Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-17
DAY IN POLICE COURT
An Experience Dreaded by the
Average Citizen.
|SCENES ENACTED THERE
Creepy Feeling Produced by the
Environment.
CRIMINAL AND HIS CRIME
Horoscope of the Under Crust of So
cial Life in a Big
City.
CRIMINAL AND HIS CRIME

inspires Il feeling of dread in the per-
son of sensitive temperament? is query
often propounded.
1t is true that on the first few visits
to the place where daily procession of
Migrants, thieves and thugs passes be-
fore the eyes of the judge. the ordinary
citizen feels very much as he would be
disgraced forever If the clerk should ever
connect his name with the frightful
string of words surrounding the ordinary
charge of "disorderly conduct"
The big policeman, the possible hand
cuffs. the ride in the wagon and the
subsequent mingling with the general
collection of undesirables at the station:
the still more forbdding desk sergeant,
the search through the suspects clothes,
the transfer to the cell, which some sick
ening drunkard may share with him for
the night: the judge, who scarcely hears
his promise to be good in the future
all of this is noisome and terrible to
him.
In the higher court, where a judge is
hearing the trial of some daring criminal
whose abilities might make him a worthy
foe for the mythical Sherlock Holmes,
there is none of that creepy feeling.
In fact. it would appear that most people
look on those trials as pleasant
matinee.
1t is unmistakable, this peculiar sensa-
ton that meets the casual visitor to the
Police Court. After few visits one be-
comes used to the various moods of
justice on and off duty, and will dare to
carry a lighted cigar into the building.
But at first! There were no greater
terrors during the Spanish inquisition
than seem to be housed in that odd
Police Court building.
ble-Header-the Court.
There are two courtrooms-one for
the offenses against the District of
Columbia and the other for offenses
against the United States. In the lower,
or District of Columbia branch, the quick
trials of Migrants take place. Men who
sleep out of doors are classed as crimi-
nails nowadays, who who live an idle life
and visit tipping houses" appear there
daily. as do men who Course and swear
and engage in disorderly conduct and,
to the same of their sex, 1t is recorded
that about as many women as men APP
pear there upon the latter charge.
Men who are hungry and beg are
brought there; men who are honest.
but sell something without a license,
appear there: men who are repeatedly
drunk are arraigned there, and the
handsome, well dressed, we'll groomed
young fellow who speeds too enthu-
siastically in his motor car comes into
court, his name announced by court
crier who has no compassion for either
vags or high speederS.
Upstairs in the United States branch
the men who beat women are arraigned;
the thieves, the pickpockets. the scrap
pers, the men who carry knives and use
them on one another, the hOuSebreak-
ers and the mean fellow who steals
your newspapers and your milk In the
early morning.
Dragnet's Wide Sweep.
On the face Of the mass of evidence
produced in the Police Court the drag
net seems to go into sordid, dirty, un-
interesting places and but one story
vibrates with human interest, while a
hundred are prosaic and are stamped
with Ignorance, stupidity and drink.
Now and then there will be heart
throb-and to hear it the noise OF the
shifting attendants ceases. A starving
wife, sick child. the temptation TO
steal, written of SO often. does actually
come to light in the Police Court, but
not every day nor every week
The man who really loves his wife,
but who in q moment of bn blind, anger ger
turns himself into Bill Sykes, ana
whose heart Is breaking with remorse
in the Police Court dock. does appear,
but not frequently. More often 1t Is Il
dull family quarrel, where the woman
drinks and is almost much to blame
Perhaps it is because so many or the uii-
fortunates are ignorant. dirty. rum-sotted
| foul. and have sunk into the social mlre
| that the clean man disllkes TO look l
| the crowded cage into which the gang OF
prisoners is herded. ,-,
1t is not great, big. strong LOOKING
cage either. 1t does not appear TO De
temporary prison. but looks more AhS
| chicken coop than a MORO Castle Inc
men and women lean against the IRON
netting, filthy drunkard pressing nara
against some frail woman. and Tor
cage full of prisoners there Is narrow
uncomfortable bench on which rev Oh
them can sit. Many o. them have been
long the bane of the police. Ihey are
dirty they loathe each other, ana are
shaken together without mercy, ana the
frail iron network separates them from
the curious-minded mob that comes TO
court every day to laugh at the bullying
taunts Of lawyers and to grin When the
Judge refuses to tighten the sentence;
They do not appear to be prisoners
either but "captives, as Wretcped ana as
devoid of the last glimpse of hope as
did the captive serfs of mid-age Russia
Apparently Bereft Of Friends.
The blue-uniformed men from the mar
shars office have apparently little SYM
pathy for the prisoners. The case of
John Brown is called. and John is trying
to shove his way through the crowded
cage.
"John Brown" roars the marshal.
"John Brown" echoes another. Hurry
I'D there; what's the matter with you,
John Brown? Get out of there Here,
over there Stand up. Don't raise your
hand: you're not being sworn
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