New-York tribune., 1912-02-20
WOMEN HOLD OWN COURT
Many a Laugh and Lesson, Too,
in Forum Play.
MISS BOSWELL. PRISONER
Mrs. Yawger Arrests Her on
Charge of Stealing Milk
All Ends Happily

Miss Helen Varick Boswell president of
the Woman's Forum, was arrested and
taken to court yesterday. Mrs. John Fran
els Yawger. Policewoman, made the arrest.
The charge was stealing a bottle OF milk.
Many of Miss Boswells friends witnessed
the trial. but they didn't feel badly about
her getting into the clutches of the law,
because Of the fact that It was only play.
It was the first appearance Of the Forum
FolIies. and Miss Boswell herself wrote the
playlet, which was a skit upon the Chill
dren's Court, and was called THE Incor
rigible." Miss Boswell, the Bad Girl. in
an abbreviated calico frock, very ragged
stockings and an old straw hat. was
dragged into the impromptu court on the
stage Of the Berkeley Theatre protesting
at the top Of her voice.
But PoIlcewoman Yawger Cwho looked an
officer to the life, for she wore the reguIa-
ton uniform. all except the-well. what her
short blue skirt took the place OF; and as
IN physical requirements, she wouldn't have
C. bit Of trouble passing the examination)-'
PolIcewoman Yawger knew her duty.
| With the Bad Girls left ear in her right
| hand and tie Bad Girls Little Sisters right
ear IN her left han6-Iittle Sister was
| Mrs. Austin y. Palmer, who is considerably
| larger than Miss Boswell-the oihcer told
the iudge--Mrs. Florence L. Fletcher. VINO
wore a college girls black gown that was
extremely becoming 10 her blond hair-What
a pestiferous child the Bad Girl was.
! The Bad Girl. however. had her defence
| Society was in court in the persons Of the
| LADY from the Milk League and the
Weights and Measures Lady-Mrs. Ed
ward W. Hooke and Mrs Emma II. Noyes
With one hand pointing at the Lady from
| the Milk League and the Weights and
Measures Lady and the other at the in
| fnitesimal bottle Of milk produced as evil
dence by Policewoman Yanger' the BAD
! Girl cried
Them fine ladies made me do 1T
How dare you say we made you steal?
they cried
"They did. Judge" squealed the Bad
| Girl. you" noddlng at the Lady from
the Milk League, "comed down a-tellin' US
how II we drinked tn loose milk that the
grocer seIIed we'd he sick an break out.
an l don't want Little Sister to break
! out we's got troubles enough 'thout that
| So stealed a bottle of milk. Yes, Judge.
| an I steal other things. That lady.
nodding at the Weights and Measures
Lady. "she telled how tn store men
robbed us. so stoled enough TO make up
fr what tn store men stoled from me.
| See?"
This tale from the Bad Girl. coupled
with her pathetic story OF hor mother s
death and her fathers elopement with
another lady" and her attempt TO give
Little Sister" an education which was
foiled because there wasn't even half
time seat for her in school. so impressed
the Lady from the MIX League and tho
Weights and Measures Lady that they
| told the Judge that they saw they hadn't
gone the right way to work TO help the
! poor.
There is another way OF bringing about
reform" Judge Fletcher admonished The
Lady from the MIX League and the
Weights and Measures Lady.
Sure there Is" squealed the Bad Girl,
whipping out a votes for women flag.
"Oh, / knows what suffrage Is The suf-
frage ladies pays me TO whoop for 'em at
street meetin's."
And then the Probation Oflcer-Miss
Susan G. Haskins came and took the
| Bad Girl and Little Sister away to live
| happily with her ever after.
The play wasn't the only thing on the