The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-27
BROKEN HOME LEADS YOUNG
 GIRL TO CELL
Religious Differences al Bottom of Her Trouble,
 Says Attractive Prisoner
Arrangement of Parents Leaves Her Without Suit able Place to Live, She 5 Declares = Three Girls Arrested.

7 Echoes of a broken home, with a blighted future for one of its mem- bers were heard when Judge Foster, in a session in chambers of the city IT years old Bertha Richardson, a corset shop operative, unusually at tractive, boarding at 210 Prospect street, who was taken into custody last evening on recommendation of Mrs. Margaret T. Burgess. the proba- Besides Bertha Richardson there were two other girls arraigned as in corrigibles, both taken into custody through the intervention of the pro- bation officer, Elsie Merritt, 15. 24 West Liberty street. and Kate Pat skey, IA, of ATS Gregory street. The last was committed to the Connecti- cut School for Girls at Middletown during the remainder of her minor ity, while the cases of the other girls were continued for further investiga- ton until Monday.
 Bertha Rfchardson's father and mother separated years ago in New Hampshire. Both were Catholics, but when tn, latter re-married, ac- cording to the story of the girl, she took a Protestant as her second hus- band. The girl was baptized in the ECathoHc church, and went to that church until she was about g. When three years ago she came to Bridge port to live, she attended the South Congregational church, but not regu- larly.
 Miss Harriet Russell, 751 Park avenue, who devotes considerable time to religious, and charitable work, was a witness in the case of the Richardson girl. She testified that she had investigated the case at the ed that the girl kept late hours. Mrs. Burgess also testified that she believes the girl needed restraint.
 The girl herself however, testified that she did not keep such late hours as were alleged, and she intimated that Miss Russell was active in the case because she did notSaccept her protestant religious preachings.
 The girl, being IT. is past the age of those who may be committed to the Industrial school. Prosecuting Attorney Delaney in response to Judge Fosters query as to what could be done with her, pointed out the statute permitting the commit ment Of incorrigible girls of that age to the Home of the Good Shepherd, a Catholic institution at Hartford.
 Judge Foster demurred. He said he was always careful to commit to that institution girls of Catholic faith, but he said he must be equally careful not to compel girls of other beliefs to go there. He asked De-
 
 ligion. The latter suggested that the judge himself should question the girl on the stand.
 My mother tells me I was bap- tized in the Catholic church, said the girl. She added that she had not attended the Catholic church lately. and when Judge Foster asked her which she would prefer a Catholic or Protestant institution, she expressed her preference for the Protestant establishment The Florence Chit tenden home was mentioned as a likely place.
 The girl added that she couldn't live with her father because of the way he talked of her mother, and she couldn't live with her mother, because she couldn't agree with her stepfather. She insisted that upon her conduct and said she was self supporting.
 After court adjourned the girls mother, who was not heard on the witness stand, appealed to Prosecu- tor Delaney to place the girl in her custody, declaring her arrest had re- suited because of the girls aversion to the doctrines advanced her by re- ligious workers.
 The Merritt girl, who attends the Prospect street school, was remand ed in custody of her mother until Monday that Principal Williams of the school may be on hand to testify.
 The Paisley girl who has absented and who is said to have become a fimiliar figure along the waterfront. was committed to the Industrial school