Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-20
JUDGE SCOTS VIEWS
INNOVATION IN
POLICE COURT PRACTICE.
Says Minor Gases Should Be Settled by
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,
as Formerly.

Since Judge SCOTS return from his vaca-
ton he has discussed with Mr.. Pugh, the
assistant corporation counsel, the action OF
the Commissioners in curtailing the latter s
authority in the matter of presenting cases
to the court, as stated in The Star at the
time. Judge Scott frankly admitted that
he did not relish the idea of such an order
being issued so far it affected the bust
ness of his court, and today in disposing of
a case he took occasion to make few re-
marks from the bench. The case before
the court involved a neighborhood difficulty,
and about ninety minutes of the courts
time were consumed in it's hearing. On
the one side was Assistant Corporation
Counsel Pugh, while Attorney James Nc
Calmont represented the other side. Wit
ness after witness was examined and the
affair proved so trifiing that the court dis
missed the charges.
This case,'' the judge said, demon
strates the fact that neighbors cannot
always settle their differences away from
court.
1T also demonstrates the fact that many
cases ought to be heard in the office of the
assistant corporation counsel and settled
there added the court, with some feeling.
The judge referred to the order respect
ing the change in the method of the work
of the attorney as being absurd and said
1t had resulted in establishing most re-
markabe condition of affairs: The condi-
lions, he said, were wholly unlike those in
any other court of justice that he had ever
heard of.
Old Way is Better.
The Judge went on to speak of the time
consumed in presenting the case to the
court and the keeping of policemen hang
ing about the building when they might
be at home getting their rest. Then, too,
ho coil of ha o1a rlxc aff
neys is consumed without any reason, for
the case before the court today could
have been settled in Mr.. Pughs Office in
ten minutes.
Every interest" the court said, "sug-
gests such hearings be had by the attor-
ney for the prosecution, and also sug-
gests that the business should be con-
Quoted as heretofore. The prosecutor,
Mr.. Pugh, has the capacity, and certainly
nobody can question his conduct in any
respect. This case should have been set
tied in the attorneys Office and should
never been brought into the court.
Il do not know who is responsible for
this change" said the judge in conclu-
sion, but 1 am informed the suggestion
came from the office of brother assist
ant of the prosecutor"
Many Object to Change.
Judge Kimball and Mr.. Pugh engaged in
court transaction yesterday which recall
ed the order of the Commissioners respect
ing the work of the latter. A man was
tried on charges of vagrancy and assault.
Judge Kimball fined him for the assault,
and suggested to the attorney that he might
nolle pros. the vagrancy charge.
Il can't nolle pros. the case under the
order Of the Commissioners" was the mes
sage of the assistant corporation counsel
to the judge.
But he has a right to take such action
under the law was the judges rejoinder.
Judge Kimball made no further comment,
and the case was recorded on the docket
The change in the method of conducting
the affairs Of the office of the assistant cor
poration counsel has been denounced
number of times by attorneys and business
men who have had business in court Many
cases of the character of the one before the
court today have claimed the attention OF
the court, and many cases of alleged tech
meal violations of the ordinances have
caused business men to remain about the
court for much longer time than before
the change was made in the method of
presenting cases. Several times people who
have been thus inconvenienced have given
vent to their feelings in manner calcu-
lated to induce some policemen to make an
additional case.