Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-08

the New.Willard Hotel.
TO call his attention to the order of
Mai. Sullivan.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle then told the trial
board the woman's bureau has always
been directly under the major and
superintendent. When the order was
issued placing Assistant Supt. Evans IN
supervision over the territory west of
7th street. including the house of de-
tention. Mrs. Van Wrinkle declared
would continue as they always had,
that the division of the city between
the two assistant superintendent was
purely matter of geography.
Takes Up Questioning.
Mr. Wahly conducted the CROSS
examination of. Mrs. Van Wrinkle.
When he took up the questioning. one
of his first questions was:
What sort of orders do you think
are competent for you to obey
The answer was a surprise.
None. certainly. that are not in
accord with the orders of the super
She was asked why she refused to
obey the order for release of the
girls.
II did not refuse to obey" she re-
piled. After l called Inspector
Evans, We were in entire accord and
he told me to go down to the house
of detention and finish up the case
as quickly as possible"
| Superior officer Of Sergeant.
why did you not obey the order
of Detective Sergeant Cornwell?" she
| was asked.
Because 1 am his superior officer"
! CT ha
through the major and superintend-
emit through Detective Sergt. Corn
| well, whether she would consider 1T
competent to obey it, she replied
that, in a case SUCH as the one IN
question, she would rather have the
order personally from the major and
superintendent.
The next point injected into the
testimony was the speed and eff
cheney of the release Of the girls.
After bringing out the fact that the
girls were released at about 3 o'clock,
although it had been 7 o'clock since
the order to release them had been
passed on by Cornwell, Mrs. Van
Wrinkle was asked If she considered
this quick work. She replied that
under the circumstances surrounding
| the case she did consider it quick
| work.
Points as to the food served the
girls for breakfast and general con-
| ulllOnS lOOh up SOiHC dooitiOAoA eiAAS'
Didn't Want to Go Home.
| Mrs. Van Wrinkle sprung a mild
surprise at one instance in speaking
of the girls when she said:
| "One girl did not wish to go home.
| Her home was unhappy and her
| father and mother had trouble in
getting along together"
| She maintained in answer to an
| other question that it was most in
consistent to release the girls after
her action, but upon the follow-up
she replied that the action was
taken as the result of an order from
her superior officer.
On the whole, the questioning of
| Mrs. Van Wrinkle apparently de-
yeloped her stand to be taken on
conscientiously honest grounds based
upon her understanding of the order
of February 25. placing the. missing
persons and lost girls under her care.
Responsible to Heads Only.
Finally, the report of 1921 from
Mai. Gessford as chief of police was
introduced into the record. In it's
lice department in this report, atten-
ton was called to the fact that Mrs.
Van Wrinkle, as head of the woman's
bureau, was responsible only to the
Attorney Whiteford contended that
this situation continued to prevail.
The closing address of Attorney
Whiteford was probably the strong
est part of the defense. He swung
into a rhetorical defense of Mrs. Van
Wrinkle and at one point round of
applause greeted his remarks, which
was followed by one hiss. and the an
nouncement of Mr. Wahly that the
room would be cleared in event of
any further demonstration.
Centers Defense on Order.
! order of February rs and upon the
testimony of superior officers that
Mrs. Van Wrinkles record had been
efficient, honest and conscientious.
Upon the former point. he main
tanned that the words give proper
the order with reference to females
| of whatever age found wandering
abroad" constituted the reasons for
the holding and investigation Of the
girls.
"Who is to determine what Is a
proper account of themselves he
asked. IF Mrs. Van Wrinkle believed
they had not given proper account
of themselves. who was to determine
that?'
He merged into the conscientious
ness with which the lieutenant in
charge of women's work was credited
and ended sentence with the state
ment that in view of her proper dis
charge .OI responsibility anu dutnOI.
ity "instead of being here on charges.
she should be commended for her
faithfulness' in discharge of duty"
That brought the applause and the
subsequent order from Mr.. Wahly.
No Order From Evans.
In closing. he pointed out that Mrs.
Van Wrinkle didsnot receive an order
from Inspector Evans, but that she
conferred with him and was under
tho ipoprasSion that he agreed with
her upon the action to be taken in
connection with the case.
Inspector Evans did not say: 7
want you to let those girls CO. de-
clared the attorney, emphasizing
each word of the order. when he
found she had an order he said to go
down and expedite matters regarding
the release. This was done.
"And Charles Evans himself says
that If Mrs. Van Wrinkle was inter-
preting an order she was interpreting
IL conscientiously, as an honest
woman,