Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-27

NipS ISL fSuisaiHs 10 De mentioned. ana that
is the time spent at the Police Court. The men
who do duty during the latter part of the night
go oH duty at O'Clock am. and are supposed to
sake rest until 6oclock p. ~; but should they
have been so unfortunate as to have made any
arrests during their tour of DUTY they must ap-
pear at the court and spend a large part of the
day there instead of ut their homes in bed rest
ing; SO that when the hour of 6 p. m. arrives
the men are tired and too often unfit to again
resume duty and do It efficiently
mere reading of these statements will show
the necessity for some relief in this particular.
The bill, which is herewith transmitted, will
AFFORD the remedy called tor. not only as regards
the time lost by the officers but also as regards
the next evil here mentioned
DISADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM
Upon conviction in the Police Court the
party charged has the right appeal TO the Grim.
inal Court, where the judgment is final. This
latter court is Overcrowed with business. and in
consequence thereof, cases in which the District
OF columbia is a party are not tried for siX
twelve or eighteen months after the trial i'm the
Police Court. Almost invariably defendants
charged with violations of the license laws of
the Dlstrict upon conviction in the Police Court
appeal to the Criminal Court, knowing that
trial therein will be delayed for months and
the possibility of conviction be reduced to a
minimum And such is the fact. The amount
OF money involved in these appeals is each year
from $4,000 to $4,000, and the number of
convictions comparatively few, for the reasons
stated in my report of 1884. 1 there said: a
great many OF the persons prosecuted for keep
ing unlicensed bars, and OF those for keeping
their bars open on Sunday. took and periec aed
appeals to the Criminal Court, there TO be tried
by jury. From the necessity of the case n large
majority OF those persons who testify in
whisky cases frequent bar-rooms and grocery
stores where liquors are unlawfully Sold and
consequently ali their sympathies are with the
whisky seller. Now, when the cases are tried
in the Police Court, the occurrences which con.
st1tute the OffenSeS are fresh in the minds and
memories OF witnesses, and convictions are
easily obtained. Appeals are taken, and after
the lapse OF six, twelve and sometimes eighteen
months. the cases are called for trial in the
Criminal Court; when, as frequently hap
pens, the witnesses have lett the city.
or cannot be found, or, if placed upon
the witness stand, forget everything connected
with the case, except at sometime they OBJ
tanned liquor in the place of the defendant, but
SO long ago, and they did not charge their men,
cries with the facts and, consequently, the
defendant is acquitted. Time is material allie
CATION In the Information in this class OF cases,
and must be proved as laid. Ii these cases
could be tried in the appellate court within two
or three weeks after the trial in the Police
Court, in many cases there would be convic-
tons, wherein now dismiSsals are had because
OF the reasons above stated
MONEY LOST AND THE LAW DIsHoNoRED.
Not only does the District lose thousands of
dollars because of the delay mentioned. but the
law loses its terror to the evil doer There are a
number of persons who think it not wrong to
violate the law, provided they are not caught;
and knowing also the long delays that aust
occur before their final trials, and the chances
of escape they run the risk, and often success
fully. Could we have system of administer
ing the criminal law, where trials would be
and certain there is
crime, and the District not robbed of revenue to
which it is justly entitled The bill herewith
submitted for your consideration L have no
doubt, will to a very large extent remedy the
evil described. When trials in the Police Court
shall be made final and obtainable within a
week or two after com paint, many persons
who are in fact guilty will be convicted where
otherwise they will escape.
Senate bill No. S52 provides for an appeal in
all cases from the justice of the peace to the
Criminal Court. and in some cases even before
readily seen that the Criminal Court would
have SO many cases before it that they could
never be tried. 1t would result in adding evil
to evil.
THE INCREASE OF CRIMINAL BUSINESS.
Our city has ceased to be acountry village and
il machinery for administering the criminal
laws must be adequate to the demands of a
city. And in my opinion It is of vital impor-
lance that the civil and criminal jurisdiction OF
magistrates be kept separate and apart. The
rapidly each year, and any man who properly
attends to his office, as provided in the bill sub
mitted, will find that he has time to attend to
civil matters, and besides the sources of our la W
are SO varied that it will require constant study
for a magistrate to SO familiariZe himself with
the laws as to properly administer the duties of
his office. First. we have the common law;
then the laws of Maryland prior to the cession;
ordinances of the city of Washington, applicable
to territorial District; ordinances of the city
of Georgetown; acts Of levy court; acts of the
legislative assembly, applicable to the whole
District; health ordinances; building reguIa-
tions; coal regulations; plumbing regulations,
and all more or less modified by acts of Con-
gress.
tenn of administering the criminal law should
be improved ana other objections to the enact
ment of the bill upon which you desire a re-
port that can be better stated orally than in a
written communication"