The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-01
The Necessity For
A Girls Reform School.


men brought before courts to face
charges of vagrancy and other worse
crimes. but IN Alabama a few days |
ago two pretty girls, younger than
twenty years, were arrested and
pleaded guilty to charges brought
against them and were sent to the
state lessees Of convicts. These young
women were q menace to the CON-
munity in which they were leading
their shameless lives and the citizens
there appeared before the county So
licitor and stated that unless some
thing was done by him they would
take the matter in their own hands.
The solicitor tells Of the case thusly:
These citizens. under my direction
and advice. preferred various prose
cutions, including one against the
Skinner girl for vagrancy, and three
against Sallie Long, one for concealed
weapon, one for adultery, and one
for vagrancy. The vagrancy charge
against the Skinner girl was really
based upon the charge and fact that
she was dissolute character, rowing
around the country with bad men and
boys, and having no homes. means of
support The vagrancy charge against
the Long girl was based upon a SINH
lar but probably worse state Of facts.
These people assured me that condi-
tions in their community resulting
largely, IL not altogether, from the
conduct and habits of these girls, were
not longer beara5le, and that, as law
abiding citizens. they called for pro.
lection on the courts, rather than the
pursuit of the only other course open
to them, taking the law in their own
hands.
I shall not soon forget. the appear.
ance in court OF that pretty country
girl, in short dress, with attractive
form and features, and at the early
age Of is, apparently friendless. de.
serted. Indeed, those she considers
her friends are her worst enemies.
| In like manner. with considerable
difficulty and delay, the girl Sallie
Long was arrested and placed in Jail.
Before she appeared in court, I con-
ferred freely and frankly with both
her and her mother, who came to see
me in her behalf. At her request, she
was brought before the court and
there plead guilty to carrying con.
cealed pistol, and to adultery and was
fined in each case. and on failing to
pay or secure the fines, was sentenced
to about nine months at hard labor
for the county. where she now is.
She claimed to be about II years old,
and has been married, and has aban-
doned her husband
1t Is reported that both of. these
girls are mothers. and this is certain
" true Of Sallie Long. 1 can state
that the conduct of these girls, es.
pecdally that Of Sallie Long. was of
such character that the details Of it
could not be, with propriety, pub
lished, or even recited in this letter.
suf11ce it to say their continued con.
duct. as reliably reported, and in a
community where neither Of them
lived, was a constant menace to the
peace and morals of the whole com.
munity. l agree that hard labor for
girls OF this age Is repulsive, but in
these cases, think 1t is a protection
to them, and I know it is a much de-
sired protection to the community
from which they come
Such a condition as women serving
In the convict camps Of the south is
painful to everyone, but In a case of
this character nothing else could be
Idone. Women who are corrupting the
morals Of community cannot be toll.
Grated. for the many must not suffer
on account Of the few.
But the convict camps or the pen!.
Tertiary is not the place for women
The environments there would only
add to their downfall. A state re
formatory for girls should be an n
sutution in every state If such g
place OF detention were available and
these two young women In question
could spend six months there, more
than likely after that time they could
be brought to realize that the future
could be brighter for them. The
penitentiary will have the opposite Of
feet and no doubt after their sen
fences are serevd. their character viii
not be improved.
> A reformatory for girls properly
conducted by the state would be e
blessing to humanity. Many OF the
fallen women of the cities would seel
such place Of refuge If 1t were oper
for them. The principal reason the
red light" districts are allowed tt
continue is for lack OF a place t.
send the women when convicted.
! An Institution OF this kind, no ma.
ter under what name, where womer
convicted Of crime could be sen,
apart from the regular state prisons
is one of the most desirable fnstitu
tons we know Of
II you break your good resolution!
' before the week is passed. why jus
!. make some new ones and try again.
q A brand new year in Florida. bu
the same old kind Of sunny days ani
olea SAINT nights The new wear ma,