Evening star., 1922-04-07
MEANING OF ORDER
.TOMRS. VAN W|NK[E
BIC ISSUE IN TRIAL
Head of Women's Bureau of
Police Department Ar
raigned by Board.
SULLIVAN AND EVANS
ARE CROSS-EXAMINED
Both Pay Tribute to Work of Ac-
cused 0ficer-Grant May Go on
Stand Today.


cused 0ficer-Grant May Go on
Stand Today.
The answer to the question. What
was the exact meaning of the order
issued by Maj. Sullivan. superintend-
ent of police, on February o5. giving
the woman's bureau jurisdiction over
missing children and women who are
unable to give proper account of
the1selves?" probably will prove the
deciding factor in the trial of Lieut..
Nina c. Van Wrinkle, head of the
woman's bureau. on a charge OF hav-
ing disobeyed orders. which opened in
the boardroom of the District build
ing this morning.
Assistant Supt. Charles Evans. who
swore to the charges of disobedence.
contended in his testimony today that
the two young girls whose detention
by the woman'S bureau on March %
led to the charge of disobedience had
given a proper account of themselves
and therefore did not come under the
order of February %.
Are CrOss-Examined
Attorney Roger J. Whiteford. coun-
sci for Mrs. Van Wrinkle, led Inspector
Evans and Maj. Sullivan through
severe cross-examination in an effor;
to show that the order of February
% gave the woman's bureau '-exclu-
sive" jurisdiction over female pris-
oners.
The first surprise of the trial was
the announcement by Inspector Evans
that A w. Pell, business man of
Brooklyn, y. Y. and father Of one
of 'the girls detained by Mrs. Van
Wrinkle. had come to Washington
this morning. voluntarily 10 testify
as to what occurred on the morning
of March %. when he endeavored to
obtain the release of his daughter.
Gw~ndolyn, aged sixteen years, and
fourteen years, both of Brooklyn.
Ny
BOardrOom Crowded.
The boardroom OF the District
building was crowded to the doors
| and the aisles jammed by women
| active in social and civic work in the
| District.
The morning session was taken up
entirely by the testimony of Detec-
| tive Sergt. Cornwell, Assistant Supt
Evans. Maj. Sullivan and Mrs. Edna
Johnston, acting superintendent of
the house of detention. 1t is possible
that the trial board. which is COM
posed of Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Wahly. Capt. c. p. NJ. Lord and
Capt. L. J. Stoll, will be unable TO
complete the case in one day.
Interesting developments are ex-
pected this afternoon when Inspector
c. L. Grant. chief of detectives, takes
the stand.
Order Under Dispute.
The text of the order, Interpretation
| of which may decide the case, fol-
| lows:
From and after March 1. 1922. all
| matters relating to cases of lost chill
dren and cases of females of what
ever age found wandering abroad and
unable to give proper account OF
| themselves and against whom no
; charge is to be placed. will be han
| died by the women's bureau eXclu-
sively and not by the detective bu-
reau, as heretofore.
such per sons will be conveyed to
| the house OF detention and full report
| of all facts and circumstances sur
rounding each case made to the lieu
tenant in charge thereof, who will di-
/, rect all efforts and conduct all cor
! respondence, telegraphic or other
wise, in connection with the case. and
upon delivery of such person or per-
tenant shall ae once notify the pre-
cinct originally in contact with the
case of its final disposition and shall
make such other record as the cir
cumstances may justify"
Detective Sergt. Fred Cornwell,i in
| charge of the detective Office from
midnight until s am, was the first
witness called. He testified that
about midnight March % he received
a telephone message at Headquarters
from a Mrs. Pell of Brooklyn, n. Y,
stating that her daughter and a girl
named Evans had run away from
| home the previous Monday and that
they had telephoned home from, the
Union station in Washington.
According to the witness, Mrs. Pell
| told him the girls were i'm boys
clothing and would answer to the
/ names of Paul and Donald Evans.
The mother requested that they be
| detained until their fathers could
| come for them.
! "I called Detectives O'Brien and
| Livingston. who were on Office duty.
| and sent them to Union station" said
| Cornwell "They returned in a few
minutes with the girls. About the
same time l received telegram from
| william ]. Leahy of the New York
| police department. asking tfat the
| girls be detained, but not placed in a
| cell if possible. Their names were
| taken and they were sent to the
House of Detention"
| Continuing his story. Cornwell said
| that about ten minutes to o'clock
| the morning of March 23 Mr.. Pell and
Mr.. Evans arrived at Headquarters.
| The witness said they stated they
| were anxious to return to New York
as soon as possible, that they were
| business men.
| Cornwell testified he called De-
| tective O'Brien to go TO the house OF
detention with the fathers and get
| the girls. The witness said he then
| telephoned the house of detention
| and told E. j. Shippel, clerk, to re-
| lease the girls.
Order Is Refused.
A few r!nutes later O'Brien re-
turned to headquarters and told
Cornwell the girls would not be
turned over to their parents.
Corporation Counsel wahly, chair
| man of the trial board, interrupted
to ask Cornwell if O'Brien said whose
| order that was.
"No. he did not say on whose or
der" Cornwell answered.
The witness testified he then called
Mrs. Edna Johnston, matron at the
house of detention, explaining to her
that the fathers wanted to hurry
back TO New York.
According to Cornwelrs testimony
Mrs. Johnston said she could not re.
lease them, that Mrs. Van Wrinkle had
instructed her not to.
| Cornwell said he then called Asst
Supt. Charles Evans and explained
the situation to him.
He (Evans) told me to tell thu
house of detention to turn the girls
CONTINUED on PAGE 2, Column "a