Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

dicial departments. Trials and legal pro-
ceedings were often passed by without
mention, and only exceptionally interesting
court matters received more than a para
graph in print. 1 recall that the execution
of man for wife murder was noticed in
the public press some years before this
time to the extent of only three lines, and
that was a case that had excited great in
terest in the community.
cat the time in question there were In op-
Grafton the circuit court, with its law and
equity branches. and the criminal court.
The latter had jurisdiction principally over
offenses against the person and was regard
ed as the most important, so far as the fur
nishing Of news was concerned. But even
the criminal business that received the at
tention Of the reporters was given to the
public merely as a bare mention. The pro-
ceilings Of the circuit court were accorded
only scant space. In fact. equity and dis
trict court business was unknown to the
general public. Probate business found
place in the papers only when some peculiar
question or the estate Of very prominent
person was involved.
1.-THE duties now performed by the record
er of deeds then devolved on the clerk OF
the court. Although at times there were
interesting transactions in real property,
seldom were they made public by the office
except for the purpose Of giving confrma-
ton to the rumor of a sale. 1t was the
period, though, when the dollar mark was
seldom used in connection with the value of
ground and the prices per foot were more
often expressed by mills than by cents.
1.-THE work of the newsgatherer in taking
in the city hall did not include even the
record of marriage licenses. Usually a
single quarter Of an hour sufficient In
which to learn If anything Of public interest
had transpired. The clerk of the criminal
court was looked on as the possessor Of ev-
erything Of value to the newsgatherer.
when, in the year 1852, The Evening
Star made its appearance, items that had
previously been passed as not worthy OF
note were given to the public matters OF
general interest. More attention was paid
to the court end OF the city hall building
than ever before, and gradually those en-
ployed there realized what the reporter
wanted. His work was thereby lightened
to some extent. 1t was. however. through
association with members OF the bar that
/ pointers were obtained. By asking few
questions facts were learned and written
up While as a rule the lawyers were ac-
commodating, there were some, especially
when they wereo on the losing side Of case.
who attempted to impart false information.
Through the courtesy Of the court clerks.
though, 1t was always possible to ascertain
and print the truth.
How Court News Was Obtained.
"The effort Of The Evening Star was not
only to cater to. but to educate the public
taste, and by a more thorough canvass for
court news-though the means were crude
In comparison with those OF the present
the public was given an appetite for
the proceedings Of the judiciary that re-
mains normal to this day.
"A cheerful Good morning. followed by
question as to whether anything had hap
pened of public interest, generally was sue
cessful in drawing forth something, but Of
fetal documents were never handed over to
the reporter for perusal out Of the sight of
the custodian. In fact, it was usually 'on
the fly, or by question and answer, that
news was obtained. The Star took the lead
in publishing court news in such shape as
to be Ineligible to the layman
'In the year $780," concluded Mr. Crog-
gon, ''the offices of the city corporation
were located in the western portion of the
court house building, with large room on
the first floor for a council chamber. The
members of the board of aldermen were
domiciled on the second floor. In the east
ern portion of the building were the courts,
the offices of the clerk of the court and of
the marshal. Some of the rooms on the
upper floor were used by attorneys, while in
the basement the two janitors had their
places Of residence"
Mr.. Croggon, as reporter for the National
Republican from 1850 to 1852, and for The
Star from 1862 until 1894, included the
courts in his daily rounds In quest of news.
From the date Of the organization Of the
Supreme Court of the District OF Columbia,
nearly forty years ago, The Evening Star
has been represented at the court house,
through permanent detail. by three report
ers only: Mr.. Croggon until 1894; Mr.. Rob-
ert w. Dutton. now chief engineer Of the
District fire department. from 1892 until
December l. 1S97-he and Mr.. Croggon hav-
ing served together at the city hall for
a year or more-and by myself since the
latter date.