Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-07
TEMPORARY QUARTERS
FIRST TERM OF POLICE COURT
AFTER TRANSFER.
Building on Fifteenth Street Presents
Many Perplexities-Lack Of
Ventilation.
This is awful"


This remark was frequently heard in the
old bureau of statistics building on 18th
street this morning. when the Police Court
held its first sessions there. The furniture
and fixtures were moved in to the building
Saturday, as told in the Sunday Star.
Yesterday Jantor Hughes worked all day
in getting the rooms ready for use, and at
shortly after o'clock this morning the
first officials of the Police Court began
to arrive. At about 7:45 o'clock the first
load of prisoners was delivered to the court
by Officer Hooper. Sergeant Lombardy.
Officer Lynn and Bailff Kendig were on
hand to receive the men and to conduct
them to the cells in the rear of the build
ing.
Shortly afterward others began to arrive
and the expression quoted at the beginning
was heard, and it's use did not cease until
the courts had closed and the confusion
was over. The disappointment was due to
several causes. The quarters are not as
large the courts have enjoyed in the
past, the location of the various offices
was not known, resulting In much con-
fusion, and there was an unusually large
number of prisoners to be taken care of in
the courts All these things, added to the
fact that all the furniture was not in place
and some things that were needed were
not to be found in the shuttle, led to con-
fusion, but this confusion will grow less
and less time goes on.
Suffering Among Prisoners.
Probably the worst conditions Of the
court quarters are in the cells. AS result
of the small quarters and the lack therein
of proper ventilation there was much suf-
fering among the prisoners On account of
the heat two of the men incarcerated were
Frustrated in the cells. Prompt remedies
were applied by Agent M ssie Of the Pris-
oners' Aid Society which prevented serious
rpSTlfS Mr. MaSSie 'rleQ numerous
pitchers of water to the thirsty men in the
cells and also brought re nedies to those
suffering from the heat The bars of the
cells are made of huge timLers nailed close
together. In the rear thern is no opening
for ventilation, the windC VS. having been
boarded up tightly. Officials say that less
room should have been given for the guards
and more should have been allowed for the
prisoners who are much mere numerous.
Another bad feature of tie sessions this
morning was the confusion on the stairs
and at the entrance to the court rooms. AS
Monday is heavy day. there were many
at the court out of curiOs ". These were
not allowed in the court rooms and they
remained at the entrance CT on the stairs,
causing blockades there. II has been sug-
gested that no one be allowed to go up the
stairs, unless they can show that they are
witnesses or that they are otherwise en-
titled to admission.
One cause of complaint, which Is expected
to be remedied at once, is that there are no
electric fanS IN the court rooms. IneSe
fans proved to be the source of much COM
fort in the old court building and the need
for them in the new quarters was felt
keenly this morning.
MI. Macfarland's Suggestions.
Commissioner Macfarland was at the
building about noon today to look over the
conditions and to what improvements
are needed to provide for the proper hold
ing of the courts. He examined the build
ing very thoroughly, and at the close of his
survey, after the conditions We're explained
to him. he said to Star reporter:
of course, this is makeshift. We could
not expect to have new building to meet
in. But l think that after the officers and
others are accustomed to the new quarters
and the rules about lodfing are enforced
strictly the quarters will prove to be salts
factory. l can see several places where i'm
provements might be made, which l will
talk over with the Engineer Commissioner.
and we will see what can be done to make
the quarters comfortable. We must pro-
vide some relief for the prisoners by giving
them ventilation"
Nose Robinson, an old offender, was the
first prisoner to occupy cell in the new
quarters. He was locked up by Sergt Lom-
hardy. The first information sworn out
from the new Office was against Thomas
Stevenson, charging disorderly conduct. The
first case to be tried in the United States
branch of the court was that of Carrie Gate
wood charged with assault and disorderly
conduct. She was given fifteen days on
each charge. The first case called in the
District branch was that of Susie Hayes,
familiar figure in the court.
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