The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-01-28
By T.. A. Peters


wide In innocent wonder, she
stood before Judge Evans In po-
lice court yesterday afternoon.
She wore the same chic satin
dress, short and narrow, that had
been her dancing frock the night
before. Dainty white kid shoes,
together with a coiffeur that set
off the luxuriant beauty of her
oval face in manner that would
delight an artist, completed the
eject.
She was anywhere rom 16 to
20, and her winsome innocence
was strikingly in contrast to the
sordid greyness of the dingy
court room, fouled by its daily
contact with criminals and wom-
en- of the street.
Georgia Ross?" the court de-
manded. And the Judge looked
kindly down as the child stared
frankly up at him.
Eyes, sir" in a murmur, as she
half turned to hide her face from
the gaping audience of men.
You are charged with being
drunk and disorderly. Are you
j.. guilty or not guilty?" The Judge
seemed astonished as he read
the charge and then gazed at the
flower-like prisoner.
Guilty, sir" In whisper.
-
A big officer stepped forward
to testify. He had been on duty
at a dance the night before. The
girl had attracted his attention
when she staggered out of the
women's cloak room. He had
thought her i'll, and rushed to her
assistance. AS he caught her, a
bottle had dropped to the floor
behind her. He smelt liquor on
her breath.
He produced a small catsup
bottle, with q spoonful of dark
liquid in the bottom.
Whisky, sir; you can smell 1t
for yourself. And when | tried
to get her out of the dance quiet
ly, she became SO abusive that
had to send her to Jail. She's
the first woman arrested for be-
ing drunk this year." he explain
ed.
"Why. I never even have seen
that bottle BEFORE" spoke up the
girl, and the audience, plainly
sympathetic, looked ready to mob
the policeman
Where did you get your
liquor?" asked the court. He, too,
seemed sympathetic,
'Why, | just had a glass of
beer before / left home" came
the timid answer.
Where do you liver"
II keep house here in Taco
ma"
you are married." The
courts astonishment was increas-
ing.
Eyes, SIR"
did your husband attend the
dance with your"
The girl hesitated. 1t was evil
dent to the entire court room
that she was fabricating her story,
perhaps to shield others
"N-no. sir, he didn't"
another m$h2p
yves"
What does your husband do?"
Again the girl hesitated, as
though to find a. plausible an
swer.
"He used to be a b-bartender,'
she said softly.
"Well, under the circumstances,
have to punish you. But the
entire affair seems strange"
Judge Evans declared.
Il will not make 1t a Jail SEN
tence, however. Twenty-Five dol
lars fine!"
Hesitantly, with head downcast,
the wisp Of girl in her pretty
party gown. tripped back to her
seat on the prisoners bench. A
moment later she was led by q
rnatron to hercell in the murky
basement of the city hall.
"Ceofsia Ross?" replied De-
tective Captain d. o. Smith, an
hour later. "You mean the girl
back there--''he pointed towards
the subterranean rows. OF cells
''yes, know her.
but isn't there some way that
an innocent sweet little thing
like her can be removed from this
vile dungeon that Tacoma Gala
d jail?" asked the excited ques-
toner.
swest7'' replied
the white-haired detective vague