The Washington times., 1908-09-06
Police Court Is Place to See
Human Nature at It's Worst
Prisoners Try to Tell Fairy Tales to the Judges and
Always Get the Worst of It,

If you we-t to see real human nature,
drop around some morning 10 the Police
Court building, Sixth and d streets. and
hear Judge Mullowny pass sentence on
the poor unfOrtunates who have fallen
into the dragnet of the law
You viii never know how the other
balf' lives unless you do, and the time
spent at a Police Court session to those
bent on the study of human nature
would surely repay one for the journey.
If the object of the prisoners is to fool
Judge Muliowny, they fall mighty short
of the mark His honor is about the
keenest Judge OF human nature who
ever gave a man thirty days He can
detect a lie as easy as falling off a log,
and, naturally, the liar is soaked much
harder than il ne ha- told the truth
and thrown himself upon the mercy OF
the court.
A sample of the stories handed out
was heard yesterday. when a woman
arrested for disorderly conduct declared
that she never said swear word in
all her life, and was just "doin' nOthin
when the policeman placed her under
arrest This she bold under oath. after
the police officer had testified that his
prisoner was raising Cain. that the air
handcuff her TO get her into the wagon.
Judge Mullowny imposed a fine Of SO.
when, had the woman simply pleaded
guilty" the officer would not have
had 10 recite the incidents leading up 70
arrest and the court would have treated
the case as 'an ordinary one ana
imposed a fine OF s..
Deputy Clerk \. c. Harper is enjoy
ing two-weeks' leave Of absence with
a houseboat party on the Potomac
Clerk LowcTaft is on the job until Mr..
Harper returns.
Judge Ivory c. EimbaH. Of the United
States branch of the Police Court, left
last week for a three weeks vacation
to be spent in Toledo. Ohio. Judge Mills
is on the bench.
Prosecuting Attorney Ralph Given
and Assistant Corporation Counsel
James A. Pugh are both away on their
annual leaves. Andrew DuvaIl is look
ing out for Mr. Pughs duties.
Hale and hearty in spite Of his ad-
vancing years. Judge Kimball is de
which so marked him when he was ap-
pointed 10 the bench by President Har-
rison seventeen years ago
He holds commissions OF Office from
three Presidents and Notwithstanding
his siXty-fOur years, he bids fair TO
remain upon the bench for a long time.
He holds that age is not a necessary
factor in the good and wise admins
tration Of justice.
There are only four things which a
police court magistrate she5id possess
if he would be ideal in his position,
he says First. a thorough knowledge
OF The law; second, a knowledge of his
fellow man. or rather characteristics,
which go 10 make UP a human being;
third. a working knowledge Of the var
ious trades and occupations OF large
city. and fourth, unimpeachable moral
character.
He should always have the interest
of the wretched creatures who come
before him for trial continually at
heart. and do all in his power TO raise
them from the level to which they have
dropped"
''Do you think that there is a proper
dignity IN the police court his honor
was asked.
Certainly he replied, Ito my mind
the police courts In this city are the
most dignified in the United States. Of
course, the great amount of business
continually going on causes a certain
amount Of confusion which is not seen
in the criminal courts, but 1 think that
there is a marked respect paid by all
to both branches Of the Police Court
In this city"
The judge is great believer in the