Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-13
T HE ED M UN DIS Law
An Announcement That It Will Be Strictly
Enforced in This District.
Preacher Mills and Elizabeth Davis,
Both COlOred, Held for the
Grand Jury.

Ior otner women and WINES who have desert
ed their husbands for other men are now 10
be prosecuted under the .Edn.unds law, as
are unmarried men and women between
whom Illicit relations exist. Prosecuting At
torney Mullowny made this announcement
in the Police Court today. and In following
the remarks of Judge Miller defined the
policy of the district attorney in cases Of
alleged violations of the Edmtmds act
The case before the court involved a
charge of adultery against Philip Mills and
Ehzabeth Davis The former, who claims
to be minister, is a stranger IN the city
having come here from Richmond, and he
one morning about O'clock when Police
men Creagh and Virgins disturbed his
peaceful slumbers and caused Mrs. Davis
to flee from the bed chamber
Their plea in the case was not guilty. ami
the court heard the evidence of witnesses
The woman's husband was first called, and
Mr. Mullowny asked him: rs this woman
one of your wives?"
His Onliest Wife.
rs she one of my wives?" the husband
repeated. shes the onliest wife I've got
Preacher Revel Smith. he said, married
them, and five months ago they separated
He has called to see her almost every day
since, and pays the house rent
Policeman Creagh got on the stand ana
and of what he saw. There was another
witness in the case, but she was not put on
the stand.
Judge Miller inquired if this was a re-
sumption of hostilities under the Edmund:
act and the prosecuting attorney answered
in the affirmative.
Judge MilIer's Remarks.
Judge Miller said he realized that the
proper administration of the law would dc
a great amount of poo5 in braokipp I'm Nv
listing evils. Last year, when the Police
Court was called upon to decide the matter
the law was held applicable to the District.
and the court was flooded with cases.
While the judge said the proper adminlstra-
ton Of the law would do good, he also real
lied the danger of blackmal growing out of
some of the cases. In this connection ne
said he had required strict proof in these
cases, so that there could be no blackman
in this way.
The judge referred to the fact that until
a year ago the Court in General Term had
held that the law was not applicable to
the District. and it was not known that it
did apply until the question was raised in
the Police Court and the Court of Appeals
sustained the decision in the case.
The judge said he hoped the prosecuting
attorney would apply the law to present
conditions, for persons had INDUCED in the
evils designated in the law without fear
of prosecution account of the decision
of the highest court in the District. In
such cases he realized how the rod of terror
might be held over some of these people
who have committed an error. In many
cases the people may have reformed and
rosecution would only do HARM 1t would
have the effect of breaking up families and
dragging into the court people who are
making an honest effort to live respectable
lives. In such cases the judge said he
could see no good to be accomplished, and
he hoped the prosecuting attorney would
bring no such charges.
No Old Cases to Be Revived.
Mr.. Mullowny said .haC such was the
policy that the district attorney had adopt
ed. Persons who have been living in Illicit
relations, and quit, are. not to be prose-
cu1ed. There are a great many respectable
men, he said, who are in this tangled re-
lation with women, and WHO want to quit,
hut are afraid, and this law Will give them
just the opportunity they desire. He as
su1ed the court that he WouIdtn lend his
office to any blackE,aiins scheme, and said
that the old cases, SUCH as the court had
mentioned, would not be revived.
Ignorance of the Law No Excuse.
Judge Miller said he was glad to hear
that such a course had been adopted. He
spoke of the large number of illegitimate
children that are brought into court and
turned over to the Humane Society, and
this, he said. was evidence of the whole
some character of the law. Ignorance of
the law, the judge said, is no excuse, and
now the public has had due notice of the
law, which, ne said, has already worked
great amount of good.
Preacher Mills and his female companion
we're held for the action of the grand jury,
and were committed to Jail in default of
$500 security.