Evening star., 1922-04-09
LIEUT.. VAN W|NKLE
FOUND mot GUILTY
| BY TRIAL BOARD
Head of Woman's Bureau
Exonerated on Charge of
PrejudiciaI Conduct.
HER IDEA OF DISCIPLINE
CENSURED, However
She Voices Pleasure at Verdict
Though Hinting Attorney Might
Advise Further Action.

Not guilty" was the verdict returned
late yesterday by the police trial board
which tried Lieut. Nina c. Van Wrinkle.
head OF the woman's bureau, on the
charge Of conduct prejudicial to the good
order. discipline and reputation of the
force
Although finding her innocent Of the
charge, the board. in its finding, ex-
presses the belief that Mrs. Van Wrinkle
mas not proper conception CT the
cardinal principle Of discipline which
must prevail in a police department"
The verdict, signed by Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Wahly. Capt c. P. NJ.
Lord and Capt L. J. StolI, reads as fol-
lows:
| Tho police trial board, convened to
try Lieut.. Nina C. Van Wrinkle, on the
charge Of violation of paragraph IL, of
section IL. OF the police manual met
in the boardroom Of the District build
ing, April z, 1922, and heard testimony
OF six witnesses in support of the
charges, and five witnesses produced by
the defendant.
| After careful consideration of the
testimony and the several exhibits
introduced in evidence, the board
finds Lieut. Van Wrinkle to be not
guilty OF the charge and specifica-
ton. Although the testimony all
points to the good faith of defendant
in the stand taken by her in this
case. the board does not believe that
the literal Interpretation by her of
headquarters order, dated February
25. 1922, is warranted, when due re-
gard is had for the purpose which
prompted its promulgation-namel
the transfer merely of such cases as
are therein described from the de-
tective bureau to the woman's bu-
reau.
| Must Obey Orders.
Furthermore. it is apparent from
the testimony that Lieut.. Van Wrinkle
has not a proper conception of the
cardinal principle of discipline which
must prevail in police depart
ment-namely. that the orders of a
| superior in rank must be accorded
respect at all times. when not in
| contravention of law, and that all re-
| sponsibility incurred through a com
] pliance Herewith is thereby shifted
| to, and must be assumed by, such
| superior in command"
| Declaring her trial was merely the
climax to a long series of differences
and misunderstanding between the
woman's bureau and male subordi-
mates of the police department. Mrs.
Van Wrinkle said last night she was
pleased with the verdict, but at no
time did she anticipate different.
| II had committed no wrong" she
said. and 1 therefore expected from
the first to be found innocent of the
charges. The board could not have
| done anything else but acquit me.
Never in my police experience have
| 1 disobeyed an order and had / enter
| tanned any doubt as to my innocence
| in this case L would have appeared
before the board to stand trial.
would have resigned Immediately il
| 1 had been guilty of the charges pre-
| ferred against me-
Further Action Undecided.
So far as she is concerned the Incl
dent is closed one, Mrs Van Wrinkle
| said. but she 'intimated that this point
| will depend. however. upon the ad-
| vice of her attorney. Whether any
future action will result from this
/ case remains with the latter she ex-
planned.
| When asked for her conception of
/
which questioned her ability to
properly understand the cardinal
| principle of discipline. Mrs. Van
| Wrinkle smiled as she said II have
never yet been found guilty of a lack
of discipline and inasmuch as 1 have
been teaching 1t to others for long
| time, I must have a very proper con-
ception of it."
Il am not surprised at this refec-
tion," Mrs. Van Wrinkle continued,
land l do not take il as a personal
matter. 1t seems to be the opinion
| of many men that women, because
they are women, cannot properly be
disciplined; that they. because they
| are women, refuse to accept dis
cipline. Such a belief is unfortunate.
but it is true to a greater extent
than one would imagine"
At Mrs. Van Wrinkles apartment
it was learned that many messages
of congratulation were received last
night. Among the telephone mes
sages was one from Mrs. Jennie Grif-
fifth, superintendent of the National
Training School for Girls. Besides
expressing her pleasure at Mrs. Van
Wrinkles acquittal. Mrs. Grifith said
that every girl in that institution,
the majority of whom had been COM
mitted through the efforts of Mrs.
| Van Wrinkle, or women of her bu-
reau, had prayed several times yes
terday that she would be acquitted.
Mrs. Griffith said also that at the
religious service at the institution
yesterday morning the text was:
who Are They That Condemn Herr"
Questioned Evans Order.
The specific charge on which the
woman lieutenant was tried was that
on the morning of March % she ques-
toned the right Of Asst Supt Charles
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