The Washington times., 1923-09-25

District AfkorneY + Studying
Evidence Tor Action Against
Mrs. Smith.

3 r ri aa L s so
United States Attorney Peyton
Gordon, following . conference
with Lieut.. Nina Van Wrinkle, Of
the Women's Bureau, today de-
cided TO conduct . thorough IN
curry into the alleged maltreat-
nent 81 children boarding at the
Chaylotte Nellie school pnd Mars
erv. 8242 Niueteenth street mo- Z
west. by undertaking them and
denying them proper cAk
Action hi Doubt
whether he will bring the ca1e
before ! grand jury as II criminal
offense or place it in the hands Of
the Police Court il discretionary
with himself, Major Gordon de-
cIared. He first will 50 over the
evidence and, should It appear ag-
gravated' take Mrs. Estell0 B. Smith,
proprietress before the higher courts.
he asserted.
''At the present time, have not
made up my mind" said Major
Gordon. cit all depends upon what
the circumstances are, that will
guide me In prosecuting the case.
No definite action win be taken
until / have heard all the testimony
that the Women's Bureau can Of
fer.
1.-THE charge which will be lodged
against the proprietress Of the nurs-
cry IL I should find the facts Jlts-
tify It probably will be cruelty to
children
Nurse Brings Babies.
A registered nurse at the baby
farm brought the babies to the
House of Detention last night after
Mrs. Smith had stayed away from
her school all day. The nurse
charges that Mrs. Smith left her
with the babies at IL o'clock yester-
day morning.
When Mrs. Smith was stiIl alb
sent at o'clock last night, the
nurse bundled the tots into y taxi
cab and took them to the House OF
Detention for food and shelter.
Women copettes forgot the. duties
long enough to make up a good
warm meal for the hungry children.
Previous to the meal there was
IA general splashing around while
the seven underwent the rigOrs ana
pains of a septic bath. Haraased
attendants Of the Wornen'S Bureau
were given q breathing spell
when nature asserted Itself, and
the tired infants slept.
OF the seven children taken into
custody five have been fully identi'
fled A three-year-old boy. answer
ing to the name of Walter, and
little girl-Morganzay-whose parents
are believed to be residents Of Mary
land, have not as yet been called Tor
Anxious mothers and guardians,
hearing of the plight of their chill
dren, kept the telephone wires TO the
House of Detention busy throughout
the night and this morning. TWO
came to the institution, but permit.
ted the children to remain until
other lodgings could be found.
The children identified are Robert
De Lassips. three years old; Allaere
Casson, eight, 1907 Thirty-first street
northwest; Eugene Turnbull. four
los street northwest, whose mother
is Mrs. Marie Turnbull: John Las
sitter, six, whose father is said to be
In Philadelphia, and Mary Scully'
four.
The children had been placed IN
Mrs. Smiths care by parents who
worked, policewomen say. Charges
of from $40 to $40 a month were
made. It is said that candles
furnished the chief source of light
in the house. Two months ago
thirty children were in the house.
neighbors say.
Police say that in August a
foreign nurse, who had not a clear
understanding of English, was en-
gagged to supervise the children
play.
It Is said that this nurse would
take the babies to Rock Creek
park In the morning and would
return in the evening when an
alarm clock she carried went off.
That was her signal to return
with the chlInrAnn