Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-01
MUNICIPAL COURT
JOBBERY BREAKS
A WOMAN'S HEART
Organization Forced Demo
ton of Mrs. Pickering to
Make Room for Penrose
Supporter.

another charge has been laid at the
door of the politically controlled Mu-
nIclpal Court This time the court is
accused of breaking a womans heart
that job might be made for man.
Mrs. Jessie L. Pickering, of 235 South
23d street, is seriously i'll. Behind that
Illness lies tale Of sordid politics. Mrs
Pickering was ousted from the position
OF chief probation officer OF the Juvenile
Court to make place for voter after
the Juvenile Court came into control of
thc Municipal Court, and the power of
appointment was placed in the hands Of
President Judge Charles l.. Brown, Of
the 18th Ward eX-ward worker and leader
and personal friend of State Senator
James Z. McNichol and one of that type
OF men advocating the reelection of Sem
Rtor Penrose
Transferred from her office following
measure passed by Organization leg
islators and denoted to a lower position,
1t became known today that Mrs. Pick
cring for months has been suffering from
nervous prostration. The attack came
as result of constant worry
Mrs. Pickering Is now at the home of
i her son, who resides In Narberth. Until
short while ago she was in bed. She
is now able to walk about the house
although her condition, according to her
physicians, is still serious. Mrs. Pick
! erins was stricken few months after
a she had been practically banished from
3 her old office in the City Hail to a little,
badly ventilated and i'll lighted office at
1909 Arch street.
The duties of chief probation officer,
which Mrs. Pickering performed for
number of years, are now being dis
i charged by Thomas G. Paris. His sal
4 AIRY is $1,000 year, or $500 more than
Mrs Pickering received. Paris was APP
pointed as chief probation officer by
Judge Brown.
Friends of Mrs. Pickering, who is a
brilliant woman and who for years has
been actively engaged in juvenile work
among foreigners in South Philadelphia,
and who years ago was one of the prime
movers for starting Juvenile Court,
stated today that she became a changed
woman soon after being denoted.
CONCERNED FOR CHILDREN.
Mrs. Plckering's greatest concern
seemed to be over the many little girls
and boys whom she met daily or weekly
when she was seated behind her desk in
Room 16j in the City Hall.
Il have no fault to find. but I will surely
miss some of the children" Mrs. Picker
ing Is quoted as saying, when she packed
up her things prior to her departure to
her new office.
After taking up the duties of a regular
probation officer. Mrs. Pickering often
sound time, il is said, to walk over to
the city Hall and scan the faces Of some
of the children for whom she had obtained
positions.
In the latter part of last April Mrs.
Pickering failed to appear in her Arch
street office. This was after she hal
come TO work daily feeling i'll. Later her
condition became serious and nervous
prostration set in.
Although Mrs Pickering has beer
practically confined in bed since last
April, very few persons in this city knew
Of her illness outside of her relatives
few friends and some of her "kddies.'
which term she often used for children
placed under her probation.
Despite the fact that Mrs. Pickering
has improved somewhat, IL was learned
from relative that it will be many
weeks before she will again be seen in
her Office.
ORGANIZATION MAN HAS PLACE
The appointment of Paris was made
last January Paris is known as Re-
publican Organization man, Before his
appointment to Mrs. Pickering's position
he was supervising principal of a Ger
nantoWn school,
When Paris was appointed in Mrs.
PIckerings place the excuse was given
that the position had TO be filled by a
man because 1t was so stipulated in the
act which brought about the Municipal
Court Those familiar with conditions In
the Municipal Court declare that the
duties of chief probation officer have not
Increased since the salary of that position
has been raised. and that If a change
was necessary a physician should have
got the place. One expert s "a that OF
an types a school teacher was most i'll
adapted for the place.
4 close relative OF Mrs. Pickering made
the following statement today:
Mrs Pickering loved her work proba-
bly, better than her home. She always
spoke about the children who were un-
der her care. Her greatest delight
seemed to be when letter reached her
which was written by a youngster who
had been arrested by the police and
later released on parole. The children
looked upon her as a mother or sister
Some had more confidence in her than
in their own relatives. Mrs. Pickering's
greatest joy was to hear from a boy or
girl who had narrowly missed a sem
teDce Ia some reformatory and was
working and attending night school"
Mrs Pickering is 81 years old, and
for years her family has been prominent
In this city. When a girl she was prom
inent ln church work. She, with other
prominent women Of this city years ago,
urged that juvenile court be located in
this city.
DEEPLY INTERESTED IN WORK.
After the juvenile court came into ex-
4 istence she was appointed a probation
officer The appointment came after she
had been nominated by a civic organi-
zation- In those days probation ohicers
didn't draw salaries. With Mrs Pick
rnE about 10 other prominent women
were appointed.