROOM AT
EAsTLAKE' PARK
Police Find Youngster and Take Her
to Station, and Father Later
Returns Her to
Home

Pining for the mother love that had
been denied her since she was years
old, pretty Ruth Merrill, Is years old,
a pupil at the Olive street high school,
cut her long tresses Of blonde halr,
donned masculine attire and started
out in the world last night to earn
money to pay her passage to Fair
banks, Alaska, where her mother lives
Her attempts to conceal her sex
were futile and her thoughts of earn
ing money to reach her mother rudely
shattered when she was taken to CEN
trail police headquarters last night by
Detectives Murray and Mccain, and
after hearing her plaintiVe story she
was held until the arrival of her ia
Their and taken to his home, 1915 West
Forty-ninth street.
That she had no young sisters or
brothers, that her father, who is traV-
cling agent for the CaSpar Lumber
company, did not treat her with proper
consideration and that for many
months she has longed to see her
mother, were the reasons she gave for
her actions. She said that when she
was years old her mother obtained
divorce from her father and later mar
ried a man named M. Maher, who is
interested in mining claims in Alaska.
Visits Far Apart
Twice only during the last ten years
she has seen her mother, although
they exchanged letters regularly, and
finally she decided to reach her moth
err, but the problem of obtaining money
was the stumbling block in her path
of desire.
She stated that her father would not
give her the money, and she dared not
ask him, for he would block her plans.
Remembering that when girl she Of
for, &c q how she determined TO
adopt the masculine role, as she said
boys could obtain work and more
money than girls"
Yesterday morning she started to
carry out the plans, and without arous-
ing suspicion prepared for school as
on every other day. She knew that
her father kept some money in the
house and when she had opportunity
took So from his purse.
Was Play Actor
Going to a costumers shop, she rent
ed a black suit of clothes on the pre-
text that she was to act as a boy in
a school drama.
After buying a black, soft SLOUGH hat
and boys outside shirt, she went to
Eastlake park In one of the Women's
dressing rooms at the park she cut her
hair short and dressed in the boys
clothes, putting her own wearing APP
parel in the pasteboard box that the
black suit had been kept in.
Yesterday afternoon she returned to
the downtown district and started look
ing for a room, intending to begin this
morning a search for employment. She
engaged a room at 14S North Main
street without causing suspicion as to
her sex. Last night she was seen and
recognized by schoolmate. Although
she stoutly denied her identity the
youth ,,Ofi6ad bpa d011 rfarc nd
Miss Merrill's trip to Alaska was post
poned indefinitely.
Was Strange Figure
The girl, who is slender and petite for
her age, presented 81 strange appear
ance as she sat in the detectives Office
and told her story. She wore the
SLOUGH hat well down over her head
to conceal her cropped head, and adj
mitted that she acted in haste and
made poor job of trimming her hair.
Although disappointed because her
plans miscarried, Ruth told her story
with frankness and admitted that she
was actuated solely by desire to be
with her mother.
when | was years old my mother
and father separated" said Ruth,
land since that time 1 have seen my
mother twice. Once 1 went to Alaska
and visited her and again 1 was with
her IN CdSpdT, A1euuOClilO COuAAtJ'
Mother has written to me several times
to come to her and I tried to get the
money but couldn't. When I was
little child father kept me dressed in
overalls and had my hair cut short,
and [ was often taken for boy,
which was the reason that prompted
me to play the part again.
Was Looking for a Job
"I knew that a young girl couldn't
make much money and that boy
could. 1 have driven horses many
times and always rode a bicycle, so
I thought 1 could get work as de-
livery or messenger boy. 1 am sorry
they found me out, for 1 have been
lonesome"
The girl dreaded the ordeal of meet
ing her father, but more the fact that
she would have to face her school
mates with her hair cut. She stated
that she would rather go to the deten-
ton home than to return to her father
A. B. Merrill, the father, was sur
prised person when he entered police
headquarters last night to report the
disappearance of his daughter and
learned that she was in custody. After
a short talk she agreed to accompany
him home and promised to give up the
plan of running away.