The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-23
TILT OVER
ARREST Of
TW0G|RLS
Law or No Law" Oyster
Says, Prisoners Should
Be Released.

Suspension on charges Of insub-
ordination today faces Mrs. Nina
c. Van Wrinkle, Lieutenant of po-
lice in charge of the woman's bu-
reau.
Informed that Mrs. Van Wrinkle
had ridden rough shod over orders
of her superiors and refused to re-
lease Gwendolyn Pell, sixteen years
old, and Jane Evans, fourteen years
old, school girls from the House Of
Detention into the custody of their
fathers, Commissioner James F..
Oyster, who has supervision over
police matters ordered her suspend
ed should it be shown she had ig-
nored orders.
Girls Arrested Here.
The two girls were taken in Gus
tody early today by headquarters de-
tectives and placed in the house OF
detention, pending the arrival Of their
fathers from Brooklyn, N. Y.
1T was called over the telephone
early today and told that the fathers
Of the girls were here; that there
were no charges against the girls.
and that Mrs. Van Wrinkle had re-
fused to release them" Commissioner
Oyster said.
'.It was further stated that Mrs.
Van Wrinkle had refused to release
the girls after being ordered to do so
by Major Sullivan and Inspector
Evans.
II told the major to tell that little
girl who packed the gun that would
like to see her, pat her on the back
and tell her I admired her grit and
to see to it that Mrs. Van Wrinkle
was suspended If she has disobeyed
orders of her superior officer.
Oyster FlOuts Law.
Talking with Inspector Grant, /
was told that the Woman's Bureau
was planning to take the girls into
court. told him that, law or no law.
! would take the responsibility for
ordering those little girls kept out of
court"
Inspector Charles A. Evans. who
recently was assigned to duties that
would make him directly In charge
of the Woman's Bureau, made
written report to Major Sullivan in
which he said his orders that the
girls be released had been disobeyed.
When this report went to Com
missioner Oyster he directed Major
10 SuDIlll the "
Mrs Van Wrinkle and get from her
any answer she wished to make.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle said her action
was based on the fact that I'VE
had TO get dresses for the girls and
they had to have breakfast"
Nondescript clothing and such
fare as the House of Detention
could afford was all she could
promise.
Father Makes Threat.
One of the fathers involved, Al
bert w. Pell, told Commissioner
Oyster he was an intimate friend of
Senator Calder of New York and
that he planned to file complaint
through the Senator against the
Woman's Bureau for the manner in
which his daughter had been
treated.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle declared this
morning that she invited investiga-
ton of the whole matter"
Today's incident was the first clash
between Mrs. Van Wrinkle and In
spector Evans since the latter WIS
placed in charge of the Woman's
Bureau.
Evans Guest at Tea.
Recently, when Inspector Evans
was placed in charge of that part of
the District north of Seventh street,
and Inspector Pratt was placed in
charge of the territory south Of Sew
enth street, Mrs. Van Wrinkle enter
tanned them at the House of DeteD.
ton at tea. At that time, there
were evidences that the new inspec.
tor and the head of the police women
would work together in harmony.
Detective Sergeant Fred Cornwell,
night chief of detectives, was the
first police official to be rebuffed
by the Woman's Bureau today. He
asked for the release of the two
girls when their fathers reached the
city One of the policewomen in
charge early today declined, on the
ground that Mrs. Van Wrinkle had
given orders to hold them.
A similar order from Inspector
Evans, it is claimed, was also ignor-
ed. Major Sullivan was comrnuni-
Gated with, Cornwell again called the
House of Detention and asked for
the release CT the girls. saying that
Major Sullivan had ordered It. This
got no results.
Commissioner Oyster was APP
pealed to. He got in touch with
Major Sullivan, and the girls were
Finally released.
Bob Hair, Run Away.
The girls in question-Gwendoly
Pell, sixteen years old, and Jane
Evans, fourteen years old, left their
homes in Brooklyn Monday, ostensi.
bly, to go to school. Instead. they
went to a barber shop. had their
hair bobbeG, donred boys clothes,
and set out for Washington.
Arriving in Washington, the two
hdventurers took in the sights, but
their funds were exhausted. Faint
for the want of food the girls were
taken in custody early today at the
Union Station by Detective Sergeants
y Bricn and Livingston and placed in
the house Of detention, pending the
brrival of their fathers.
One of the girls was carrying
small .caliber pistol and the other had
penknife.
Albert w. Pell and -. A. Evans,
Fathers OF the two girls, are promi.
nent business men in New York.