Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-24
POLICE DISPUTE
COMING TO HEAD
Authority of Woman's Bureau
Expected to Be Definitely .
Fixed After Inquiry.

Investigation of the delay in releas-
ing two runaway girls from the
house Of detention yesterday morn
ing in the charge Of their fathers
promises to bring to a head the ques-
tion of where the line of authority
should be drawn between the police
department and the woman's bureau
in the handling of missing girls and
women
This was indicated today when Mrs.
Nina c. Van Wrinkle. lieutenant In
charge of the woman's bureau. de-
Tended her action in refusing TO order
the release of the girls at the request
of the detective bureau until she had
had an opportunity to get to the house
of detention from her home and salts
fy herself that they should be re-
leased.
Oyster Awaits Reports.
Commissioner Oyster. in charge OF
police affairs. was marking time to-
day. awaiting receipt of written re-
ports from all officials of the depart
ment involved in the controversy,
which will be before him by tonight.
sThe report Of Asst. Supt. Evans, who
has been given direct supervision over
the woman's bureau along with
number of precincts. shows that he
yesterday morning. stating that the
fathers desired to catch an early train
back to New York.
Mrs. Edna ohnson. matron at the
house of detention, communicated the
message to Mrs. Van Wrinkle, who
then telephoned to Inspector Evans
herself and called his attention to an
order issued by Maj. Sullivan on
March l, giving her bureau jurisdic
ton over all cases of missing girls
and women.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle says she told In
spector Evans she would hurry down
to the house of detention and dis
pose OF the case.
According to Mrs. johnson, Mai.
Sullivan then called the womans bu-
reau to inquire what all the confusion
was about.
Meanw lille. the girls. who had come
here from New York in boys clothing,
were being provided with feminine at
tire at the house of detention, and left
for New York with their fathers after
Mrs. Van Wrinkle had satisfied herself
that their departure was proper.
Defending the precautions she took
in yesterdays case, Mrs. Van Wrinkle
declared that recently the woman 5
bureau released a girl prisoner upon
receiving notice from station house
that collateral had been deposited by
her aunt. One hour later, Mrs. Van
Wrinkle says, the aunt reported that
the girl was again missing and APP
pealed to the woman's bureau to find
her.
Mrs. Van Wrinkles Views.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle asserted today
that she did not feel that her organ
ization was a military one, and that
while she did not object to BENG
under the physical supervision of IN
assistant superintendent, she felt she
had a right to deal directly with the
chief of police on matters of admin
istration.
The head of the woman's bureau de-
clared that il her Office had handled
the case of the two New York girls
yesterday without the aid of the de-
tectiv bureau they would have been
returned to New York without the
publicity they received.
Mrs Van Wrinkle told a representa-
tive of The Star that she felt there
was an important principle involved
in the present controversy, namely. of
whether young girls and women are
to be handled by the woman's bureau
or by the police department proper.