Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-17
ONE MORE LETTER
Commissioners Take Up the Question Of
That Unfortunate Dog.
An Animal That Has Made a Stir in
the World After
Death.

A letter has been addressed to Judge
kimha1 of the Police Court by the District
Commissioners in which they express regret
that there should appear anything which
would indicate any lack of harmony or dis
agreement between the Police Court and
the District government. The Commission
ers' communication was in reply to one ad-
dressed to them by Judge Kimball m re-
lation to the case o, Policeman johnson,
who last month was fined $40 by the judge
for alleged cruelty in destroying dog with
his club. Major sylvester, the chief of po-
lice, believing that the action of Judge
kimball in filming the officer would discour-
age the members OF the police force in the
performance of their duty in destroying
ferOcious. hydropnobic or otherwise objec-
tiond Die uoSs, requested the Commissioners
to have their ;--tOrney advise him as to the
authority and DUTY OF policemen in the
matter. The attorney for the District rem
dered an opinion to the effect that the law
conters ampie authority on members of the
police force to destroy animals found to be
nuisance or menace to the public. Judge
kimbaIl wrote the Commissioners that the
question arising in the case presented to
him and that raised Wy the chief Of police
were not Identical.
Lack of Harmony.
In their reply to Judge Kimbalrs COM
munication the Commissioners, after ex-
pressing regret that anything should have
arisen and appeared in the public press
which would indicate any lack of harmony
or disagreement between the Police Court
ana the District government, say:
Justification Urged.
so far as the particular case of Officer
johnson is concerned, it would seem TO
be proper to infer from the facts brought
to the attention of the Commissioners,
which are, perhaps, more full and complete
hot, hos
ticer was justified in what he did and that
no cruelty was exercised. The Commission
ers are informed that one of the most i'm
port1nt Witnesses in Johnsons defense, a
letter carrier, asked that the trial be de-
layed until he could reach the court, as
soon as he could be excused from his duties,
but that the trial was proceeded with be-
fore he could give his testimony, on the
ground that the judge was obliged to leave
the city, and the case was necessarily called
early in The morning.
1T is believed that il the defense could
have been heard more fully the result might
have been different. The prosecution was
not by the Commissioners against one of
its own officers, but in the ordinary course
of business of the Police Court, warrant
was issued at the request of some parties
who fell aggrieved. The Commissioners
asked the opinion of their attorney, at the
request of the major and superintendent of
police, In order that they might have legal
advice as to the duty of the police when
an animal apparently dangerous is at
large. The action was not intended any
reflection upon your decision in the case
referred to, but was only taken for their
information.
THE Commissioners note with gratif1ca-
ton the concluding paragraph of your let
ter. and will see to it that the officers of
the police force, when called upon to kill
dog, are perfectly sure that it is proper to
comply with such a request. and, if it be
So to perform the duty in the most humane
and careful manner possible