Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-09
THE COURT OBJECTS
EXCHANGE OF WORDS BETWEEN
JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR.
Alleged interruption Of Proceedings by
Prosecuting officer.

Judge Charles F. Scott, presiding over the
District branch of the Police Court, and
Assistant Corporation Counsel James l..
Pugh, jr., who is assigned to prosecute the
cases for the District In that branch of the
court, had an exchange of words this morn
ing over the manner in which court is con-
Quoted. The court took exception to at
torneys and policemen interviewing the
prosecuting attorney in the preparation of
cases while he was at his place in the
court room, and so told him.
IT m tired of having this court interrupted
by persons talking to the prosecuting at
torney while court is in session. Judge
Scott declared, interrupting witness, who
was testifying, when policeman was talk
ing to Mr.. Pugh about case.
II is necessary that these persons shall
see me about thei., cases and they cannot
all see me in my office before court con-
venes. After that they have to come to me
in the court room where l have to be while
court is in session. Mr.. Pugh told the
court.
They will have to see you in the office
before court commences, Judge Scott an
swered, or else wait until some other time,
and see you when court is not in session.
Yes, your HONOR Prosecutor Pugh re-
piled, but they cannot all see me at one
time'
Il am not going to have this court inter-
rupted while you are talking his honor
said land you will have to be here in the
court room while this court is in session
You were appointed to prosecute cases and
L am not going to do 1T for you. If you
cannot attend 20 your business shall have
to ask that some one else be appointed to
your position who can attend to business"
Cause of the Delay.
Court was twenty minutes late in begin
ming this morning owing to the large num-
Der OF arrests made by the police of the sew
eral precincts during the forty -eight hours
ending at o'clock this morning, and 1t was
necessary, it was explained, for Mr. Pugh
to remain in his office and sign papers be-
fore the cases could be called for trial In
stead of reaching the court room at $50
O'Clock, the scheduled hour, 1t was ten min
utes OF 10 O'Clock before he entered the
court room and Judge Scott directed the
clerk to call the first case. 1t was while
the case was being heard that the passage
OF words between the court and prosecuting
attorney occurred
Mr.. Pugh told. the court that it was i'm
possible for all policemen and others who
had business In court to see him at the
same time, and that 1t was necessary for
him to talk with them in the preparation of
cases.
creasing steadily of late years until at this
time the prosecuting attorney has a vast
amount of work his hands every morn
ing to transact before court convenes, and
it has been. suggested that the amount of
business warrants the appointment of an
assistant to Mr.. Pugh, to conduct the pros
ecution of cases in the court room while
he Is attending to the business in his office
Such an arrangement was made in the
United States branch of the Police Court
several years ago, there now being two
prosecuting attorneys to look out for the
cases in that branch