New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-12
(PUBLrC-NO. ST.

y l.
| AN ACT to establish police court for the
District Of Columbia and for other pur-
poses. IN ,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That there
shall be established in the District of Column
bia a court to be called the Police Court of
the District of Columbia, which shall have
original and exclusive jurisdiction of all Of
lenses against the United States committed
in the District of Columbia, not deemed
capital or otherwise infamous crimes, that
is to say, of all simple assaults and batteries,
and all other misdemeanors not punishable
by Imprisonment in the 'penitentiary: and
Of all Offenses against any of the ordinances
of the city of Washington, or of the city of
Georgetown, or laws of the levy court of
the county Of Washington. 1t shall he
composed of one judge, who shall be
man learned in the law, and
who shall be appointed by. the Presi-
the advice and consent Of the Senate, and
shall hold the office for the term of six
years. Before entering upon the duties of
his Office he shall take the oath prescribed
for judges OF the courts Of the United
States. r-t 4t .-.-.
SIC. 2. And be it further enacted; That
the salary of said Judge shall be three thou
sand dollars per annum. The said court
shall have power to appoint a clerk at a
salary Of two thousand dollars per annum,
who shall hold his Office during the pleasure
of said court. He may appoint one deputy,
with the consent of the court, If the bust
ness shall require it, to be paid such c0mpen-
sation as may be allowed by the court, not
exceeding one thousand dollars per annum.
Said clerk shall give bond with surety, and
take the oath of office as precribed by law for
clerks of district courts of the United
States. He shall have power to administer
oaths and affirnatiOns, and in his absence his
deputy may administer the same.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That
prosecutions in said police court shall be by
information under oath, without indictment
by grand jury or trial by petit jury; but any
party deeming himself aggrieved by the
judgment of said court may appeal to the
criminal court held by a justice of the
and in such case the appeal shall be tried on
the information filed in the court below, GER
titled to said criminal court by jury i'll at
tendance thereat, as though the case had
originated therein. v5'
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
said police court shall hold term on the
first Monday of every month, and continue
the same from day to day as long as may be
necessary for the transaction of its business
for the arrest OfpersOns against whom infOr-
nation may be fled, or complaint under oath
be made, to compel the attendance of wit
snesses; and said court may enforce any of
its judgments Or sentences by fine or impris-
onment, or by both. In cases arising out of
violations OF any of the ordinances Of either
Of said cities, or of the laws of said levy
court, such process shall be directed to the
chief Of the MetrOpOlita police of the Dis
trict of Columbia, who shall execute the
same, and make return thereof, in like man.
ner as in other cases but in cases now cog
nizable in the said criminal court the pro-
cess shall be directed to the marshal of said
district, except in cases of emergency, when
it may be directed to said chief of the
Metropolitan police; and for his ser
vices the marshal shall receive the
same fees-prescribed for like service in said
criminal court, to be paid as provided for in
section fourteen of this act Such process
shall be under the seal of said police court,
and shall bear a teste in the name Of said
Judge, and be signed by the clerk. And in
cases of sickness, absence or disability of
said police judge, either of the justices of
the supreme court of the District of Column
t,la shall designate some justice Of the peace
OF said District TO discharge the duties of
said police Judge, until such disability be rer
moved, who shall take the same oath as is
prescribed for said judge of the police court,
ana shall receive the sum of ten dollars per
gay Tor the time he shall serve, to be paid
IN the same manner as the salary Of said
ponce Judge Is paid. h..t 90 -
oEc. D. And be it further enacted, That
sald ponce court shall have power to punish
contempts and to issue alt process neces-
sary Tor the exercise of its jurisdiction, and
snan nave seal. But said court shall not
nave power to naturalize foreigners
SEC. 6. And be it further an cfad That said
police court may appoint bailiffs, not exceed
ing two, who shall receive for their services
three dollars each for every days attend