Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-06
straw Bail I'm are Police Court

A SEVERE ARRAIGNMEST OF THE COURT
BIZ ASSISTANT ATTORNEY BIRNEY.
The assistant attorney for the District has
addressed the following letter to the District
COmmi ssiOneTS:
Cbice Of me Assistant Attorney DIST. C5',DiJia,l
August >. 1875. Z
Gentlemen. a part Of the duty assigned to
me j the collection Of the judgments OBJ
tained by me in the Criminal Court on the
cases appealed from the Police Court, in
which the District is plaintiff. In some case;
have been able TO collect the amounts; but
i regret to say that in many of the cases,
after TIE most olligent search for property.
have found the Judgment debtor good for
nothing. attach hereto "A list Of thirty cases
OF The above class, in each of which believe
bOth prlIclpai and surety are wholly ire
sHonslole. As there Is no process against the
person after bail has been given on appeal,
al the Offenders in these thiTty-seven cases
nave some unpuniSLed, after having caused
expense to the District. The District lO-eS
the aEeregat of the fines. and l. a. attorney
lose the docket fee allowed me by the law.
Ire cause Of the evil complained Of lies
wholly beyond my control; il is the taxing
OF straw bail by the clerk ana deputy clerk
OF the Police Court. Neither nor nv aSsis-
tant have any thing To DO with the taking OF
bail IL Is the duty of the clerks, Mr. Dag-
son aud his deputy, Mr.. Leighton. they should
inquire into the responsibility of the surety,
assure themselves o. his identity, make
me mo- aLca or the bail bond If the uneu-
numbered real estate claimed by him, I'LL I'D
Ire aHldayit To property printed IN the
blank on the bail bond. and REQUIRE the sure
y TO produce ? certificate OF his taxable
property signed by the superintendent Of as
easements. They should endorse upon the
bond The address Of the principal and suretv
anC require the surety 70 sign his full name
10 the bord
II these obviously prudent precautions
were taken every judgment recovered on the
appeal could be collected. But the clerk and
deputy clerk Of the Police Court appear 10
nave 70 system roethOt OF taxing bond; the
printed blank for affidavit 10 property is fire.
YueTtiy not niled uD or certificate TO proper
" nom the superin Jendent of assessments is
OFTEN not required. SuTeties are often per
United 10 sign initials only OF their Christian
Names the name l. often not signed at all
by the party, and If written by the clerk is
sometime misSpelled; there is no menOran-
dum Of the real estate Of the surety Endorsed
on the bond, and. in short, the whole busi-
ness Is wTetchedly InaEaged.
nave brought tine careleSSncSs in bust
EesS IN the clerks Office OF tGe Police Court
repeatedly To the attention OF the clerKS: IL
has been commented on from the bench re-
peatedly n the severeSt terms by Judge Mac
arthur, but the culpabIe Indifference and
apathy and careleSSness continue. aud rather
crow worse. AS the loss 10 the District from
TINS cause is large, and my own personal loss
IN the cases appended Is not much less than
$50. have concluded 10 bring the matter 70
Your attention, IN hopes that you ri II, "a the
interest Of the District, bring This matter Of
nclally 10 Ire notice Of Judge Smell. The
judge o. the court has the power OF appoint
HfC-t ard removal Of the clerk and deputy
clerk. 10 might be well To begin suit against
re c4erE and his surety for the amount of
INES and costs by his carelesSneSS.
very respectfully, &c, WM. EIENET,
Assistant Attorney