Imperial Valley press., 1913-06-19
WORST BAD GIRL" GIVEN
NEW CHANCE TO REFORM

SACRAMENTO, June 19.-This is
the story of how sixty "bad" girls
confined in Whittier reform school in
Southern California saved the worst
mcorriSible i'll the state," as Ruth
--------- is regarded by the officials
of practically every corrective institu-
ton from San Diego to Siskiyou, from
the penitentiary after most of the
good people of the state had given
her up as hopeless proposition.
Strikingly beautiful, 20 years old.
and with more than average intell-
gence, Ruth came within the shadow
of the penitentiary a few days ago
when she was confined in the Los Ang-
eles county jail after she had for
nine years defied the authorities Of
every private and public refOrmalory in
California.
Her fate rested between two alter
natives-San Quentin. or return for one
more trial at Whittier, from which she
had been taken to jail after attempting
to set fire to the school and leading
a rebellion Of the girl inmates.
superintendent Fred C. Nelles Of
Whittier who told the store here. de
termined to let the sixty girls at the
reformatOry decide which path it
should be for Ruth.
Bring her back here" they voted
unanimously. Wen give her another
chance. even if she has been a disturb
ing and demOralizing influence among
US.
Confronting one of those tragedies
place are not unfamiliar, they pleaded
without hesitation that the worst bad
girl be allowed one more opportunity
TO make good.
She'll do better-weU help her,
tney volunteered.
Then Superintendent Nelles went to
the county jail to see if Ruth wanted
to take the chance her former COM
panions We're holding out for her.
Eyes, I'm willing to give up now, y
she told Nelles. But, oh how it hurts
to surrender" she added quickly, he"
handsome dark eyes flashing.
Nine years ago, when they first
sent me to corrective school. | made
a vow that | would fight them all to
my last breath; that | would get The
best Of these reformers whom |
thought fakes and hypocrites. And
I've kept my VOW pretty we'll haven't
I?'-This with a smile for the con-
quest of her wits and the vigOr of
her rebellion against restraint.
''Even with the penitentiary staring
her in the face" explained Nelles,
this queen Of the incOrrigibles hesi-
tated between a cell and stripes and
taking the bitter dose Of defeat as
she viewed the sincere promise to be
good and return to Whittier. The
fight to decide there in the county
Jail wSs a pitifuf thing to see. 1t
snook her to the depths Of her ma
ture.
During half her young life she had
fought institutions, one after another,
as a game, pitting her wildneSS, her
hatred and her cunning against the
officials. And always she had won out.
But the penitentiary was different.
That sobered her.
"She is a remarkable girl. | have
never lost faith in her, and the girls
are willing to give her another trial.
We're going to bring her back.
Possessed of dangerous beauty
2uth's method of attack upon the olli-
Cials of the institutions where she was
confined was to start Irritation if pos
sible with the men in authority and to
trap them into some compromising sit
uation where she could gain the whip
hand. This was a confession she made
to me, after trying in vain to use her
Establishments at Whittier"