The Washington herald., 1908-07-27
CERTAIN STREETS
BARRED BY POLICE
lien Warned from Walking
There at Night.
FIVE ARRESTS on SUNDAY
Right of Mai. Sylvester to Enforce
Order Is Questioned by Citizens
Who Were AccOsted and Who Have
business In the section of the
City south of the Avenue.

MAJ sylvester's authority 10 close Ger
tain streets 20 all citizens. as was done
Saturday night by the police Of the First
precinct. has been questioned by a number
Of business men. These men are en-
pl0yed, or have business. below the Ave
nue.. and IN going 10 and from their Of
fees must Of necessity pass through the
section in question. Saturday night they
were stopped. AID made 20 take a wide
detour-
Yesterday several made inquiries as 10
whether the police could prevent cltI-
zen OF the United States from walking
in the streets Of Washington after dark.
Several calls were received at police
headquarters asking If people employed in
the Southwest had not the right 20 pass
through the streets on their way 20 work.
Prominent official Is EaIted.
4 prominent official Of the Department
Of Agriculture was stopped by policemen
Of the First precinct Saturday night He
was on his way 70 Pennsylvania avenue.
where he intended boarding a street car
Tor his home When he reached Thir-
teenth street and Ohio avenue he was
stopped by a policeman. who roughly
told him 20 retrace his steps The off,
ciaI tried TO explain his position. but il
was without avail He was forced 70
either walk many blocks out OF his way
OF clash with the police he chose the
former alternative last night but said
yesterday that Il necessary he would be
arrested and make a test case Of IL
This official called attention 20 a de-
cisi0n OF the Supreme Court Of California.
given several years ago. when a similar
crusade was being made by the police OF
san Francisco.
At that time several persons were ar
rested They appealed their cases from
the Police Court and carried them 20
the Supreme Court Of the State That
tribunal gave decision that any citizen
had a right 10 traverse any streets in
the city 50 long as ne attended 70 his own
business and acted in an orderly manner
The action Of the police. the court held
was contrary TO the spirit and letter Of
the Constitution Of the United States
Several other persons. upon hearing Of
the remarks made by the official. said
they would support him in his c0nten-
ton that citizens could not be prohibited
from walking through the streets Of any
part Of the city so long as they attended
TO their own business
The police Of the First precinct con
tinUed their crusade started SATURDAY
night. Lieut.. Hartley, Sergt- .BOyce. and
a force Of police patroTed the streets in
question al night No arrests were made.
or had been made AT an early hour this
morning The police turned nearly all
men away from the streets IN question
and warned the properietors Of houses TO
be careful bout making noise that could
be heard on the streets
Arrests Saturday Night.
Saturday night FIVE arrests were made
By the police Nearly all Of these men
We're arrested early Sunday morning. All
were charged with disorderIy conduct
When the prisoners We're first brought
into the stauon-hOuse and lined up against
the rail the desk sergeant asked what
charge was 10 be put against the men
Don't know" hesitated the policeman
The major ordered Us 10 make arrests
and so just roped these young fellows
in"
Were they d;sorderIyg queried the
desk sergeant
Not that I know Of" answered the
policeman
\ consultation was held with other Of
ficers II the station, and Il was finally
decided 10 charge the prisoners with dis
orderly conduct Many Of the men put
up small amounts Of collateral and others
were released on their own reC0gnizance
yesterday morning.
The police Of the First precinct are
fearful Of how far 10 carry the majors
edicI- They are making Che people IN
that neighborho0d keep everything closed
from the passing citizen. There must be
no music that can be heard on the streets
and the front doors cannot be left stand
ing open for more than a few seconds