The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-24
BRANDED AS A NUISANCE
Noisy Prisoners at the Fourth Pre-
einct Police Station.
Complaint That Night Is Made Hid
eous by Singing. Shouting, and
Swearing-Inpossibi to Overcome
the Evil Because of the Alleged
Lack of Proper Dungeon Cells.

The Commissioners recently received a
letter from ]. Raymond Stafford, of 3SS
Indiana Avenue. in which he made COM
plant against disorderly conduct on the
part of prisoners confined in the Fourth
precinct stationhouse.
81 desire to call your attention, he
writes, ito a nuisance of almost nightly
occurrence at the Fourth precinct station
house in South Washington. / refer to the
loud. boisterous. and disorderly singing
shouting. bowling, and cursing INDUCED in
by those who are so unfortunate as to ind
themselves within the walls Of the said
station. The time selected for tais most
intolerable and unpleasant entertainment
is usually about midnight, and from then
until dawn a stranger passing within two
squares of the station would justly conclude
that bedlam had broken loose.
ION August Z the whole neighborhood
was kept awake the entire night by songs,
speeches, and curses, emanating from
man in the custody of the police. About
q. m. l called up the station and informed
the officer in charge that there were in my
residence two persons very sick and re-
quested him TO silence the offender, or at
least to place him in some portion OF the
station where his vocal exercises would
not disturb the whole neighborhood. The
officer replied that he could only request
the prisoner TO keep silent. That the pris-
oner did not do so it is unnecessary to add
Now, gentlemen, ! understand that
there are in all stations dungeon for IN
ruly or disorderly persons. and, in my
humble opinion, a man who will through
the entire night disturb the whole neigh
borhood within radius of two blocks from
the place of detention, ought to be in
carcerated in a dungeon. Mr.. Commits
sioners, the thing has been going on for
the past three years, and complaint after
complaint has been sent to the official in
charge of the Fourth precinct police sta
ton. and during that entire period not one
thing has been done to abate this most
disagreeable nuisance. We have ordinances
for Growing ROSTERS, barking dogs, etc,
why not let us have police regulation for
bowling men and singing women, who howl
and sing not once or twice, but throughout
the entire night.
I'm conclusion. let me say that this
communication is addressed to you not
only on my behalf but at the request II.
on behalf OF many OF the residents in the
vicinity of the aforesaid stationhouse."
Lieutenant Hollinberger, Of the Fourth
precinct. in reporting upon the letter Of
Mr.. Stafford. at the request of the Com
missioners. stated that the nuisance
complained Of Is one that exists at times
in all stationhouses. and one that il is
difficult to abate. 1t often happens. he
says, especially on Sunday nights. that the
cells IN this station are all full of drunken
men and women. who make night hid Gus
by their noise. I'm some instances. he
contiaues, where profane and indecent
language is used, a separate charge OF
profanity IN the station is made, and has
been sustained by the Police Court.
I'm the special case named by Mr.. s af-
ford on August Z, officer McGrath asked
for an information on the charge but was
refused by Mr.. Elliott, who was acting for
Mr.. Pugh.
1--WE have dark cell in the basement,
but owing to it's being so damp 1t can sell
dom be used TO incarcerate prisoners, and
in cold weather II is unfit for use. as It is
not heated"
The Superintendent of Police. upon the
reception Of Lieutenant Hollinberger's
report. referred it to n. L. Sinclair, AS
sistant Attorney for the District, asking
for information regarding the issuing of
informations by Mr.. Elliott. Mr.. Sinclair
reported TO the Superintendent that Mr..
Elliott, who is a member of the Metro
politan police force detailed in the office
CT the District Attorney, performs duties
that are strictly ministerial and that he
is an information writer and not an infor-
nation issuer. Mr.. Sinclair stated that he
acts under the supervision OF the Prose-