Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-08
VERDICT AGREED ON
"a "a.
IN VAN Wrinkle CASE
Trial Board to Report Find
ing After Other Cases
Are Disposed Of.


woman's bureau, has reached an
agreement and will report its find
ings to Maj. Sullivan some time to-
day.
This was indicated this morning
by Assistant Corporation Counsel
Wahly, chairman Of the board, who
said he and his colleagues held an
executive session last night and
practically reached a conclusion.
Mr.. Wahly said the board would
hear several other cases against po-
licemen in the trial room at Police
, Court this morning, after which it
would meet in executive session again
and draw up report
Interest Running High.
Interest was running high through
out the police department today over
the outcome of the case.
The charge that Mrs. Van Wrinkle
refused TO obey Asst. Supt. Evans
grew out of the detention on March
IS of two young girls from New York,
who were picked up by the detective
bureau as fugitives from their par
ents.
Father Gives Testimony.
The testimony of both Albert w.
Pell. Brooklyn business, man, and In
spector Clifford l.. Grant, in charge
of the detective bureau, was brief
Mr. Pell recited the trouble he en-
countered in obtaining the release of
his daughter and limited that the or
ders of the superiors were not given
proper attention on the part of the
wonan's bureau. He said that he
the telephone, from which he drew
his opinions.
Inspector Grant was asked whether
he had criticised the woman's bureau
and whether friction existed between
the woman's bureau and the detective
bureau. He replied in the negative.
II have had only kind words for
Mrs. Van Wrinkle" he said.
Denies Paying Expenses.
Questioning as to whether he de-
frayed any expenses of having Mr.
Pell testify at the trial resulted in
denials from Inspector Grant, and he
left the stand after less than a
quarter of an hours testimony.
AT one point during the testimony
of Mr.. Pell, the witness interrupted
to state that he considered the Ian
guage of Mr. Whiteford. who was
questioning him, insulting" He fol-
lowed up by stating substantially
that the latter was claiming to have
discovered facts about these girls
which clouded their good names to
some degree.
Shelby Explains Order.
Capt. William S. Shelby. personal
aid to Mai. Sullivan, took the stand
yesterday afternoon to explain the
much discussed order of February
rs, which Mrs. Van Wrinkle contends
gave her exclusive control over chill
dren and women in the police depart
ment.
Did you draw the order of Febru-
airy 25?" Shelby was asked.
81 prepared the order after consul
tation with Mrs. Van Wrinkle. Inspec-
tor Grant and Maj. Sullivan the wit
ness answered
Capt Shelby then explained that the
order was suggested by the fact that
Mrs. Van Wrinkle had told of duplica-
tion of work in tracing relatives and
friends of missing persons. citing, for
example, an overlapping with the de-
tective bureau in the sending of tele-
grams.
Correspondence Up to Bureau.
II suggested" continued Shelby,
that she take the matter up with In
spector Grant reach an agreement
and let me or the major know the re-
suit. They concluded it would be best
to let the woman's bureau handle the
details, such as correspondence"
What did you mean to convey by
that order of February 25?" asked At
torney Whiteford. for Lieut.. Van
Wrinkle.
Shelby, with a trace of humor In his
voice. replied he mant it to convey
exactly what it does convey.
And what is that?" Whiteford
pressed.
The witness replied that he meant
the order to convey to all members of
the department that in cases relat-
ing to lost children and women. against
whom no charge is placed. the task of
locating friends or relatives was to be
in the hands of the woman's bureau.
Board Competent to Decide.
Whiteford then asked the witness if
that order could be construed to mean
that such cases should be investigated
also by the woman'S bureau.
Before Shelby could answer, Chair
man Wahly of the trial board inter-
rupted to state that the board would
not be guided by the opinion of this or
any other witness. in reaching de-
csion as to what the order meant.
This order" said Wahly. lis COM
posed of plain English words and the
board feels that it is competent as the
witness to pass on what those words
mean"
Wahly declined to permit the witness
torney noted an exception.
Could Not Recall Exact Words.
Whiteford then asked Capt. Shelby if
Lieut. Van Wrinkle had inquired of
him on the Sunday following the de-
tention of the two New York girls if
there were any strings on the order of
February 25.
Shelby said he could not recall the
exact words of the Sunday conversation.
He "a id he believed he told her that by
no possible Interpretation could she
construe the order to dsobsy superior
officer
In answer to IA final question from
whiteford. Capt. Shelby said the
order of February 25 did not give
authority over girls and women, but
full and complete charge of details
looking to the location Of parents or
friends" Istr:.r
Lieut.. Van Wrinkle Take.. stand.
When Lieut.. Van Wrinkle took the
stand late in the afternoon she de-
MED emphatically that Assistant
Supt. Evans gave her a specific order
to release the New York girls on the
morning of March %.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle testified that she
did tell Mrs. Johnston. superintendent
of the house of detention, not to re-
lease the girls on order of Detective
Sergt. Cornwell, in charge of the de-
tective Office. The reason for this
refusal, she said, was that she be-
lieved the order of February 25
placed the responsibility for the girls
on her shoulders.
A few minutes later, she said, Mrs.
to transmit the order of Assistant
Supt. Evans to release the girls to
their fathers on his responsibility.
Called InspecfOr Evans,