The Washington times., 1902-03-07
The Washington Traction
Company Will Fight
the Cases.
Mr.. SINCLAIR IA! COURT
Asks for jury Trial on Each of Thirty
five Informations-Cases May Be Car
RED to Higher Court-Corporatio Has
Paid Mary Fines.

The NEST interesting case in the PO-
lice Court yesterday was the arraign'
ment of Mr.. Lindley E. Sinclair en- thirty
five separate inf0rmations, charging hin
with as many violations of the anti
Gmoke law
Mr.. Sinclair is superintendent and gen
eral manager of the Washington Trac-
tion and Electric Company and the al
legged offences are said to have occurred
at the powerhouses of that corporation.
Has Paid Many Fines.
The company has been fined an qg-
sregate of nearly $500 on similar charges
within the past two months. 1t forfeited
SOS on each of twelve counts about three
weeks ago.
Mr. Sinclair on that occasion declined
to appear in court on the ground that
10 do so would simply be waste of
time. He said that the company had
gone to much expense and resorted to ev-
cry known method to overcome the evil
complained of and had failed and that it
was simply confronted by a condition
that it was impossible to correct
viii Fight the Cases.
The formidable array of charges the
corporation was confronted with yester-
day has. however. apparently brought
about determination on its part to pur-
sue fighting method.
Mr.. Sinclair appeared in court. accom-
panied by Mr.. James B. Lackey, secretary
of the Washington Traction and Elec-
trio Company.
Mr.. Sinclair pleaded not guilty and de-
manded trial by jury in each of the thir-
ty-fve cases, and gave bond of $50 in
each. Mr.. Lackey stated that J. j. Dar-
lington and Judge C. C. Cole would be in
court next Tuesday, when the trials are
to take place, to look after the corpora
tion's interests. 1t is understood that if
convicted, and it is almost sure that will
be the result. the company will carry the
suits to a higher court
Health Office Methods.
There has been some criticism of the
method pursued by the health Office IN
spectors in their observations of build
ings from which smoke has been alleged
TO have been seen issuing, the owners OF
which have been and are being prosecuted !
In answer to questions put in trials of
smoke cases recently the inspectors have
replied that their observations were made
from the roof of the District Building.
There has been doubt as to the ability
of the inspectors to be accurate in OBJ
serving building couple of miles away
Yesterday, at the suggestion of James S. |
Pugh, the Assistant City Solicitor. the |
gentlemen serving as Jurors visited the I
roof of the District Building to take a |
look around to satisfy themselves on this
point. The day was perfect for the pur-
pose.
A Difference of Opinion.
After the trip there appeared to be
a difference of opinion among the jurors
as to the inspectors powers to certainly
judge the matter at long distance, when
other buildings obstruct the view between
the District structure and the one sought
to be observed.
There was but one smoke law case
tried yesterday. Oscar D. White vas
charged with violating the law at the
Stanton Flats, on c Street northeast.
Mr.. White took the ground that the flats
were private residences and were not,
amenable TO the smoke law.
There were four counts against him and
the jury acquitted him on all of them.