Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-01
POLICE COURT.

| With the close of 1911 the police court
| ended a record breaking year In It's ex-
| istence in respect to the number of cases
| filed. 24,533 persons being called for trial
| in the two branches of the court, as COM
pared to oo,711 in 1910. There were 5.739
cases filed in the United States branch and
the balance in the District branch. The
| greater increase occurred in tho District
| branch. due to the more stringent en-
| forcement of traffic regulations, health
| regulations and decided jump in the
| number of prosecutions under the va
grancy act of March. 1910. Approximate
| ~ $95.U0 passed through the hands of
| Financial Clerk Adkins during the year, a
| slight increase over previous years.
December IL, tho term of Judge Alex
andcr r. Mullowny expired. He was re-
| appointed December - for another term
| OF six years. The only change in the
| court staff during the year was the ap-
| pointment of David T. Langley. son of
| the assistant corporation counsel's office.
| as office bailiff, vice W. y. West, resign
| cd. The appointment was made effective
January l, 1911
The prosecutions in the United States
| branch. conducted by Assistant United
SfaAeS Attorney Ralph Given, were
| chiefly upon informations alleging petit
larceny and simple assault. These two
o11enSeS composed about 10 per cent of
| the total Other offenses which pre-
dominated in the day-to-day grind in this
/ branch of the court included false pre-
| lenses, violations of the gaming laws,
| the flsh laws and the food and drug act.
| There was an increase in the number of
cases referred to the grand jury. the of.
| lenses in this category including en-
| bezzlement depreciation on private prop
| erty and also prosecutions under the
| interstate commerce acts. There was a
| 50
| eral park regulations.
During the year the increase in the
| number of demands for trials by Jury
was greater than ever before in the his
| tory or the court. In consequence there
was congestion Of the jury trial dock
| cts which the prosecutor was unable 10
| relieVe to any great extent owing to the
| limited time devoted by the two branches
| six months Of the year there was q
| steadily increasing demand for the crea
! ton OF third branch of the Police
/ Court. in which it was proposed to try
jury cases alone.
| The moro important new laws which
went into effect during 1911 were the
auto wheel tax law and the regulation
AGAINST more than one person riding upon
e-seated motor cycles bicycles
The first prosecution under these laws
came in the form of test cases. Jude.
lnents were rendered in favor of the gov
eminent i'll both test cases. An appeal
was taken to the District Court of Ap-
peals I'm the first case. and the decision OF
the lower court was sustained There
was no appeal in the second case Judge
/ Pugh made the decision in the wheel tax
case and Judge Mullowny in the motor
, cycle case. The former was regarded as
an exceptionally important piece of legis.
lation. AS it was designed to considerably
! increase the District tax revenue The
case was fought bitterly by local automo.
| bile interests. Both cases were disposed
! OF in the District branch
! AS in past years about 20 per cent OF
the persons tried in the lower branch OF
the court We're charged with disorderly
conduct. The fines ranged from SIS tc
50. the average being about SIS. The
increase in the number Of 1isorderly con-
duct cases was slightly less. however
in proportion to the increase for the yeal
in the total number of District branch
cases. There was a decrease in the mum.
Der of excise law violations and con-
cealed weapon cases. On the other hand
there We're decided increases in vaSrancy
cases. in prosecutions for violating the
dog muZzling law and in cruelty to an.
imal prosecutions. There was an apDre-
ciable increase in prosecutions for viola.
tons of traffic and health regulations
of prosecutions under the smoke law
dairy regulations. plumbing regulations
for habitual drunkenness and the license
regulations.
Among the number of jury trials de.
manded in the lower branch of the court
and the consequent congestion of jury
dockets, Assistant Corporation Counse
John George has been assigned to con.
duct all jury prosecutions, leaving AS
Schuldt free to conduct the prosecution OF
cases tried by the court