The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-28
THIRTY MURDER TRIALS
The Record of Justice ClabaHgh in
Criminal Court No. 2.
Appeals Frequently Taken From His
Decisions But Never Sustained by
the supreme Court of the United
Sfufes-The Ernest Rodgers Hear
ing Set for This Morning.

With the close If the current week the
work Of Justice Harry NJ. Clabaugh in The
criminal branch vi the Supreme Court of
the District will end-at least for some
time to come In compliance with the as
Segment Of the justices made at meet
ing, in general term or December 81 last,
Justice Clabaugh was transferred to Cir
cult Court No 2 to succeed Justice Brad
ley who will, during the coming year.
preside in Equity Court No. 2. In this
connection it may be stated that in the
reassignment of the justices at the be
ginning of the year the only other change
made was that of transferring Justice
Barnard from Equity Court No. 2. where ne
has presided since his elevation to the
District bench, to Criminal Court No l
to succeed Justice Clabaugh.
Since his appointment as a member of
the bench of the Supreme Court of the
District nearly two years ago, Justice
Clabaugh has presided in Criminal Court
No. l. During his term of service he has
conducted the proceedings in many i'm
portant cases. among these were more
than thirty murder trials. In many in
stances the accused have taken appeals
from his decisions on points OF law, and
more than once have these appeals been
carried TO the Supreme Court OF the United
States but in not a single instance has
the Judgment rendered by Justice ca
baugh been reversed by the higher courts.
This morning the trial of Ernest Rod
gers, who is charged with the murder or
Frank Hook, on December "a last. Will be
begun in Criminal Court No l, before JUS
tice Clabaugh The accused is the only
prisoner at present in the District jail
who is charged with murder. The crime
with which he is charged was committed
in Southwest Washington on the night Of
the date mentioned, and is said to have
resulted from a dispute over game OF
craps, in which Rodgers, Hook. and some
others took part. Clarence Hook, broth
er of the dead man, and Edward Bumbrey,
both colored, nho were witnesses to the
killing of Hook, are in custody, being held
as witnesses for the Government. The
former is confred in the District jail, and
the latter at the workhouse.
During the fight which took place be-
tween Rodgers and Hook, it is alleged that
Rodgers stabbed Hook in the neck with a
knife inflicting a wound which resulted
in his death. Rodgers Will be represented
by Attorney A s. Colyar and the Govern
ment by District Attorney Anderson and
Assistant District Attorney Ashley NJ.
Gould
Before leaving the criminal branch OF
the District Court II is expected that Jus
tice Clabaugh will announce his decision in
the case of Frank H Cox who is under
| indictment for contempt of court. Some
days ago counsel for the defendant filed a
demurrer TO the Indictment, and argument
was heard on the question. At the close
Of the argument Justice Clabaugh an
nounred that he would take the matter
under advisement and render his opinion
later It is also expected that Justice Bar
nard before leaving the equity branch Of
the court. will announce his decision in
what is known as the knights of Labor