Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-23
PROTECTIVE MA1R0N At work.
Miss Edith McCully Reports for
Duty.
Will Look after Social welfare Of Girls
and Women and Investigate Hous-
ing Conditions Of the
City.

Miss Edith McCully. the new protective
matron, arrived in this city late Tuesday
night and reported for duty early last eve
ming.
Miss McCully called on Mayor ]. Holmes
jackson yesterday morning and had
lengthy talk with this official on her
duties here. The mayor later signed and
handed her her commission, and directed
her to report to the chief Of police for
duty in the evening.
The duties Of the new protective matron
will be Of social nature insofar as look
ing after the betterment Of the lot Of
young girls Is concerned, and she will
also look carefully into the housing condi-
lions of the community. Her work will be
principally among young girls and women,
and. although she will make no personal
arrests, 1t is part Of her duties to report
wilful violators of the law to the proper
authorities. When such reports are re-
ceived, warrants will be sworn out for
the principals involved and they will be
hailed into city court.
| Mayor jackson sent the following letter
to the chief Of police. with instructions
that this official read the contents to the
officers last evening:
Oflice Of
~. Holmes jackson.
| Mayor.
City Of Burlington, W., Aug. %.
To the members OF tho regular police force
of the city Of Burington Gentlemen:
| I hereby inform you that have this day
appointed and commissioned Miss Edith
McCully as police matron. to perform such
duties as are defined in the resolution ap-
proved by the mayor August 8. 1917.
You are requested to give her such as
sistance and cooperation as the resolution
requires and as your good judgment sug-
gests is necessary for her to properly per-
form her duties.
| have requested the city clerk to hand
the chief of police a copy Of this resolu-
ton for your information and guidance.
| Yours sincerely
| ]. HOLMES JACKSON. Mayor.
Miss McCully is a young woman Of
attractive and business-like appearance
and evidently capable of carrying out
the task assigned to her in Burlington.
She Is a graduate Of Cornell University.
and has done social work at the re-
formatory at Bedford, Mass. She was
also a probation officer at Hamilton.
Ohio. and in home for delinquent girls
at San Francisco.
When seen by a Free Press reporter
last evening, Miss McCully said: II
think Burlington is the most beautiful
city I have ever seen and know that l
shall enjoy my work here. I cannot
tell yet exactly what it will be but I
can say 1t will be of a preventive rather
than of a punitive nature. My work
will be principally among young girls
and women: I will look into the family
life Of cases which are brought to my
attention and see where I can be of
service to the girls Of such families
hope that the people of Burlingto ton
will feel free to come to me for advice
on questions which they would hesitate
to bring before the police and I can as
sure them that in all such cases their
confidence will be respected. will
do some patroling. principally around
the railroad station, dock and parks
and wherever girls seem to need pro-
lection. but I shall probably not have
a regular route which l will follow each
day. OF course these details must al
be arranged later. as the need presents
itself I will make no arrests but OF
lice are at different hours in the day, sc
that l can call on them if 1t seem:
necessary"
Much Of the success Of Miss McCul
ly's work depends on the cooperation
of the police department. A good be.
ginning for the cordial relations which
must exist between her and the depart
ment was made last evening wher
Deputy Chief of Police Patrick ]. Cos
grove and the members of the police
force met Miss McCully at the Neigh.
borhood house.