The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01

The October term of the Supreme Court
Of the District of Columbia Will begin to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock, Chief JUS
ice Edward S. Bingham sitting in Circuit
Court No. 1, presiding. The other branches
Of the court will be presided over as fol-
lows: Circuit Court No. 2, Justice Andrew
c. Bradley; Equity Court No. l, Justice A.
B. Hagner; Equity Court No. Z. Justice
JOB Barnard; Criminal Court No. l, Justice
Harry NJ Clabaugh, and Criminal Court
No 2, Justice c. c. Cole. The latter will
also preside in the Probate Court.
The members of the grand and petit
iuries which have been summoned for
service in the different branches Of the
court during the coming term Will report
for duty tomorrow morning, and for tho
first time since the beginning of the suns
mer holidays, on June 80, last, the col
ridors and court rooms at the City Hall
will be crowded. In connection with this
it may be stated that those of the attor-
neys and others who return to the bul;d-
ing for the first time since the beginning
Of tho holidays, viii note many changes.
The City Hall, during the last threa
months has been renovated from top 10
bottom, and nany conyenlences and COM
forts added. The Office of the District At
torney has been remodeied and enlarged,
so as to greatly facilitate the transaction
Of all business.
A much-needed improvement has been
made in connection with the two criminal
court rooms. Attorneys witnesses, and
others who have had business in these
branches of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict will remember that when an impor-
tant case was on trial and the court room
was crowded. the atmosphere was sitting
nearly to suflocation. Justice Clabaugn,
when appointed TO preside in Criminal
Court No. l. last spring called attention
10 the existing conditions to the proper
authorities. and as d result few weeha
ago two electric exhaust fans were placed
in the centre Of The ceilings OF the Crimi-
nal Court rooms. These fans will be oper-
ated each day during the sessions OF the
Criminal Courts.
while there are not SO many murder
cases on the docket for trial during the
coming term of court, still there is suf-
lcient number OF persons charged with
crimes OF a lesser nature to warrant the
statement that both branches Of the Grim
inai Court will be kept busy during the
winter and spring The grand jury for
the June term OF the Supreme Court, after
a recess of six weeks. resumed its work
on September II. and since then has
been busy investigating the charges pre-
ferred against different persons. Among
these are three who are held on charges
of murder, one for manslaughter and a
dozen or more accused with assault with
intent TO kill. Benjamin Alexander is
charged with being responsible for the
death of William Snow, on August l6 last,
in Marble Hall Alley; James E. Bates is
held responsible for the death of Wash
ingtcn Fenwick at the Benning railroad
crossing, on the night of August 16 last.
and Boyd Wallace is charged with causing
the death OF Robert Stafford on August 4,
at COZ y Street northwest. 1t Is probable
that the grand jury will not complete its
Investigation of these cases before tomor-
row, when it VIII make its final present.
monts. In this event however, the work
will be taken up by the new grand jury,
which will be sworn in tomorrow or the
next day.
Besides the persons charged with the
crimes mentioned there are scores of 9TH
ers in jail and al large on bail who are
charged with offences Of 4 lesser nature
who will be brought to trial at this term
of court. In addition to these there are
several cases which have been brought
oyer from the last term Of court which
Will no doubt be called to trial during the
present month. First among these is the
case Of James Lanckton. who is charged
with the murder Of Mrs. Bette Wrenn in
March last. The Government made every
effort to have this case brought 10 trial
at the last term OF court, but a continu-
ance was granted at the request OF counsel
for the defence. Justice Clabaugh vino
granted the postponement, did so with
great reluctance. and at the time stated
that he would insist that the defendant be
placed upon trial as early as possible upon
the conyening OF the October term of court
1t IS probable that the new grand jury
will next week take up the consideration
of the charge against Druggist Albert N
Conner, who is held TO be responsible fol
the death Of Miss Eva Melting, who died
a week ago yesterday.