Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR
Members Of the District Militia of today
would be greatly chagrined il ordered to

ern branch, but that was
what was done half a century ago. when
the Washington Light Infantry was one
Of the representative citizen soldier organ
izations of the capital. In The Star OF
May >. 1858 is the following paragraph:
THE Washington Light Infantry en-
campment is conducted in the regulation
style-that is. posting sentinels. dealing
rations. company drills, etc. They are fortu-
nate on this occasion in one important re-
spect. as they have the Quartermaster SER
geant of the District battalion as we'll as
their own officer. and from the activity OF
these two the camp and equipments are in
perfect order. and the supplies for the in
ner man bountifully provided. The site
selected is we'll adapted to the purpose
and Is situated on the Eastern branch.
some four squares beyond the navy yard
i'm the vicinity of the ruins of the old
bridge At 4 pm. the prize presented by
their officers will be shot for: and we are
requested to- say that they wish their
honorary and contributing members to be
present at that time
A case was tried in the Criminal Court
nifty years ago that disclosed the wiles OF
the enterprising lottery
Lottery managers of that period
Michael Hoffman was ac-
cused of an attempt to
cheat and swindle Joseph Ermanhaut by
means of lottery gift enterprise, tickets
one dollar. bearing on their face the sig
nature OF the proprietor and promising
one of $500 gifts. valued from three dol
lars to twelve hundred dollars. when all
the tickets should be sold" 1t appears
from the story in The Star of May ),
1858. that Hoffman left 100 Of these tickets
at Ermanhaut's shop for sale. promising
him ten per cent of his commission. Sus-
pecting that the game was not exactly on
the square. Ermanhaut sent for an officer.
who arrested Hoffman and proceeded then
to investigate. 1t had been proclaimed
that among the PRICES in the lottery were
certain farms. houses. lots. etc. in
Dauphin county. Pa. but when the au-
thOrities Of that county were communi-
Gated with 1t was found that Hoffman
had no such property there. He was
then questioned as to the existence Of
certain gold watches. double barrel guns
diamond rings. breastpins. etc. that were
to go to solace those who did not win
the PENNSYLVANIA farms. He acknowl-
these articles. but intended to do so
from a jeweler in Harrisburg as soon
as he sold enough tickets to get the
money. When Hoffman was tried it ap-
peaTeO lndt the Increment accused MIN
of an attempt to swindle. while no
swindle had actually been perpetrated.
Consequently, the court instructed the
jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal.
Fifty years ago efforts were being
made by progressive citizens Of the Dis
trict to secure from Con-
District gress a public school law
giving the capital a suita
S"oAS' BILE system of instruction
under semi-federal auspices. In the dis
cussion of the matter the relations Of the
District and the United States were fire.
auently debated. 1t being twenty years
later. however. before they were placed
upon their present footing Of equity. In
The Star OF May 6. 1853. IS the following:
at is sincerely TO be hoped that ere
the close of the current session Congress
will act definitely and finally upon the
bill OF Senator Brown of Mississippi to
place the public school system OF the
District on a proper footing. Surely the
subject is one in which all men Of discre-
ton and commendable sentiments think
and feel alike. The District Is the ward
OF the government. For substantial rea
sons it was early placed under the es-
pecial care OF Congress. holding to the
government almost identical reiat ionsf
with It's reservations and purchases for
military and naval purposes, over which
the states within which they lie have
relinquished jurisdiction. Cp to this time
Congress. though dealing literally with
the states, which have not a 1.-THE OF the
legitimate claim Of the District upon il In
that connection has done literally nothing
for the cause of education here. Every
member of both houses admits his obliga-
ton to do his share to that end. and the
only question is. How shall 1t best be
done?
Senator Brown. after months of labor
upon the subject. has perfected fair
and reasonable bill requiring comparative.
~ heavy taxation here. to be appropriate
ed together with A corresponding con-
tributiOn by the government of the United
States. for educational purposes in the
District Of Columbia. We entertain no
doubt that IT will meet with no OppOs-
ton to speak Of whenever formally taken
up. OF all the various District of Column
bia bills 1t is of most importance to the
future of our fellOw-citizens. and on that
account we trust that our friends in Con-
gress will agree to give it a prompt and
conclusive hearing"
1t seems strange that the District Jail
was so insecure fifty years ago that it
became necessary to re-.
Visitors strict greatly the privilege
49,, OF visiting prisoners there
o"iieo' lest the inmates might es-
cape. This. however. was done. In The
Star of May 8. 1853. is the following:
''rhe practice existing heretofore or
admitting during certain hours OF each
day to access with the prisoners any and
all persons. acquaintance and friends OF
those confined there. and with whom they
we're accust Omed to have Intercourse
apart from the observation Of the officers
of the guard in many instance has grad
ually come to be an abuse of privilege,
and TO such an extent that in several in
stances of recent occurrence persons have
mittance to their friends as a right. and.
when refused. particularly when large
parties have been refused admit ance.
they have threatened the officers and
used insulting language toward them. To
stop the recurrence Of such scenes the
marshal has caused to be posted on the
Jail door the following notice:
'NOtice.-The number of persons who
attend the public Jail interrupts the order
which ought to prevail there. lessons the
punishment which the confinement is In
tended to create and renders the custody
Of prisoners troublesome and unsafe. 1
direct therefore> that no person Except
the public officers who have business
there the physician and immediate men,
bers of the family of the prisoners) shall
be permitted to enter the jail or jail
yard. The Tailor and guard are requested
gAV