Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-03
BY LAUREL @. THAYERs
city Court Probation Onicer.

BY LAUREL @. THAYERs
City Court Probation Ofacer.
~Judge, the girl is making trouble at
the fort. She has been ordered to stay
away. but she keeps coming back. She
gets of the train at Lawrence and meets
the soldiers there. We think she is sell
ing liquor to them"
It was Captain H who spoke. he
looked so big and tail as he brushed past
q tiny girl on his journey to the witness
chair in city court-a girl in short skirts,
and that was before skirts were so VERY
short.
BE had come from Fl. Harrison to help
lid that place Of a nuisance.
The next witnes was a social worker.
Jennie was reported to US by the SUI
perintendent Of a private hospital, where
she was employed" the woman said she
stayed out late at night and would not
tell the head nurse where she had been
One night they found her sliding down
the roof Of q shed. She had jumped from
a rear hall window after the nurse had
told her she could not go. Then they
had to dismiss her. have had only bad
reports of the girl"
The social worker took her seat among
the motley crowd in the courtroom, the
fotsam and jetsam Of society. =
LOOKS INTO FRIGHTENED
FACE OF A CHILD.
Jennie was being addressed by the
Judge. He was looking down with sym
pathetic interest into the frightened face
Of a child
Have you ever been in trouble be-
fores" he asked.
"once was sent TO the Girls School
at Clermont because I wouldn't go to
school," was the haK-whispered reply
Have you anything more to say2" was
the next question.
The hands on the brass rail surround
ing the judges bench trembled. The
colorless lips turned a shade more color
less. They too trembled. Was that
tear that splashed on the Grant hand?
Your honor" the words came in 4
whisper, my folks are poor and my
mother is sick She has fits. I have
taken care of myself since was fourteen
and gave money TO my family. Ny
father works in a MIL I got tired of
taking care OF mother. needed money
That's why I came to Indianapolis"
How old are your inquired the judge
Eighteen
whispered consultation between the
Judge and Captain H followed.
Dollar and costs and ten days in
jan"
Jennie was led to the matron's office,
and when court was over, two big po-
Iicemen took her TO the Marion County
Jail
JENNIE BECOMES
FEDERAL PRISONER.
A week later, there was a preliminary
trial before the commissioners on
charge Of selling liquor to soldiers. and
Jennie was bound over to the grand jury
on $500 bond and returned to Jail. There
IS no one TO 90 on the bond Of q girl
like jennie.
This made her Federal prisoner
Federal prisoners are not allowed to
talk with visitors.
Before even court officials could see
her, it was necessary to obtain a written
permit from the Federal building.
The child was in far deeper trouble
than she realized. She was headed for
the Women's Prison via the Federal
Court on az very serious charge.
Then one day q letter came from her
father.
Yours received and thank you very
much il read. 7 am a poor working
man, getting $500 day at the saw mill
] know nothing about law. but I need
valid as far as work is concerned. She
/. has epileptic fits. We have a son 20
years old and a daughter g. Now Jen-
ME says she will come home and help
ne and there is no money in it to them
Tor haven't got It, and II they viii let
her out III come after her and see she
doesn't bother them again. Now il you
can talk to those interested and let me-
know III thank you . ys[y much
@P. s failed to say that Jennie is
ny daughter. I guess she told you
The day after this letter arrived, two
women asked the Jail matron to be al
lowed TO talk with Jennie. They present
ed permit from a Federal officer.
INTEREST TAKEN
IN GIRL WORKERS.
One Of the visitors is the same little
woman who has listened patiently to the
story OF many a troubled working girl
as they sat in a swing together on her
spacious north side porch. When she
goes into our factories and walks down
the narrow aisles hanked on both sides
By machinery, young girls and middle
aged women look up from their work
with a smile and sing out How do
you do, Mrs. CO" A friendly nod and
smile is always their reward
Jennie" called the matron, and q
childish figure emerged slowly, sus-
piciously from the long corridor opening
upon the row Of cells where women pris-
oners sleep.
Introduetions over, a sweet, kindly
voice said: How are you, Jennie?" and
a woman smiled into the sorrowful, dis
trustful eyes Of an erring child.
The three women sat on the narrow,
we'll scrubbed bench facing the long table
where women prisoners have their meals.
II have talked with Judge Anderson
about you. Jennie We want to give you
a chance to be a good girl Your poor
mother and father need you. VIII you
90 home and win you promise not to
come back If we send you? And win
you be good to your dear mother %
The speaker held a little, trembling
hand IN hers Had there ever been laugh
ter IN the dull eyes?
Judge Anderson tells me he wishes
to have a talk with you" she concluded.
There was weary smile on the youth
fuI face.
"Yes'm. Thank you. win &C home"
that was all
There was fnality In her tone. No one
dared intrude farther You felt the
weight of a secret sorrow that built
around itself it's own protective stone
wall And back OF this wal Jennie took
refuge.
few days later a youthful prisoner
was quietly ushered into Judge Ander-
sons private Office. When Jennie cams
out she knew she was free. She also