The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-05
Acquitted Persons Must
Not Be Threatened,
He Says.
INTERESTING CASE AT HAND
Vigorous Words of the Court Sound a
Warning to Those Who Wear Badges
and Garry Clubs to Respect the Priv
legeS Of the Tribunals CT the District.

Judge Scott created a stir in the Pc
lice Court today by expressing his oDin-
ion Of policemen who spoke disparag-
ngIy Of his disposition Of a case. or who,
when dissatisfied with the outcome of
trial, INDUCED in threats against an &C
quilted person. lie said such conduct.
when INDUCED in under the roof OF the
court building, was clearly contempt, and
that he wanted it distinctly understood
that he would call TO account any officer
guilty Of it.
The Vigorous words Of the court were
delivered after Richard Meany had been
acquitted Of the charge Of disorderIy con
duct Meany is about thirty years of age,
and is VII known in Washington. He IS
not lawyer, but conducted his own case.
Policeman Sanford was the first wit
ness against him, and had Sergeant Kill
martin called EIlmartin's testimony did
not exactly oorroborate that of Sanford's,
and the case was dismissed, Kilmartin
and Sanford made the arrest.
moment after Meany had left the
room he returned and asked the privilege
Of making a statement to the court.
Your honor" he said. as I was pass
ing through the hall to leave your court.
! met Sergeant Kflmartfn. offered TO
shake hands with him. I told him his
testimony had aroused no nI-feeIing IN
me, and his reply was: Yes, you got of
this time all right. but III fix you before
I get through with you
Nov, your honor" continued Meary.
i don't think that Sergeant KiImartin
was warranted in making such threat
and ask the protection of this court"
1t was then that Judge Scott put forth
his protest, saying:
This charge shall be fully looked into.
and if find it true, I will surely take
such action as it demands. When I dis
posed of this case I did so in accordance
with the evidence. the law. and my best
judgment, as I endeavor TO do in all other
cases. and I do not propose that any
policeman shall show me OF an acquitted
person such discourtesy IS has here been
called 10 10y attention II is clearly con-
tempt Of court, and viii be dealt with
severely.
q could not but notice the conduct OF
the officers in this case during the trial.
continued Judge Scott II was far from
respectful. I viii say TO them that I VIII
punish any man or woman when the testi-
mOny shows me that they should be pun
ished, but I want it distinctly understood
that I viii not convict AM. person of any
OffeEse on such testimony as has been
produced IN this case
Meany was arrested Sunday morning
in a Chinese restaurant On Thirteenth
Street Policeman Sanford testified that
he was cuTsing and abusing another man
when he locked him up. He said he was
sober Then Meany brought forward three
witnesses who declared they heard and
saw the whole transaction that caused the
arrest. They say Meany simply tried to
keep out Of a discussion with q drunken
man, and that he did not use one word OF
profanity, and that he was absolutely in
nocent of any disorder whatever.
Then KiImartin was brought into the
case. He said Meany was drunk prOTane
AID disorderly. Meany then made
statement contradicting everything San
ford and KiImartin had sworn to, and then
started TO argue, but Judge Scott shut
him on by abruptly. and apparently with
some Impotence, dism!ssing the case
against him.