Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-08

The Police Ceurt.
Communication from Judge The FIaes and
ishat Becomes Of Thsm-worA Of Gse Court
Gpsanges Ssssestsd-RexsvaI 70 as city Hon
Judge VIM. b. Smell, of the Police Court, to-
cay addressed q communication 10 WIN. X.
Hunt, chairman otthe Police Committee House
OF Delegates, acknowledging the receiyt of the
resolution OF the Houoe OF Delegates, THAT the
Committee OF Police inquire into and report the
amount of fines imposed by the Policc Court
since its organiE alton, aud what disposition he
been made OF the same;" and su bmitsias SITS
ment Of the fines imposed and collected since
the organization Of this Court - May 81. 1871.
BY the 18th lection of the act creating Toe Police
Court neither the Jud re OF the Court, or its
clerks, are charged with the collection or Gus
TOY OF fines pod costs, but other officers, not
designated by Congress, and charged with this
duty and responsibility.
From Marshal Sharp's statement it appears
that
THE WHOLE AMOUNT or FINES Anp. COSTS
impcsed and collected from July IL, 1870, to
May 81. 1871, Is S"0,si0:95. Total disburse-
mems, SIS ISL 80: uaking az exc sss of receipts
of S1,0l3.C2. Judge smell says:-On Ms(ch 81,
1871, here was full st .tanent made by the
Marshal With tfs nnfa; - 'hia9tou
and receipts R4sscl, he ,,sying over the sum of
now on file in the Marshefs Office. The Marshal
now tr'fs the sun of 1851 "A, payable 10 prop
cry authenticated parties to receive tbe same
tor rhe exinct corporations. All these dis
Msrsbal as the agent, practically, OF the
several corporat'ops, to avoid the iRconve-
what impracticable and csrcum!ocutosy
provisions OF the law, and in no case under any
Pretended authority Of the court. This state
ment does not embrace fines impoGed and col
lected at the woTkhouse or upon appeals in the
Supreme Court. The amount cole ctsd at the
workhouse, am informed, Is S371s5. In four
o. n ,ee cases sPPeaeG to the pre- VoSrstae
increased IN the aggregate to 1850, and paid
there, going TO the benefit of the school fund.
There have been fines imposed for
SELLING LIQUOR WITHOUT LICENsR
to the amount of 5000, still pending up On appeal
in the Supreme Court, ard IL is probable that
there may be about $500 from other cases be-
sfiirmation of Judgment below. But very few
appeals have been taken in any other class of
csses, but in liquor cases mostly ali appeal. The
Police Court has tried, from its organization to
May 81, 1871, six Thousand five Hundred and
eIghty-six cases. Its effect upon CT me can only
be inferred from very sensible reduction Of its
daily list OF cases, and areduction of The number
of arrests. The law OF Congress was undoubt-
edly well considered, but
SOME CHANGES
would materially improve 1t, and increase the
receipts OF the court. II, for instance, in cor
poratiOn ca.es, costs were provided for jnfor-
nation or complaint and service, IL would be in
conformity TO almost universal practice, and
add materially to the aggregate OF receipts.
whether any change in this regard comes with
in the powers Of the Territorial lie gislation it
will be for you to consider. In conclusion, per-
=
the successor of the sc. sral corporations, il il
charged with providing . suitable building for
the Police Court.
1t is very generally admitted that
THE PRESENT COURT ROOM
isis not suitable" 1 can only express a wish
that due care may be taken when the change is
deter mined upon. that the selection may be one
suitable IN all desirable and important partic-
rlsrs, convenient and permanent. Before dis
missing this subject, permit me to say that it
has been suggested that IL the rooms recently
occupied Tor city OFF ces in the west wing of the
City Hall could be united in one, an excellent
and permanent court room could he furnish cd
The rooms in the basement could readily be
arranged for cells, ard unless some insurmount-
able architectural objections exist, it would
seem that here or all other places, Is the best
location for the police court.
The impression see med TO prevaii very gener-
ally at the organization OF this court tn at it wa,
to be tource of large expenGe u the corpora
ton. aud the undersigned was frequently re-
Quested tn estimate the amount OF deficiency.
This deficiency was variously estimated between
the extremes of twenty and fifty thousand dol
lars, the latter being the figures Of one more
cOnversant with criminal business than suy
gentlemen in the District.
But the court will descend to the Territory
urincumbered, with
NO DEFICIT,
having t'scharged all its current expenEe It's
b9'91' e n the bands of the Marshal, Wa hing
ton Asylum IDtendant, valu able property now
on hand, contrib uticns TO the school fund, saying
nothing CT contingent additions to the same,
from appeals now pending, show that the Police
Court during the first ten months and twenty
Gays OF lis existence has more than liq udated all
expenses incident to its creation and msinte-
nance.