Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-14
THE TROLLEY PROSECUTIONS
They Were Suspended by the Attorney
Under Instructions.
What a "Star" Reporter Was Told To-
day-The Change of Tactics Be-
fore the Police Court.

AS stated exclusively IN Inc quar- VI ycS-
terday. all prosecution against the Eek
ington and Soldiers Home Railroad Com
pany for obstructing the street by the I'M
lawful continuance of overhead wires and
trolley poles has been stopped by the aI-
thorities
The docket Of the Police Court show
about twenty continued cases against the
lexington railroad for tia obstruction
above noted. A reporter of The Star called
upon Prosecuting Attorney Pugh this
morning and asked why these cases mad
not been called. Mr.. Pugh said:
1T is a fact that there are upward OF
twenty cases pending against the Ecking-
tinued indefinitely"
"Are you ready to proceed and try THESE
cases?" was asked.
Eyes, indeed. In fact, have been ready
for some time" ~
Then why have you not proceededE
Because 1 was directed to hold them
up by the attorney for the District.
"Was any reason given why these cases
were not to be tried?"
Il am not at liberty to state" said Mr..
Prgh.
Mr.. Pugh, is it not fact that you were
called before the Commissioners ana
directed by ore of them not to proceed
against the lexington railroad in the OBJ
struction cases?"
said Mr.. Pugh. Whatever took place be-
tween me and the Commissioners must re-
main inviolate."
The Attorneys Statement.
The attorney for the District was next
seen and questioned. Mr.. Thomas said:
THE Commissioners occupy the same posi-
ticn as one of my clients, and it could hard,
ly be expected that would reveal anything
intrusted to me. will say, however, they
have the power to stop proceedings 1nsti-
tuted by this office, at any and all times
and if they were to send me word to drop
a case, l should Immediately comply"
"Why is it, Mr. Thomas, that prosecu-
tions against the railroad have ceased?
4 would like to oblige you, but really L
have nothing to say"
Commissioner Ross said as far as he was
concerned no notice had been sent to the
attorney to cease prosecutions since his re-
turn. If such notice had been sent during
his absence he had not heard of it.
Commissioner Powell said he was aware
that the Commissioners some time ago d.
rected that proceedings against the rail-
road for operating its road contrary to
of Judge Cole. There may have been some
order issued during his absence from the
city.
This afternoon the Commissioners sent
for the attorney for the District, and when
he arrived was ushered into the board room,
where special meeting was being held.
The conference lasted some time
The attorney refused to say anything
Commissioner Truesdell, however, stated
that the trolley subject had not been mel
toned at the meeting.
The Attorney Instructed.
A prominent official of the District said
to reporter of The Star this afternoon
that he had received positive information
that the prosecuting attorney for the Police
Court had been instructed not to make any
cases against the lexington road until he
was ordered to do SO. why" he contil-
ueG, Ibis apparent apathy in the matter is
conclusive.
"You remember how active he was in
bringing the road into court every day.
Well, why did he suddenly quit, and why
since Judge Coles favorable decision has
he not begun again? Surely it cannot be
urged that he would of his own volition
stop these prosecutions after once having
been ordered to proceed against the COM
pany, and after the test prosecution had
been sustained by the Criminal Court l
tell you there is no doubt he has been
stopped.
Perhaps no official order has been issued.
The Commissioners have way of getting
around that order business. When they
desire to take certain action they get to-
gether and agree to it. Nothing is put on
the records. l mean the records that the
reporters are allowed to see.
Now 1 know positively that some time
ago all three Commissioners agreed that no
further action should be taken by the law
oilceTS OF the District against the trolley
road, pending the consideration of the case
by Judge Cole The attorney for the Dis
trict, ! am Informed. was present. and he
simply accepted what they agreed to, and
so Informed his subordinates"
1t was stated today that President New
bold of the lexington Company was pre-
pairing letter to the Commissioners set
ting forth exactly what the railroad pro-
posed to do in the future. The Commits
sioners are expecting such letter. and
said when it arrived they would give it to
the public.