Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-05
EXPRESSES HIS REGRET
JUDGE MULLOWNY TAKES Iss11E
WITH COMMISSIONERS
Discusses Matter of Personal Bonds
Expects to Be Judge Despite
Any Threats.

Judge A X. Mullowny of the Police Court
IN discussing with a Star reporter TODAY the
matter OF taking personal bonds by the
Poilce Court judges, maintained that this
form of settlement is essential to DronerJv
protect the rights of the citizens of the Dis
trict and to insure reformation of prisoners
when possible. He said:
L regret the Commissioners have take,
the stand they have in regard to the right
or judges to stay or suspend the execution
Oh a sentence and should go SO far as to
say that II we do not stop the practice and
the Court Of Appeals sustain us. they will
go to Congress and have a bill passed de-
priving us of such power
Inc jurisdiction of the Police Court is
most variable one. 1t disposes of the
most trlfilng cases as well as serious mis-
demeanors. We have the citizen or hus-
band and father for being repeatedly drunk
upon the street He promises to reform and
sign the pledge His friends come to his
rescue. The Jonadabs or Rechabites are
willing to look after and encourage him We
have the fallen woman who wants q chance
and the good ladies of the House of Mercy
Good Shepherd or the Florence Crittenden
Home are willing to give her a home and
aid her. We have a large number of cases
Where the arrest is not niue for a yio-
lation of the police regulations as the fact
that the defendant SasSed the officer and
the real oHense is that his dignity has been
oHehdeo. we nave large number of
tramps stopping off in the city going north
or south and are willing to leave at once
and continue their journey; a large number
of cases where the defendant has abated a
nuisance before his actual arrest and he has
exercised reasonable diligence in doing so:
large number of cases of the most trif1ine
character In which the fact that the defend
ant has been locked up all night or over
Sunday is sufficient example and punish
men..
Suspension Of Sentence.
Where a sentence is suspended and the
personal recognizance of the defendant
taken to appear for sentence, such action
is based upon testimony taken in open
court within the hearing of the public and
any citizen or the Commissioners can easily
ascertain the reason. 1t will not do for
them to make a general statement that
the practice must be stopped. We want
them to point out single instance where
there has been a miscarriage of Justice
I'VE want facts, for it is upon facts that
in each case the judgment of the court is
based and action taken.
II wish to say earnestly and respectfully
to the Commissioners that as long as 1 pre-
side over branch Of the Police Court l am
going to be the judge If it is the opinion
OF the Court of Appeals that I have no
right to stay or suspend sentence / will
of course abide by its decision, or If Con-
gress should pass such law it is the citi-
Ken who will suffer.
II have no personal interest in the mat
ter. Until such happens 1 am going to do
my duty as a judicial officer and as
servant OF this community, irrespective of
any threat, to the best of my ability I
appreciate the Importance of upholding the
laws and their rigid enforcement, for only
in obedience to the law comes order and
harmony; but at the same time I am going
to guard jealousy the rights of the citizen
in his liberty, good name and reputation"