The Washington times., 1922-10-02
Barred From College on Theft
Charge, Girl Sues for $50, 900
Heiress Denies She Had Appro-'
priated Small Articles Of Fel-
Iow-Students, and Protests
She Was Denied Trial.
by International News Service.

being pressed against Bryn
Mawr College trustees and
DR.. NJ. Carey Thomas, former
president, by Marjorie Barker,
of Michigan City, Ind, who
was expelled from the college
April 2, 1921, after she had
been accused Of petty thefts
in the dormitories.
Miss Barker, who is twenty
years old, sought vindication
at the hands of the college
authorities Immediately after
her suspension and claims she
was given no opportunity to
clear herself of the charges
brought against her. She then
brought action in the Mont
gomery county courts at Nor
ristOwn, Pa, to compel Bryn
Mawr authorities to reinstate
her, but the court ruled it had
mo jurisdiction" over a pri-
vateIy endowed institution
such as Bryn Mawr and was
forced to recognize the right
of the college to drop a stu
dent any time, without expla-
nation.
Hint Damage Grounds.
In the opinion rendered by
Judges Swartz and Miller there
was a strong intimation that
while the court could not force
reinstatement of Miss Barker she
had grounds for a damage suit
against the college.
The damage suit has been filed
by Senator Pepper of Pennsyl-
vania, Miss Barker's lawyer, who,
it is reported on good authority
in legal circles here, has under
taken the case without charging
any fee, because of his desire to
see justice done.
Miss Barker is socially promi-
nent in the middle West, where
her family occupies an assured
position. She will some day in
herit a large fortune through the
connection of her family with
the Haskell Barker Car Company
interests.
She was popular at Bryn Mawr'
where she was in the sophomore
class ut the time Of her expulsion
-.iK NSatn a on "A
netitiOn. signed by 100 sChoolmates
from Michigan City, attestng her
honorable character was presented
to the court. When she attempted
to seek vindIcation from the col
lege authorities the girls in her
dormitory. from whom she was
charged with stealing, vouched tor
her, but all to no avail.
Refused Trial.
According TO Miss Barkers : story
she had packed her trunk Tor her
return home over the Easter hol- !
days in 1927 when she was sum |
moned before the dean, who per-
emntorilv told her she would not
need 10 return to college after the -,
HOLIDAYS. On inquiring why she
was told several small articles from
other girls rooms had been found
in her possession. Miss Barker I'M
mediately asked a trial TO prove
her innocence and was Informed
that such was not the procedure
Mt Bryn Mawr, where the author
tiles reserve the right TO dismiss
anyone they see fit, without arous-
ing a public scandal. DIR. NJ. Carey
Thomas, president Of the college,
said 1t was customary TO simply
inform undesirable students not
10 return when they left college
for a holiday and that several such
cases had been handled quietly in
that manner in previous years.
Would Lift SIur.
But Miss Barker desired rein
statement and especially that the
stain against her name be removed.
According to members of her family,
II was her plan to return to Bryn
Mawr and finish her course there
IL her attempts at reinstatement
had succeeded. AS they have not
she is virtually barred from any
college in the country because OF
the stigma against her name and
the unwillingness Of Bryn Mawr au.
thorities to transfer her credits
elsewhere.
In statement issued shortly after
the opening Of the suit for reinstate.
ment. Miss Hilda Smith, dean Of
Bryn Mawr, said that Miss Barker's
scholastic work was rather below
standard at the time of her eXpul
sion and that it was doubtful If she
could have made a sufficiently good
average in the June examinations
to pass. The dean is also alleged
to have written letter to DR..
Thomas in which she said the eX.
pulsion of Miss Barker might not
make so very much difference to
the latter's family, as she under.
stood the girls father and mother