Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-11
HEAD OF WOMEN
POLICE TRIED
IN WASHINGTON
Lieutenant Van Wrinkle Is
Charged With Being In
subordinate.
BY CONSTANCE DRExEL.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE most
important event to women in the capitol
was the trial before a police board on
charges Of insubordinatiOn Of Lieut..
Nina c. Van Wrinkle, OF Washington
police force. She is the lieutenant in
charge OF the House of Detention and
is director Of the Woman's Bureau with
about twenty pOlicewomen o nher force.
1t seemed as If not only Mrs. Van
Wrinkle, but women in public office, was
on trial. The board room Of the District
Of Columbia commissioners, where the
trial took place, was crowded with repre-
sentatives Of 10th local and national
women's organizations and social work
ers not only from Washington. but
from New York and Philadelphia
Every since the charges Of insubordina-
ton 10 a superior officer were preferred
against Mrs. Van Wrinkle by the assistant
superintendent Of police. the case has
won nationwide attention. That IS not
only because of Mrs. Van Wrinkles official
position, but because Of her own person
atty.
She IS considered the leading police
woman IN the country today, being presi-
dent OF the National POIicewOmen's Asso-
citation. But more than that, she has an
independent position which would win at
tention anywhere.
She happened to take up this work be
cause CT being in Washington during the
war. Before that she was a prominent
suffrage worker and club woman in New
Jersey. She stin keeps up her interests
In these activities. being one Of the most
popular and best known women in the
capitol's public life. Although her posi-
ton is not a presidential appointment,
she is usually included in the sO-called
'woman's cabinet
But still more contrary to ones usual
conception Of what a pOllcewOman should
be or look like, Mrs Van Wrinkle being
a widow Of Independent wealth, is always
charmingly gOwned Snd owns some love
" jewels, which one is apt to see her
wearing at luncheon or dinner at the
smart hotels or restaurants.
None Of Washington's policewomen
wear uniforms, so Mrs. Van Wrinkle pre-
scented the usual figure Of a woman Of
the world seated beside her counsel
facing the trial board comprising the
assistant corporation counsel Of the dis
trict and two police captains.
What caused all the fuss was the de-
tention of two 16-year- old-run away girls
found at the railroad station in boys
clothing after the detective bureau claims
It had ordered their release.
u seems they were brought in at haf
past one in the morning and immediate
IL put TO bed. At seven the detective
bureau telephon=d wanting the girls re-
lease immediat eIy because their fathers
had followed them from Brooklyn. But
Mrs Van Wrinkle. who was reached at
her home declined to release them with
o., first having given them breakfast.
secured girls clothing and had them in
ferYiewed for the records she is obliged
to keep Both Of the girls had been
found with concealed weapons. one with
A loaded revolver and the other with
knife. which somewhat added to the
complication
However. the important point made was
that Mrs. Van Wrinkle claims she did
not diSObey any orders since an order
issued March 1 by Major Sullivan. super
intendent Of police. had given her all
jurisdiction over such cases. in place OF
the detective bureau as heretofore.
The trial board completed the hearing
Of testimony today but has reached no
decision Some people say it is all
"tampest in 4 tea pot" but nevertheless
the outcome is being watched with keen
est interest. The consensus at the trial
today was that Mrs. Van Wrinkle had
come out with flying coIo7s whatever
the boards decision on charges of in
subOrdinsti0n may be- since all her SUI
perior officers on the police force praised
her and her work most generously.