Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-18
The Handbook Must Go.

Officials of the Police Court who are and
have been connected with the prosecution
of men charged with making handbooks on
the races expressed surprise TODAY when
they discussed the statement made by Mai
sylvester in The Star yesterday admitting
that the police department knew that the
handbook business was fiourishing In the
District of Columbia. but placing the blame
on the courts in which the cases are tried
The officials of the United States branch of
the Police Court declare that they have
taken care OF every case brought to them
for prosecution. have accepted only heavy
collaterals in cases Of defendants before
the court for the first time for handbook
making and have given Jail sentences to
men for second offenses. Mai. Sylvester
says the courts have been too lenient.
Not every thief convicted in the court
is sent 10 JAN, remarked one official ..Rut
the police do not let stealing fiourish WI
then let the handbook business fiourish?;
Cases on the Docket
Only six handbook cases are now ,,.,di,,o
in the Police Court, according to tho ON
''''' 'eoo'uS' an put TWO OF them being new
cases filed within the past month Tho
oldest case is that of Edward Cochran Nv
rested by Policeman Edwards OF the ff-b
precinct, and filed in the court Au.nst :.
last year Prosecuting Attorney Ralnb
Given stated today that the Reason ~
case was not tried IS because several CON
tnuanccS We're given at the request of tha
defense, and later the main government
witness has been confined to a hospital for
some months. The other old case is maj
against Elijah W. Johnson. who was ar
rested by Precinct Detective Greene of the
tenth precinct. filed April % last Their,
has been one mistrial of the case, IL was
stated today by Prosecuting Attorney
Ralph Given.
The other four cases. in all of which the
arrests were made by Detective Vermillion
OF the first precinct, are against Timothy
Sullivan, Louis r. Pfeiffer John Mcconnell
ana Henry j. Carroll and Robert H. Dob
BINS the last two charged jointly all of
which cases have been filed within the mast
five weeks. In all the SIX cases now mend
ing jury Nlais nave been asked for, and
prosecuting Attorney Given stated TODAY
that the court was now taking its usual
summer vacation from jury trials and that
these handbook cases would be brought To
trial soon as jury trials are resumed in
the fall
1t was also pointed out by officials of the
court that the judges cannot be charged
with the leniency in the handbook cases of
which Mai Sylvester complains. Judge
kimball tried three such cases. they say
while he sitting on the bench in the
United States branch of the court and in
each ease he ordered the defendants upor
conviction, to be committed to Jail for q
certain term, absolute sentence, and with
no alternate fine. In one of the cases. il i:
known. the strongest pressure was brought
To bear. first. upon Judge kimbaN, mex
on District Attorney Baker and his assist
ants. and finally on the President of the
United States. but all We're firm in affirmina
the jail sentence first pronounced
No Attachments Issued.
Since Judge Mullowny has occupied tn
bench In the United States branch of til