Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
POLICE COURT.

The appointment of James L. Pugh to
succeed Judge Ivory G. kimball and the
institution of the probation system under
chief probation officer and an assistant
were the principal events of District
wide interest in the Police Court during
the year 1910 The selection of Judge
Pugh to a place on the bench came after
eighteen years continuous service as
prosecuting officer of the District at the
court. The appointment was made by
President Taft April . last, and promptly
confirmed by the Senate. In the nine
months Judge Pugh has been on the
bench he has decided three important
cases affecting police regulations of the
District-thoSe involving the Comm iSsiOn-
ers' new chicken regulation. the compul-
sorry tuberculin test for cattle and the
regulation prohibiting street railways
from using brilliant and binding head
lights. In the first two cases the courts
decision was favorable to the District
and in the third the decision was in favor
of the defendant. In two of the cases
the decisions were affirmed by the upper
courts on appeal. and the third is pend
ing.
The probation system was begun Octo-
Der l last, with the appointment of
Charles a. Masse and Miss Ellen S.
Foster as chief and assistant probation
officers. The chief probation officer was
attached to the court for number of
years previous to his appointment as
agent of the Prisoners Aid Society and
in his present office is carrying on the
philanthrOpic work of that organization.
About $50 persons convicted in the two
branches of the Police Court have been
liberated upon probation and placed in
charge of these officers. The work of the
system in the three months that it has
been existing has exceeded the expecta-
tons of its advocates. OF the entire
number so released it has been necessary
to call the attention of the judges to but
one case of delinquency. The opportuni-
ties for extending assistance to the class
known as 'habitualS'' in the Police Court
through the probation system have ma
ter1a!ly increased, and in the past two
months there has been a noticeable de-
crease in the appearance of that class of
men and women before the judges.
Nearly $4,000 Cases Before Court.
For the year there have been 23.417
cases filed in both courts: 1864 District
prosecutions and 5,7J3 federal prosecu-
tons. In bout 50 per cent Of these
there were either convictions or for
FIXTURES Of collateral In the District
branch of the court by far the largest
number of cases were for tiisorderlv con
duct. Other offenSeS triable under a
District prosecution and showing a high
percentage have been automobile speed
ing cases, violations of the health de-
partment regulations, Vagrancy and
habitual drunkenness. There has also
been an increase in the number of con-
VictiOns for keeping unlicensed bars The
operation OF the new vagrancy law sepa-
rating habltual drunkenness from the clas-
sitication of Migrants has worked well.
and while trere has been ali increase in
both for the year, this IS attributed not
50 much to the increase of the vagrant
class to the increase i'm the Districts
population There has been decrease
in the number of violations of the phar-
macy regulations. veterinary regulations
and for crOwding and ohstructing the
sidewalk. Tie number of cruelty to ami
NAL cases is about the same as last year.
The codifi"ation and revision of the Dis
trict police reeula tons which appeared
the later par of June. the need of which
was Badly felt in the Police Court has
eliminated much confusion In the matter
OF handling cases in the District branch
of the court