Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10
MANY To DISCLOSE
THEIR TALES OF WOE
Pathway of Prosecutor in Po-
lice Court Not StreWn
With Roses.
MUST ABSORB DETAILS
OF NUMEROUS BAD CASES
Grain OF Comedy Which Partially
Relieves the Monotony-Incl-
dents in Point.

EeiuS prosecuting attorney in the f'o-
lie Court. il has been observed by those
Who know. does not mean only going into
court occa sionaily and making beautiful
speeches 10 an unappTeciative jury. Not
~ a great deal.
Practically every case that comes be-
fore the Judges of this court is first
thTashed ont and partially tried in the
inner room of the district attorneys
office. This applies with greater force
t. tho prosecutor in the United States
branch Of the court than 10 the District
of Columbia branch In the last named
court some cases of importance are tried,
the principal ones being for alleged vio-
laiions Of the excise law But the great
majority Of the cases involve compare
lively trivial offenses.
In the other branch the crooks thugs.
Wife-bcaters. razor wielders. embezzlers
ctnmcn-ali sorts OF bad men, i'm fact
furnish CriSt for the mill OF Justice.
III the district attorney has to do is
hear all Of the woeful stories told him.
weigh carefully how much of il is truth
and how much imagination and lies de-
terminc whether or not TO order war
rant issued, keep track OF the progress
Of the case until 1t is brought into court
keep all OF the facts in mind until the
defendant fH brought 10 trial and then
prosecute 1ts0efore the Judge.
HaEOther Worries.
Ard that isn't all. Every lawyer who
Is Interested in case is continually
working away at the prosecutor to try
to get bond reduced or a recommended
ton Of clemency to the court. or a million
other little things which Il lies in his
power only to do.
There is saving grain Of comedy,
however. which appears now and then
10 keen the prosecutors sense OF humor
III working order, and prevent il from
becoming atrophied. Many laugh is
extracted from details of a case when
al rate wife repents over night of pre-
fcr-inS charge against her worse half.
Such a wife win come into the district
attorneys office. almost on the run. with
stccly CLINT in one eye and a handage
over the other and demand that her
husband be hailed before the bar of JUS
ticc for trying TO knock her eye out with
a shoe.
Tell me all about it, the district at
torney will saw
She tells him. with great Susto. will
insIy. and with much warmth of feel
ing. as rule lifting the bandage to
exhibit the injured optic.
You're sure you want him arrested?"
is the next question. You won't come
\ grim smile nghtens the features of
the injured and insulted spouse.
Beg of for him?" with snort of in
disnation. I'D just like 10 see myself
do that I'd rather
Never mind all that. You come to
court tomorrow morning and he'll be
here. too
Eight times out of ten, the wife no
longer bitter in spirit. but meek and in
Gratiating, appears the next day, and will
almost go down her knees to have
the charge Of assault withdrawn. What
can the district attorney do? You can't
force a woman TO testify against her
husband. The charge is dropped.
Charm Fails to Work.
Not long~ago a woman. apparently re-
fined and educated confessed. with some
embarrassment, that she would like to
procure a warrant for seer" She
said that the woman had promised to
bring back wayward lover. and that
She had parted with SIS on the receipt
of this encouraging news. This gifted
person for whom she wanted a warrant
she declared, had gone into some kind
of a trance, and talked about a strange
girl with golden locks and deep blue eyes
in connection with her lost swain. and
this FASTENED the payment of the fec
She also gave her magic charm TO wear
always about her neck. end assured her
work, and her lover just couldn't help re-
turning.
After a few weeks the demon of doubt
crept into her mind. and after q few
more she wisely decided to try to re-
cover her money. And here she was. ask
ing the district attorney what to do
about il.
Couldn't / charge her with getting
my money under false pretenses?" she
asked 'All 1 want to do is to get my
money back. OF course. / wouldn't have
this get into the papers for the world"
Reporter on His Job.
Il ought to inform YOU madam. that
there has been newspaper man stand
ing right behind you all this time" the
prosecutor told her
w hat fool am. she cried, sorrow
al the loss OF her lover and of the money
obliterated In the fear OF publicity. "Tn
think this over tonight and come back
tomorrow, She called over her shoulder
as she fed.
You don't know my name. anyhow"
she hung at the reporter from the stairs
Ill get il when You come back to-
morrow. nc reto.ted
he. .ol-