The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-05
'RAPEER SCORED
N D|PLO
HEARING

The Judiciary subcommittee De the
House District Committee went Ear
afield Ia its consideration 81 the
diploma min bill today and received
sof1e very sensational testimony
from Mrs. Nina G. Van Wrinkle,
CHIEF of the Wonan's Bureau. re-
gardi11g improper advances toward
girls III his school alleged to have
been made by DIR. Louis w Rapeer
head of Research UniversfkF
The committee favorably reported
the diploma mill bin. which was
passed BY the Senate yesterday.
substituting this for the House
measure Il has haa under Considers
ton
Mrs. van Wrinkle read Is the com.
mItfee an affidavit sworn TO in 1921
IS Lula DeibIer, sc one time 4
akudeilt in the schOOl. Most uf the
Affidavit II ri 4 sensational clfarac.
Ter. Iii M Miss Deibier accused
Rnpeer 81 attempting 10 crimfnaIIy
assault her.
Evidence Turned Down
Before reading the affidavit, Mrs.
Van Wrinkle asked Chairman Clar-
ence u Mcleod Of Michigan If her
testimony before the committee was
privileged, explaining that 1t never
had been proved in court. Mcleod
told her IL was.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle said she had
taken The girl, with her affidavit. to
Assistant District Attorney Ralph
Given. She said Given had refused
20 prosecute the case because lie
thought the evidence was not tsOrng
enough when it was based on only
one persons testimony.
Acting on his advice. Mrs. Van
Wrinkle said she sent two police
women into the school as students
to obtain further evidence. The
first one, she said. was recognized
as pOlIcewOman.
Before being recognized. however.
sl1e obtained certain corroborative
testimony from other girls.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle said she herself
paid the tuition for these police
The second pOlicewonan. she said.
had no personal experience with
Rapeer. but reported that his lee.
lures centered on the subjects Of
rex and abide topics.
She reported that Rapeer was
teaching his girl students that sex
experience Is necessary to develop
personality. Mrs. Van Wrinkle said
that she has been in favor Of pros
ecuffng the case on the evidence
she has obtained, but that Given
has been afraid to go ahead with it.
Two other girls complained at
various times of Rapeer's advances,
Mrs. Van Wrinkle said, but they
both refused to go into court or
make out affidavits.
Rapeer Denies Charges
Rapeer took the stand at the end
Of Mrs. Van Winlkle's testimony
and ennhatically denied the charges
made against him I'm the affidavit.
He said he hardly remembered Miss
DeibIer. but recalled that she was
ssmad because she failed In her
wOrlx.0
He charged that policewomen who
had been sent into his school had
tried to get him to make advances
% them. He gave details Of their
efforts to "yamp' him.
Headquarters Detective Frank A.
Varney also testified against Raeper
today. He presented records from
PnIIca Court showing that on two
GCT23IQN15 III A0SOs 1AnRNGE hd3 III
@efted collateral on assault charges
preferred by women.
TEeater Case Cited
varney testified that he had ar
rested Rapeer. in one Of these cases,
a 4 fheater on r Street for making
Improper advances 10 q girl who
@at next to him in the theater. In
flrat case, Rapeer forfeited $50 col.
lateral
Rapeer was cut short in his de-
fense statement by adjournment Of
the meeting, but was given per.
mission TO elaborate on his state
raert Ia the record OF the pro-
caedings.