Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-29
CRIME IN THE DISTRICT
Views of Judge Kimball Of
the Police Court.
OFFENSES DECREASING
PRESSING NECESSITY FOR NEW
COURT BUILDING.
Attorney Ralph Given and the Judge
Discuss Remedy for Wife
Beating.
OFFENSES DECREASING

Judge Ivory G. Kimball of the Police
Court and Assistant United States Attor-
ney Ralph Given talked to a Star reporter
this morning on the need of a new Police
Court building, the work of the court
during the past twelve months and the
possible reforms that might be made dur
ing the coming year. Judge Kimball says
he believes that crime is on the decrease
in the District of Columbia. Il believe
the world in general as well as the Dis
trict is behaving better as the years sue
coed one another" he stated.
The judge says crime has not advanced
in proportion to the increase in popula-
ton of the District during the past few
years, due to the fact that each year
Congress continues to increase the police
facilities, and in that way keeps the dis
turbing element under the closest sur
VIGILANCE.
Remedy for Certain Conditions.
good idea to prevent the crimes which
occur in the small alleys and the houses
where so many people are crowded to-
gether in such a way as to be an invita-
ton to transgression of the law would,
in his Judgment. be to build small houses
in territory beyond the region of the
crowded sections and rent them to fami-
lies at a reasonable rate.
You hear the cry that when trouble oc-
ours policeman is q scarce article to
find" said Judge Kimball, but that cam
not be truthfuliy stated in the District of
Columbia. for the police department is on
high plane of efficiency, and those who
break the law are well watched.
What we need is new Police Court
building. The rooms here are too small
for the business of the court and the
ventilation of the old building is GER
tainly Inadequate. The witness rooms are
too small, and those who attend the SEES
sions of this court in that capacity have
to be crowded into these small rooms
where one can scarcely get breath.
Judge Kimball was then asked about
his views upon the question of establish
ing a whipping post in the District of CO.
lumbla for the punishment of those Of
tenders who are charged with wife-beat-
ing.
My position upon that subject is we'll
known. / believe the whipping post
should be established in order that some
adequate punishment could be meted out
to those persons who habitUally insist
upon beating their wives for every trivial
matter"
The Judge has written several letters to
the newspapers of late concerning the es-
adjustment of this form of punishment,
and is very DESTROYS of seeing it estab-
lished.
Mr.. Given's Views.
Assistant United States District Attorney
Ralph Given wants a new Police Court
uullulIS LOT the accommodation OF the III
creased business of the court. He believes
with Judge Kimball that the rooms-of the
court are just about half the size they
should be. and that the accommodations of
the officials of the court are woefully in
sufficient. That fact. he says, is readily
attested by the crowds that congregate in
the hall near the door of his office of a
morning when they are filing informa lions
concerning parties against whom they
going to appear in court later.
The office at the time designated is gem
orally packed by informants and police Off
GERS, and il is a rare thing that the crowd
does not extend half way down the stairs.
Before court convenes in the morning one
has TO push his way through this mass OF
humanity to reach Judge Kimbalrs court
room.
Mr.. Given said he believed that assaults
with dangerous weapons had materially de-
creased this year. due to the severe penal
ties that this class of offenders generally
receive He added that this severity upon
Sile part of the court has had wholesome
effect.
What we need is revision of the crimi-
nal code Of the District of Columbia AS
the law stands now the criminal who COM
units larceny In twelve different Instances
cannot be sentenced by the court for a
.onger period than eleven months and TWEEN
ty-nine days. We should have a revision
Of this section of the code so that the Of
fender might receive adequate punishment
Ri M