Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-13
PLANS HARD FIGHT
FOR POL|CEWOMEN
Mrs. Van Wrinkle Denounces
Decision Filming Two AS
SiStants S25 Each.

women Gladys Black anu rear oil
ker on charges Of Illegal arrest ana
rough treatment of a victim or mis-
taken identity may lead to sensational
charges Of prejudice and undue actlV'
ity in seeking their trial when the
SAses are appealed to the District Com
mfss,oners. II was indicated by de-
velOpments today.
The counter charges, 1t was init
mated from reliable sources, may CEN
ter around a memorandum sent by
the Police Department to the Police
Trial Board concerning Mrs. Blacks
previous record as police OFFICER
which memorandum, according to
Mrs. Nina Van Wrinkle, head of the
womens bureau, contained false in
formation"
Immediate Appeal Planned.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle announced today
on behalf Of the poliCewomen that an
immediate appeal would be taken from
the trial boards decision, which car
ried with it recommendation for flne
of s25 for each defendant. The police
women's chief vigorously protested the
conviction and declared her intention
Of defending her operatives to the
limit Of her ability.
If this is what my women are 10
get for doing their duty, then the
public Of Washington need not expect
the Women's Bureau to continue
longer it's efforts to apprehend miss
ing girls or fugitives from justice.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle stated.
The memorandum, which accom-
panied the charges on which the trial
was based, read as follows:
Complaints Are Cited.
pvt. Gladys Black-Appointed
March 70. 1925. No convictions be-
fore trial board. but record shows that
ma Tor and superintendent has on two
occasions called to the attention Of
the director. Women's Bureau, re-
peated complaints against the officer
in unlawful arrests, elections from
moving pictures, embarrassment, etc.
Questioned as to the statements
made in this memorandum, Mrs. Van
Wrinkle asserted that they were "un
true and unfair"
THE major and superintendent OF
police has never called to my atten-
ton any repeated complaints against
Mrs. Black for false arrests" Mrs.
Van Wrinkle declared ''She has
never made any false arrests. MAJ.
Hesse some months ago did ask me
newspaper prominence and I told him
that it was because she was such an
active and efficient officer. I know OF
no unwarranted elections from NOV.
ing pictures. embarrassments. etc.
In which Mrs. Black was involved"
Will Demand Fair Deal
Mrs. Van Wrinkle would not say
whether or not she intended calling
the memorandum to the attention Of
the Commissioners. II am going to
see that my girls get a fair deal. how
ever" she said.
Maj. Hesse. when questioned re-
garding the memorandum, explained
that 1t was the custom Of the depart
ment to furnish the trial board with
q statement OF the record Of officers
brought up for trial He denied that
the memorandum was untrue or I'm.
fair. citing In support thereof an Of
f1cial communication which he had
sent TO Mrs Van Wrinkle last October
concerning the "unfavorable public
fly" which Mrs. Black was getting in
the press. The letter directed that
Mrs. Black use Just as much energy
in trying ito prevent violations of
the law as she does In making arrests
of violators."
The records show that Mrs. Van
Wrinkle, In reply. defended Mrs.
Blacks activities. while promising to
bring the ma ior's instructions to the
attention Of the policewoman.
Mrs. Marx Complainant.
Mrs. Black and Mrs. Parker were
convicted Of illegally OBTAINING and
naltreating Mrs. Loretta Marx. wife
of the manager Of the Bannockburn
Golf Club. on July q last in front Of
her home at 1925 Eleventh street
Mrs. Marx told the trial board that
the policewomeH. whom she supposed
TO be insane" seized her and dragged
her along the pavement and attempt.
ed forcibly to put her in their auto
mobile. She finally fought loose, she
testified. but not until she had suffered
numerous bruises and injuries from
her struggles.
The policewomen, on the stand ad-
united selling Mrs. Marx in mistake
for a girl who had escaped from the
National Training School for Girls.
but denied handling her roughly or
otherwise m!streating her.
Attorney Robert E. Lynch, for the
defense. argued to the trial board that
although an unfortunate mistake was
committed the poicewomen were
fully justified IN OBTAINING Mrs. Marx
3n view OF her resemblance to the fugi-
tive. coupled with the fact that the
officers had received Information that
the girl sought had been seen at the
eleventh street address that same
day.
Testimony Is Conflicting.
number OF witnesses gave testi
Nnony. much Of II being Of conflict
ing character as far as the charges
OF rough handling were concerned.
The trial board, consisting OF WI.
liam II. Wahly. assistant corporation
Eounsel; Capt. Martin Reilly and Capt
Ira Sheetz. apparently believed the
Htory related by Mrs. Marx, however.
The decision and testimony were in
process OF being forwarded TO the
Commissioners this afternoon.