The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-30
Father Usually to Blame When Good Girl Goes
Bad and Turns Gangster's Moll, Judge Declares
Parent Should Make PAL
of Daughter, Tell Her
Things About Life, Is
Opinion of JuriSt.
BY MARY MARGARET MBRIDE
Times-SEA Service Writer

NEW YORK, June 3O.-The per-
son most often to blame when a
girl Of good family and sound ira
ditions turns gunman's mol is her
father. At least that's the conclu-
sion Magistrate Jeanette G. Brill
has reached after years Of watch
ing girls who become companions of
criminals, and their fathers who ap-
pear before her either to weep over
their daughters or to complain
about them.
It's generally too late then, Judge
Brill thinks, for the father to ac-
complish much in the way of help
since the daughter fears and often
dislikes him by that time.
But if he had made companion
Of her as he often does her brother,
if ne had told her the things about
life and men that every girl needs
70 know, then it would probably have
been a different story. Instead he
is too often strict, forbidding and
almost a stranger, speaking to her
seldom except TO register a prohibi-
ton against something she wants
to do.
More Than Ever Before
There are many more girls than
ever before, of supposedly good up
bringing, turning to lives of crime
these days, or at least consorting
with criminals" said Judge Brill,
seen after an exhausting morning
in the Brooklyn women's court,
where she had listened to the prob
lens of half dozen girls who some
how, somewhere, had taken the
wrong turning.
At least three Of the six had
begged to see the judge alone and
told her their stories with complete
frankness. One had even asked to
be sent away" for a few months
that she might get out of a bad at
mosphere and have a chance to
straighten up.
Judge Helps Girls
After little thought, Judge Brill,
who has deep understanding gray
eyes and young daughter of her
own, granted this unusual request, |
and her face was still lighted with |
the hope that something may be |
done for the girl when she is free |
again.
I'll have her come right back !
to me-" she planned busily. 1--WE |
will talk everything over, Ill stake
her to a few dollars and 1 do be-
lieve that girl will make something
of herself"
Incidentally, it won't be the first
time that girls have made Some-
thing" of themselves after sessions |
with this earnest woman judge.
Appeal of the Gangster
The gangSter has two appeals
for the well-brought-up young girl"
she explained thoughtfully.
In the first place, most young
people are adventurous by nature.
That goes with youth. And a con-
fident man with lot of good clothes
to wear and tall tales to tell can
make himself out glamorouS fig
ure.
Even when she disapproves and
is a little afraid, the girl is fasci-
mated. And pretty soon, the Sec
ond appeal takes effect. Her mater
nal instinct is aroused and she
wants to protect or even reform the
young man.
He makes her feel that the whole
world is against him. And while
she knows he does wrong, she finds
excuses for him and believes that
he's unfairly treated. especially
when the police get after him. Often
she's led a sheltered, hedged-in life
and her judgment is not developed.
Let Children Decide
I'VE think too much for our chill
dren We ought to give them the
proper information and then let
them make important decisions for
themselves. I would have to retire
if all parents did that"
The case of Norma Millen, the
Massachusetts, minister's daughter
convicted for completely in the
crimes of her husband, is not unus-
ual. Judge Brill says. Many girls
have had experiences like hers, only
not so conspicuous.
There was, for instance, the mid
die western girl who came to New
York two years ago to get an office
Job. She had gone to college for two
years and she was bright, ambitious
and pretty. Jobs were hard to find,
however, and she spent all her
money. Then she met handsome
young man.
The young man treated her as if
she had been a queen, took her
about to night clubs, spent money
on her as if there could be no end
TO his resources. Then one day he
told her about Job" he had done,
stickup job.
Girl Is Sent Home
The girl was Mortified, miserable.
She wanted nothing more to do
with him, she said, at first. But
after all, she liked him, liked him
lot and or .ually she came to look
upon his crimes with less preju-
diced eye.
She was never actually involved
in any of them, however, and when
ne was caught, a sympathetic social
worker managed to keep the girls
name out of the case and finally
had her sent home. Not long ago,
she married her childhood sweet
heart and is happy.
But for one story that ends like
that, there are ten which end with
the girl who should have known
better brought into the courts.
rugr NDAnIIATCC LANE