Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
IN THE POLICE COURT
Where Petty Offenders and
Disorderlies Are Punished.
TWO KINDS OF TRIALS
VIoLAToRS OF UNITED STATES
AND DISTRICT LAWS.
Changes Since the Court Was organ-
lied Over Thirty Years
Ago.
TWO KINDS OF TRIALS
Ry Frank Golden.

BY Frank Golden.
There has been but little change IN tho
method Of trying cases in the Police Court
since it was first organized in 1870 until
the present time. and cases are disposed OF
now as thew were then. fines being imposed
upon conviction with sentences in the jail
or workhouse in default OF payment.
The Police Court was created by an act
Of Congress approved June II. 1870. with
an amendment approved the following
month. that the first session should be held
after a judge had been commissioned and
qualified for the duties of that Office. July
10 of the same year the late Judge William
b. Smell who had been appointed by Presi-
dent Grant several days previous for a term
! OF six years, presided over the first ses-
sion of the court which was held in n
/ room on the second floor of the Kimmel
/ House, which occupied part of the site on
| which the Havenner Baking Company is
| located on the south side of c street be-
| tween AZ and 9th streets northwest Tho
| prisoners were taken from the several sta
| ton houses throughout the city in a We
| hlcle known as the Back Maria, and
were confined in a dock located on one side
Of the court room where they remained. II
convicted. until they were transported to
the tail or Workhouse. There was a cell
located on the ground floor of the building.
but it was only used when prisoners were
inclined to be boisterous.
The First Session of the Police Court
When the court was convened for its
first session. Alexander T. Gray, the clerk,
by direction of Judge Smell, read the
judges commission and the act of Con-
gress providing for the organization Of the
court. and they were spread upon the min
utes. The court was then ready for bust
ness. About dozen cases were consider
ed the first day. Prior to the establishment
of the court offenders were tried before
police magistrates.
he aarIx- Iar- oe .l.a sha
cases numbered from twelve to twenty-five
as the daily average, with about fifty trials
Mondays, being the accumulation of two
days, as no court was held Sundays. The
judge of II Police Court then, as now
only disposed of cases where the punish
ment did not call for more than years
Imprisonment In cases where the penalty
was more than twelve months the court
acted as a committing magistrate and held
the offender for the action Of the grand
jury, If the facts warranted such course.
In New Quarters.
By 1875 the business had increased to
such extent that It became necessary TO
look for new quarters, and the present
building, located at the northeast corner OF
9th and D streets northwest, was purchased
for $4,000. The building had been occupied
as church, and IT was necessary to make
extensive repairs before court could be held
there. After the alterations had been COM
pleted and before the court was moved
property owners in the vicinity protested
against the building being occupied by the
Police Court. claiming that their property
would decrease in value. Injunction pro-
ceedings were resorted to, but before the
papers could be served Judge Smell had a
table and several chairs transferred from
the old court to the new, and Janitor
Hughes was in possession when deputy
marshal arrived on the scene with service
papers.
Judge Smell continued to serve on the
han " Jndpa
Thomas F. Miller was appointed by Prest-
dent Cleveland a. his successor. Judge
Miller served until he died in November,
1897.
The Two Courts.
The violaters of the law steadily increas-
ed in numbers. and in 1891 Congress was
asked for an additional judge. Judge
Kimball was selected, and the business Of
the Police Court was divided into two
classes. one court being known as tho
United States side. in which violaters Of
acts Of Congress were tried, and in the
other which was termed as the District
branch. cases Of a petty character, such as
disorderly conduct and vagrancy were
heard. Jury trials were also inaugurated,
ard persons who were charged with an Of
Tense which was punishable by fine of
$50 or more. had the privilege or trial
by either Judge or jury. During the Tune
that the court buildings was being ar
ranged for the accommodation OF two
courts the sessions of the court were held
at the sixth precinct police station on New
Jersey avenue between ID and Z streets
northwest.
Fines and Penalties.
The majority of the cases called TO the
attention of the court are of a petty ma
ture and consist mainly of disorderly con-
duct violation of the police regulations
and vagrancy, and are heard on the Dis
trict side of the court, while the more ser
ious offenses such as assault and larceny,
are disposed of in the United States
branch. The minimum fine imposed is 81,
and the law in some cases provides a maxi
mum penalty while in others there is no
limit to the amount of fine which may be
imposed.
person cannot be sentenced to more
than years Imprisonment from the Police
Court and to keep within the limit 364 days
Is the maximum jail or workhouse sentence
imposed. The fines and forfeitures col
lccted at the court are turned over 10 the
collector of taxes by the financial clerk at
the end of each week, and the money is de-
posted in the United States Treasury. Dur
ing the year 1901 Cab persons We're COM
mitted to the Jail and workhouse from the
court, and S55 76S was collected in fines and
forfeitures.
For the Trial Of Juveniles.
court for the trial OF juveniles under
the age of sixteen years was established
January 18th of this year for the purpose