Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-14
WHAT'S TOBE DONE
FOR BANNER GIRL?
Monsignor and Judge WrestIe
With Problem Of Pathetic Fig
ure in Murder Case
SCORNED BY TOWNSPEOPLE
Bv n stag Corresnon den,

New RrunSWfCk, y. D.. tci Is
What is 10 be done for Pearl Bahmer?
That question was answered today
By Judge Peter F. DAILY. and Monsignor
Norris. Of ST. Peters Church.
"1t is not question" both men
say gravely. ''of what is TO be done
10 the girl or what will he done with
her. 1t IS n question of what can be
done for her.
For her" in those words lie her
salvation As the daily throngs pass by
the courthouse their pointing fingers
and their curious eyes seek out one
part Of the iail
'That's where she Is - thcv whis-
per. And there their eyes falling
TO the first floor Of the jail-'iS where
her father is.
They do not give thought to the fact
that she is sPvent nen ycar-old girl.
her name smirChed with an indelibe
stain. who will always BE- thought Of as
behind imaginary prison bars long after
the actual ones have opened before her.
None to Comfort Her
Pearl has few friends in New Bruins.
wick. Whatever the feelings that she
inspires-indiffcren SCorn. Censure---
there is no one who stretches out n hand
of sympathy. no on" 10 say n tender
word. and with wise fingers Of guidance
and Kindness wipe away tho Cohwchs Of
mental limitation and the dust Of ig-
norance accumulated in her mentally
and morally unhealthy surroundings.
With dim understanding Pearl S'rug-
eled to opcn wide those vacant grnv eyes
Of hers to let in the shine Of the stars
Of truth she somehow felt must he there
but could not soc. She caught the gilt
ter once when she went to mission
which was in the town, and returned the
next night bringing three girls she knew
with her. They saw It. too--it remained
for them. hut for Pearl It vanished, and
she sank once more into a slugg Shncss
nothing could penetrate.
"She hasn't had chance" said
Judge DAILY. II think something could
he done with her if only she had the
right training. When she will get out
of Jail I don't know, but whenever it
Is. | will not send her 70 an institution
Of correction. She cannot be turned ont
alone in the world.
Of the Sisters Of Mercr at tho House
Of the Good Shepherd, in Trenton,
where they cau teach her and hclD her,
and where she will be surrounded by
goodness and kindness. She would be
taught the things she has never had Il
chance 10 learn. and when she becomes
better they would send her our again.
But now she cannot cope with the
world. She cannot combat il by her
pclf.'
There is no woman in the town W no
has offered 10 help the g!rl-no one who
has suggested that il she needed assist .
ance he or she was ready 10 give il.
Her half-sister has not been 10 tho
Jail.
The only person who has inquired
for her is Mrs. Ann e. Messlcrs. the
woman who hes been living at tho Bah.
ner homo for the last two years
II couldn't SEQ her. said Mrs
Messlers. And what should I care
what happens 10 her: | made her con-
frmation dress. She hrs 10 right Il
once when we mot on the street that
4. If I ever got in the Bahmcr family I'd
,fiare my hands fUll witt! Pearl
pearls mother died >cp-aI year,
o. "Shc isn't vicious girl at heart.
,says Monsignor Norris. She has
had no one to help her and has had
y no one to teach her.
70, TownspeopIr Merely Scornful
She bent under the wind Of circum-
nrther rise. She was broken, and nov
~. there Is no one to help her grow again.
~ The neighbOrs and tOwrspeoplc ny,
merely curious or scornful; the rela =
tives lndiffercnt-Such is the c!rrlr
which surrounds Pearl.
''BaA,aer ain't had a sober day s.nco
juno IL. said Mrs Messlers. II rc-
member. because every morning Id BET
him that he couldn't keep sober that
day. He did for Il while He'd bcp,
off it for n month and then when pcarI
jumped in the cana ho started UP again
] remember the day because when h,
came back drunk That night | marke,
it down on this calendar behind the
bars. and h" a!nr drawed a sober
breath since.
More sinned against than SHINING
more TO Re pted than blamed NOR,
to be helped than ignored and scornod
10 Pearl.
The Cobwebs alc so fringcd with ,lu1'
that the hand witch removes them VII
have TO be gentle IesD the framework; be
destroyed. too. Her years Of stunrr.
growth have taught her 70 desire moth
ing rlsc--the life she has lived is
the only one she knows