Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-27
The Powers OF the Police.


1t will be remembered that on October 9th
Judge Smell, of the Police Court made the
following order: "It is ordered, that here
after, in all cases within the original and
exclusive jurisdiction of this court, that is
TO say, in all simple assaults aud batteries,
and all other misdemeanors not punishS BILE
by imprisonment in the penitentlary and in
all ofenses against the laws and ordinances
OF The District in force therein, process shall
be directed To the major of the police but In
cases cOgniZable in the Supreme Court pro-
cess shall be directed TO the marshal, exec pit
In cases OF emergency, when IL may be di-
rected to the major of police"
Subsequently Majo Richards, superinten-
dent of police, called on Mr. w. y. Cook at
torney OF the board, and requested an
opinion on
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
list. Can police officer justify an arres {
made under warrant issued to the marshal
of the United States in this District; and 2d
Can process be legally directed out of the
Police Court in any United states cases to
the major of police and be properly served
by him except in cases of emergency"
hR: COOK SAYS ono" TO BOTH QUESTIONS
MI. Cook answers both questions I'm the
negative, and says: list. No one except the
officer to whom warrant is addressed or
who may be properly deputiZed to act IN
maze s Q, s sncn GIhGer can have right to
no authority of law for the service of q war
rant addressed to the marshal by police
would render the police officer executing
liable to action for damages. I'd. Sections
1865 and 1066 OF the Revised Code relates to
me service Of process issued in the Police
Court. The first of these sections plainly
provides that 10 cases arising out of viola
lions Of the ordinances or laws of the Dis
tric process shall be directed to the major
OF police. This is the only provision that
authorizes process to be issued to that offic
except in United States cases of "emergen-
ey." Hence in cases of offences against the
United states no authority whatever exists
TO process to the "major OF police" and
when an act OF Congress designates the class
OF cases In which process may be issued to
tens or any S'e court by t not order somps
confer the power. The law makers having
withheld IL no other body can confer it,
Police Court the distinction between the
duties OF the District officers proper and
those OF the United states are clearly indi-
Gated. In sections 1919 the iuri dictiOn of the
court is declared in reference to cases against
the United States and against the District;
In the section 1859 and l0Il the distinction is
maIn.sined oy requiring the prosecution of
conducted by the United States Attorney or
some of his assistants and prosecution of
onences against the District by it's attorney
or assistants, and the distinction is continued
In 1919 which provides that fines and penal
ties shall be collected by the marshal or
major OF police as the case may be. Congress
has seen fit to create these distinctions aud
they should be strictly observed. No one is
justified in disregarding them.
THE TAR NUIsANCE.-Etiaor Star. I beg
10 call attention to q great nuisance, and one
mat is causing much damage and to suggest
the tar from the carts which convey the N, A.
terial about the city for repairing the pave.
ments. Ihls tar drips all the streets and
crossings, adheres to the shoes of citizens,
ard is thus carried into our houses and
omces, where it is running carpets, rugs, &c
thus doing an immense amount OF damage
Ii Is very easy to remedy this, by simply
sospendlng at the tail OF the carts, a small
hoard Trough to catch the tar as IL runs
therefrom, the trough fastened SO il can be
readily unlocked or detached, when the cart
IS 70 be dumped. IF the owners of the carts
will not do this Lieut.. Hoxie or the Commits
sioners ought to compel them. There is no
sense or reason in the destroying Of fine car
pets. &c, by this sloyenly careless way OF
dolng hlngs. HOUsEKEEPER.
SOCIAL MATrERs.-A very rleasaut meet
ing OF the q. 7. Club was held ON Friday
evening Tor the purpose OF reorganization for
the winter, at the house OF one of its promi-
nent members, Nj. E. II. Thompson. In the
course OF the evening arrangements were
Rightly entertainments which were the
source o. so much pleasure last year. Yae
meeting was not, however, entirely confined
10 me transaction of business; readings.
vocal ARD instrumental music, and, OF course.
dancing, found place In its varied pro-
grsmme.
FORGERY AND FALSE PRESERVATION IN
A REAL ESTATE IRA of the
detective officers arrested about two O clock
Geo. keelan charged with obtaining money
by falsely personating John Fl. Dunlap. IL
is alleged that on the 9th OF July last he exc
sSted ia. DEED on D1hniaps property In square
from Dodge q Daneille, of this city. Keeian
is q small, low coiored man, resembling Dun
lap In some respects, and he acknowledges
that he forged the name OF Dunlap.
REAL ESTATE sALSs.-Yesterday Samuel