Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-15

ton another Through her kind-heart-
ed work one family, at least, was re-
united and at the present time is a
happy one.
A police matron in another Maine
city informed Mrs. Freeman that in
this city was woman who had left
her home with man. Mrs. Free
man had very little as clue to ascer-
tain the whereabouts of the woman.
, She searched from Sand Hill to Pettin-
gilrs Corner and finally located the
man with whom it was alleged the
woman had gone away. He at first.
upon being questioned by Mrs. Free
man, stated most emphatically that he
did not know where the woman was.
| But Mrs. Freeman, unwilling to be-
! l!eve him, pressed him farther and
also impressed him with tho serious
ness Of the situation.
Then he told her where the wom-
an was located. Mrs. Freeman
found the woman who was just re-
covering from an operation for ap-
pendicitis. She talked with the very
sick woman who in turn told Mrs.
Freeman that her home had been an
unhappy one. that she had had this
sickness coming on for long time.
The husband of the woman was
communicated with and he stated
that he was willing to take back his
wife. After the woman recovered
her husband came for her and took
her home. Just recently Mrs. Free
man has received word from the
! woman who told her that she was
| very happy and that her husband
was treating her far better than he
! had ever before. There was a case
where the work of the right sort of
police matron was the means of
bringing a family together and keep
ing scandal suppressed.
Each month Mrs Freeman attends
the meeting of the Police Matrons'
Association and she says that these
meetings are great help to her, be-
cause the experience of other women
| who have been in that kind of work
for years is available. Mrs. Free
man spoke very highly Of Mrs. Burn
! ham, the Portland police matron
who has been in that office for the
past Is years. In Maine there are
five cities which have police matrons
including Portland, Lewiston, Au-
burn, Bangor, Rockland, Augusta.
When Mrs. Freeman was notified
that she was to be appointed to the
position of police matron of this city
she was very much surprised and
she said her first thought was that
she would never be able to do the
work She had never had any prev
! ious experience in public welfare
work of any sort, except in club
work and had said she had no idea
what was expected of her.
| Her friends had confidence in her
and told her that she certainly would
be able to do the work if any wom-
an could. Since taking up the work
her power had been extended so that
she is able now to investigate a case
and then report to the Judge of the
municipal court or the police mar
shall whereas before she had to re-
port to either of the above officials
before making any move toward in
vestigations.
Although a police matron being
numbered among the officers of the
city of Augusta is a very new idea,
nevertheless the plan is meeting with
marked success. Through suggestion
of organizations of the city, Mayor
Burleigh Martin appointed Mrs.
Freeman to the position and the
mayors arrangement of the routine
of the Office is a most wise one.
Now that Augusta has police
matron the police department has a
decided asset and in having such a
woman as Mrs. Freeman the new
office is most efficiently occupied.