The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-09-10
Miss McKenna To Be
Welfare Officer

Miss Agnes McKinna, who has been
active in the welfare work Of num-
Der Of cities Of this and other states,
being the field secretary Of the Child
Welfare Work for several years past,
has accepted the position of proba-
ton officer for Ben Hill county. rec
commended to be created by the recent
Grand Jury. Judge D. A. r. Crum,
under the law is authorized to appoint
the officer in charge, and it is fortu-
nate that he was able to secure the
services of Miss McKinna to inaugu-
rate the work in this county. Miss
McKinna spent Sunday in the county,
the guest of Judge and Mrs. J. r.
Horton at their country home. Mise
McKinna will return TO the city the
latter part Of the week to actively
enter into her work here. The
Savannah News of Sunday, in speak
ing Of Miss McKinns and her work,
says:
Miss Agnes McKinna, Tifton's
woman arresting officer, who is in
charge Of three important depart
ments in that city, spent yesterday i'll
Savannah on mission whose nature
she was at liberty to divulge, except
to state that it was business Of her
court.
Miss McKinna has charge Of the
juvenile court, the adult probation de-
partment and the humane relief work
OF Triton Although she has arrested
quite a number during the time she
has been welfare officer, she has never
put any handouts on heS prisoners
and does not care for the term "po-
licewoman," believing that this gives
to many a wrong impression Of her
duties, which cover broad scope of
affairs.
In authorizing the employment of
Miss McKinna as welfare officer at
call meeting on July II, the City
Council Of Triton directed that it
should be the duty of said officer to
enforce all ordinances of said CITY,"
except when relieved by the Mayor
or, in his absence, the mayor pro tenn.
Miss McKinna has been organizing
welfare work in Tiff, Lowndes, Col
quit, Crisp and Ware counties, and
will next go into Ben Hill county to
institute this work
1t is understood that Miss McKinna
will soon resign her position at Triton
and accept similar one at Fitzaerald
in Ben Hill county.
Nearly every county in the state"
said Miss McKinna, "spends from
$500 TO $500 month in caring for
its poor. This is not generally known
and will be surprise to many, but it
is true"
In Triton, Miss McKinna has charge
OF the expenditure of this money. She
pointed out the urgent necessity for
Juvenile Court work in the small
towns OF the state as well as in the
cities, and said it was a great mis-
take to let child come into a criminal
court for trial. Most judges realize
this, she stated. and are preventing
it.
Miss Mckinna at present is work
ing under the jurisdiction of Superior
Court Judges W. F. Thomas, D. A. r.
Crum, X. Eve and J. L. Summerall.
Her work has gained no little men
/ ton in the press of the state and
she has received numerous queries
from the surrounding states from
those who wished to establish juvenile
courts and other such children's insti-
tutions, being considered an expert
in her line.
Miss Mckinna is quiet and refined
and Immediately impresses one as be-
ing strong character. Prominent
state officials and members of the
Georgia Legislature have appeare d
most willing in assisting her in her
work over the state.