Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-21
IN THE POLICE COURT,
a Lawyer Points Out Some Much
Needed Reforms I'm This Tribunal.
, tho Editor Of THE EvExIxe srAs.

To tho Editor Of THE EvExISe srAR:
Six know why your journal is influential
and popular among the intelligent people Of
.!.s District why everybody reads The SrAn-
because il is clean. independent frst-rate
newspaper. "Old reliable" Constantly watch
lag over, carefully guarding and faithfully
representing the interests and advocating the
rights OF the people.
lou do not hesitate to expose abuses and
recommend the removal or correction of evils.
on give ear to the complaints of the people,
aiiordinS them an opportunity to be heard.
and you do not hesitate to inform Congress
and the country of tho rights and needs OF
those who have no direct voice in the selection
Ci their rulers. / am not one OF those men
who 20 about continually seeking whom they
may devOdr or searching for something dis
agreeable tina: may expose il IL public and
shock the senses OF decent people BY calling
attention TO it. would prefer to deal with the
good. the true and the beautiful! and, az FAR as
practicable. avoid and overlook the evil, but
We all know that evils cannot be eradicated.
tina; diseases cannot be cured by ignoring or
attempting 10 Ignore their existence.
IN OUR POLICE COURT.
In answer to 4 subpoena l spent the better
part OF q day of last week in the Police Court
Of the District of Columbia-my first visit to
that tribunal-and want to call attention to
4
prIsed and shocked.
have been a member OF the bar moro than
thlrty years: have been admitted to practice i'll
the highest tribunal i'll this nation, was judge
Ct court OF record twelve years and 1 think
have a correct idea OF the law relating to the
rights of citizens hate 10 see any person.
EO matter how poor how degraded. not to
say vicious. deprived of his InalIenable rights
VI treated like dumb brute worse. A per-
son accused of q crime, msdemeanor
mr. ~
ntled. when arraiSned IN court, to hear the
charge or accusation against him read
and to be confronted" by the wit
ncsscs against him, to hear what they
say and TO he Informed of his rights and privi-
lcges. that he may have some sort OF an oppor-
tunity TO offer his plea and defense. Let
poor. frIendiess boy or girl be hustled" up
from his dungeon cell in the cellar and
placed Ia dcCi SO far from the bench of the
judge ana the desk of the clerk that he cannot
possibly hear the indictment or Information
against him hastily and indistinctly read. il
generally l.. and the answer he may be called
upon to make by the bailIff IS made in the
dark. at random. at his peril. The testi-
muny OF the witness, given in a low voice,
III haste. standing with his back to the accused
tvCEty or thirty feet distant from him, is
beard only. rule, by the judge, clerk
ami bailIf. and the miserable victim receives
his sentence and retires. in ignorance of
everything except the result.
Police Court trials appear 10 me to be out
raGeOus and disgraceful in many cases. They
put justice to the blush and even decency to
shame. say this with all due respec. to the
judges and officials. Constant dealing with the
worst element of society has a tendency TO
harden and blunt the feelings of police officials,
i know. but am sure the people of this Dis
tTIct would demand reform il they could realize
the necessity existing for the same. l have
lived nearly ten wears in this District and am
no ''tenderfOot.' l have seen enough to satisfy
myself that it is high time that the Police
Court system of this District should be re-
formed
One Police Court is not enough if justice il
to be done and the good name and reputation
OF the city OF Washington is to be preserved
In the name of dccercy and dignity let us have
police magistrate IN each police precinct and
let all minor cases be there disposed of. de-
emily and III order. Remove the disgusting
spectacle from the heart of the city which at
tracts crowds every morning to the corner Of
9TH and ID Let the dignity and character of
the central Police Court be raised to that Of a
court OF Justice, in which examinations of per-
sons accused of grave offenses may be held
without undue haste and the trial of persons
pleading mot guilty" and demanding u Jury
may be conducted with due regard for the
forms and rules of law
IMPOSING on THE PEOPLE.
The good people of this District are SUBJ
jected TO Inconvenience and annoyauces too
often by being compelled to LAY aside all Of
their business and excuses and appear in the
Police Court there to sit and wait for hours.
unwilling witnesses to disgusting scenes and
sights. before they can be heard in haste. in
behalf of the President of the United States.
Many offender goes ''unwhipped OF justice"
because the citizen would rather submit to
SrieyOus wrong than appear in Police Court"
and many case Is compromised because
there Is neither time nor place for the proper
legal adjustment of the wrong.
Our Police Court facilities and conditions
not by any means such as they should be.
A cloud OF witnesses can easily be found
competent and willing to establish that allega-
ton. / am sure You will support the demand
Tor reform III this regard. HBA
TeIeDhone Insanity