Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-06-03
The Police Justice Law UuneGos-
sary.

Scit u tne HTdIlu jury because the InaRlS-
trates over the county did not have juris-
diction under the law, a bill was introduced
in the legislature and petitions numerously
signed by voters and taxpayers, and also
endorsed by the Farmers Convention OF
Sandy Spring and every farmers organ
ization in the county, asking our represen-
tatives to pass measure giving our mag
istrates Jurisdiction over more cases.
A committee appointed by the County
Grange and Farmers Convention went to
Annapolis and urged our Senator Chen
the Hon. VIM Veirs Bouic) to have the
bill passed. The bill failed of passage and
Mr.. Bouic introduced a substitute which
did not pass the House. so we believe that
it is the unanimous wish of the farmers of
Montgomery county that our magistrates
should be given jurisdiction over all small
cases. First. on the ground that thereby
justice is more certainly administered.
Secondly, that the enormous court expenses
would be lessened.
tiiio Dllh uiiuOl TIC tihC
of bill to appoint an additional Justice
Of the Peace in some districts" (Which has
proven to be Rockville) was passed, we,
who are so unfortunate as to live far from
apparently by the so-called Police Justice
billy the only place in Montgomery county
where simple justice in plain cases can be
obtained, are wondering what possible rea-
sons can be brought forward for the passage
of such an ill-advised, unnecessary and ex-
pensive law. 1t will not only allow many
persons who commit small offenses to
escape justice because of the difficulty
which will be experienced in getting wit
nesses who will consent to travel to Rock
vile, often over bad roads, and let us say
from as far off as GAINESVILLE or upon the
Prince Georges line to testify lit may be
our sisters or wives) that they saw two
''coons" have fight and one draw razor.
All one Of these "coons" will have to say
is that Mrs. or Miss - saw Mase cut
me" and she will have to 90 to Rockville
at once or be fined or jailed for contempt.
The poor constable who has to arrest the
''coons" must Immediately take them to
Rockville before this especial luminary Of
the law. and must then 60 back and sum
mon for some future day the witnesses for
defence and prosecutlon-ou aforesaid
wives and sisters--to appear there, often
twice. He comes let us say, from Barnes
vile or above. and he gets rs cents and
the witnesses get SO cents for going forty
miles the constable to haul passenger
also When the prisoner gets there he is
brought before Justice who knows moth
ing at all about the people who testify
their general character for veracity. which
the Justice who resides in the neighbor-
hood nearly always knows exactly, and the
result is absolute justice to all concerned.
The strongest possible argument in favor
of this last proposition is our experience
in this very village. Mr.. Alfred F. Fairall,
a man who has the respect and confidence
of every man in this vicinity. has been a
magistrate for nearly rs years he has
tried hundreds Of cases and has only had
one case appealed in that time.
Does any man suppose that statement
could be made if justice in its fullest.
broadcast sense had not been administered ?
The cases were settled then and there,
while the witnesses could remember and
tall ha In, THE TrtnI
law the appeals will be double or more.
and think for one moment Of the hardships
this will entail upon the unfortunate wit
ness who lives twenty miles from Rockville
and has no means or way to get to that
court Can any sane man believe that this
Trial Justice is going to have as full testi-
mony as our neiehborhood Justice and
consequently can administer justice as
certainly as the local Justice; or that the
county will not be mulct in q great
sum of money from this entirely unneces-
sary lawY
1t will also have one other very serious
effect. which is. that no constable who is
a business man. and consequently the right
man for the place, is going to accept the
office; and 1t will also lower the grade Of
our Justices who are entirely satisfactory
to the people in their various neighbor-
hoods. Good men will not serve in an
Office shOrn Of honor and power
There is only one reason which has eau
tiously been handed out to us for the pass
age Of this law. viz. That commitments
by the county Justices Of the Peace are
faulty. and in appeal cases the case is
thereby thrown out of court
What does that proposition. If true.
amount to against the number Of mstrials
which will unquestiOnably be appealed or
lost in this court from lack of evidence !;
and what reason can be deduced why II
this luminary Of the law at Rockville can
amend. correct and change the commit
ment by this bill cannot our States Attor-
ney do the same thing by simple law
giving him the power? He knows the law
and the commitment will be right then
ouiC CiiOuBus
Mr.. Editor. there was no reason or de-
mand for this law; il will defeat justice
and will put an outrageous hardship upon
the innocent witness Of any offense and
our constables, and will saddle upon our
taxpayers a large increase in the cost Of
the present law without improving il one
particle.
Since writing the above two instances
Of the wording Of this law have come TO
my notice which completely prove our
position. Our constable. Mr. X. T.. Cissel.
who for number Of years has served us
faithfully and to the satisfaction of the
neiehborhood. although he has completed
his bond refused the office, saying he
would not serve under such law.
Just last Sunday two negro woman got
into fight in front Of the home Of lady
in this Sandy Spring village, which young
girl in the family was so unfortunate as to
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