Evening star., 1899-03-25
LITTLE DISORDER,
This Was n Peaceful NeighborhOOd
in the Old Days.

"I have some knowledge of the neighbor-
hood in which The Star located and has
grown up" remarks Mr.. Joseph William
son. 'I was appointed on the police force
in 1851 and at first served in the auxiliary
guard, under Capt. Goddard, and subse-
qrently as a day officer. Much of my
duty was performed around and about
The Star office. The section of the city
south of the avenue was peopled by the
respectable classes - lawyers, physicians,
tradesman and mechanics dwelling in har-
mOny. We had our restaurants on the
south side of the ayenue-Andrew Han
cocks, near 18th street, still carried on,
and Conrad F'inkman'5 saloon nearby, the
resort of many of his fellow countrymen,
with an attachment for the CCny anience of
parties, &c, in the shape of a large hall,
under the name of Harmony Hall, on the
south side of d street, opposite his back
gate. Harry kuhls, on the north side, op-
poste Hancock s; Horace Ritter's, between
1lth and 18th streets; John Foy's Republ-
can House, on d street east of 10th; Ward S
Tavern, at the southeast corner of 18th and
c streets, and others. But there was little
trouble at these places, for they were con-
Quoted in as orderly manner as that class
of place is today. In my bailiwick were the
National Theater, then newly rebuilt; Ca
rUsi's saloon, now Kernan's: Apollo Hall.
on E street near 18th, and others to look
after; but seldom was an officer required
for other purpose than as reminder that
law and police regulations must be OBJ
served.
II do not mean to say that there was no
law breaking. but in proportion to the pop
ulation, l believe there was less wrongdo-
ing. Now and then drunken brawl and
during political campaigns and in the ex-
citement on the occasion of fires a few
fights would occur, but l believe the old
times show up the best.
1.-The coiored race engaged more of our at
tention than the white as may be sup
posed, as there was no provision for educa-
ton, ard, bond free, the negro was, un-
der the law, a chattel, but considering all
things, the general conduct of the race
was commendable. We had the idle and
evil-iisposed white and black in those days,
house was rarely sustained, few, if any.
storekeepers permitting 1t. Nor did the
youth give as much trouble, for the 8
o'clock bell, the signal for the colored to
start for their homes was generally re-
garded as the curfew bell for the white
boys.
THE old ward magistrate system was
then in vogue, Justice John d. Clark being
our squire, with his office always in the
neighborhood of 18th and D streets, and
usually the penalties imposed were light.
] he Stereotyped judgment in corporation
cases was 81 fine and SO cents COSTS
Did have any trouble with the news
boys! said Mr.. Williamson. Why bless
your soul! that class was barely known
Men delivered the papers for the most part
the newsboy developed. There were not
many around the Office at first, but as the
paper grew, did the number of bows
They were then all white, for the colored
newsy did not make his appearance till
during the war. The Star people easily
managed the boys, and the officers in the
neighborhood were all that was necessary
to prevent disorder"