Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06
LAW DEFINED TO BOYS
MUST NOT PLAY GAMES IN THE
PUBLIC STREETS

A delegation Of indignant boys, some on
roller skates and others carrying their
skates in their hands, called at police head
quarters yesterday afternoon to be enlight-
ened upon the question of the law govern
ing the use of skates on the streets. The
boys belong in the neighborhood of 9Th and
II streets northwest, and stated they had
been called to account by Policeman Walker
OF the sixth precinct for skating on the
streets and carrying hockey sticks. The
boys had left their sticks at home, but their
Indignation was with them to the fullest ex-
tent. Some of them talked about the rights
of American citizens, and each was willing
to be classed as ''the man from Missouri"
The word of one policeman did not satisfy
them. They wanted to be shown the law
they were alleged to have violated and
Inspector Gessford read from the police
regulations:
That it shall not be lawful for any per-
Son or persons to play the game of foot
pail or any other game with a ball, in any
OF the streets, avenues or alleys in the
cities of Washington and Georgetown; nor
shall 1t be lawful for any person or persons
to play the game of handy, shindy or any
other game by which ball. stone or other
substance is struck or propelled by any
avenue or alley In the cities of Washington
and Georgetown, under penalty of not more
than five dollars for each and every such
offense."
Garry Sticks on Condition.
But" said the spokesman for the delega-
ton. 1.-The policeman said we could not
carry the sticks We know it Is against the
law to play games on the streets, but we
qrr-Iy ha cit 70,
We use them to slacken our speed when we
go too fast, and to keep us from falling
THE temptation to strike a stick or
stone that you might see on the street, 1
imagine, would be a great one," Inspector
Gessford said, but there is nothing in the
law which will prevent you from carrying
the sticks and using them as you indi-
cated.'
A crowd of happy boys sailed forth from
headquarters and returned to the section
where they had been overhauled by the
policeman. One of them got his hockey stick
and returned to the asphalt pavement and
again the policeman was encountered, and
again he told the boys they were doing
wrong. Upon the former occasion the boys
had disputed his Interpretation of the law
and upon the occasion of the second meet
Ing the policeman was not satisfied that
they had received the instructions from In
spector Gessford, as they stated. and he
accompanied them TO police headquarters.
The law was read to the policeman as it
had been to the boys, and the bluecoat
made the charge that the boys had been
annoying persons living near 9Th and H
streets. Some of them, he was told had
been disorderly.
Receives Instructions
The policeman was told that he should
make arrests in cases of disorderly conduct
and obstructing the sidewalk and let the
judge of the Juvenile Court settle the
troubles. 1t was stated last night that
number of complaints have been received
at the police stations recently about the
annoyance caused by lads in different parts
of the city. Most of the complaints were
made by merchants against boys congre-
eating upon the streets and sidewalks in
front of their places of business and max
ing things disagreeable for patrons of their
stores. The police also state that complaint
has been made about children on roller
skates taking hold of the rear end of
vehicles and being pulled along the Streets
Such conduct, it is stated, is unlawful and
dangerous, and the police have been In
structed~ to prevent it.