The Washington times., 1938-03-18
Not Give the Girls
Chance to Live?

"A W. AA4 NS
A WE remarked here few weeks ago, there
has been great deal of CONSERVATION and pious
eyebrow raising the emergence of young woman
hood into the fields of banditry and alterations.
But have any preventive been taken
to keep these girls out of temptation and be-
fore it is too late Who about them until they
come into the juvenile courts? All too few.
The boys seem to be better favored. We have boys
clubs here and elsewhere generously provided with
the best in equ pment and guidance to set boys
straight and to keep them straight.
But the girls7
They are left to take their fun where they find it.
And where they find it mostly is the streets.
It's the 'ihoused ifed ilclothed one-third' in
whose behalf this piece is written. The others,
more fortunate, have advantages
4"e 1"-HOHSe0 which tend to do away with the
Need the Care necessity of outside guidance and
assistance.
Poverty is tremendous force for evil.
It's no fun for schoolage girls to play in con-
gested Streets while little boys of their age find
shelter in boys club headquarters
It's fun for girl adolescent to stay at home and
mind of babies in squalid, congested quarters
while she hears of other girls of her age enjoying
themselves-in sports at the MOVIES and at dances
in the company of boys.
So the little girl learns the ways of the Streets And
the adolescent goes to the and picks up
strange boy friend Just for fun-just for excitement
She may also pick up disease.
Not so long ago. the country was shocked by bus
hodup staged by two girls. The total revenue
yielded in the hodup was slightly over So and the
girls killed the bus driver to get it. They wanted
movie money.
In Hyattsvile recently, young girl ran away with
a boy friend They not married.
Margaret Rose OBrien, H. sweetheart of Ellis Tip
pett 20, and expectant mother, accompanied Ellis
and his 17-year-od brother Ellsworth series of six
Uouo Aro oon,o holdups within hour. Cap
~ tured at inn Woodbridge,
SpU"'P'e O""e" Va the boys were seeking money
by robbery, the girl and Ellis could get married.
ALI from Ardmore Nd. Ellis pleaded guilty and Ellis
worth was convicted by jury.
Eunice Gerard H. "blond butterfly accompanied
Narden Kicker, a. and Robert William Menzer, %
on automobile ride during which James Nahum,
Washington insurance collector, beaten and
robbed Nahum died 16 days after the assault. The
girl was exonerated by Grand Jury but Meinzer got
20 years and Kicker Is years. The woman with whom
Eunice lived described her as "good child who
led astray.' Blamed drinking.
Isabelle Messmer, 21yearod gungirl, of Indiana,
spent considerable time in Washington where she
was arrested several times for carrying gun. She
was sentenced last February to indeterminate term
in reformatory for running down detective with her
automobile.
For more examples go into the Florence Crittenton
Home, the National Training
Examples AOOUnG School for Girls Houses of
HU Around Us detention are oVercrowded
with such examples
It would seem on superficial examination that these
girls were "bad' Yet experts tell that environ
rnent will make us good or will make US bad.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent
on boys clubs Even though there is still for
improvement they have admittedly done good job
with young boys.
Would it be too much to ask that the girls of this
city be given equal opportunity?