Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-15
SOCIETY WOULD PROBE
POLICE COURT METHOD
Alleged Charges of Cruelty to
Animals BIanketed and Wit
neSSes inundated.
Observation-Disclosures;

\ thorough investigation of the Police
Court. where. il is alleged. cases in
volving violations of the laws against
cruelty to animals are blanketed is pro-
vided for i'm a resolution adopted at the
annual meeting of the Washington Eu-
name Society at the Highlands yester-
day afternoon.
The resolution. which was introduced by
Walter Stilson Hutchins. president of the
society, provides that committee OF
three he appointed to investigate condi-
tons prevailing in the court in the pres
entation and disposition of cases OF
cruelty to animals prosecuted by The
agents of the society and to call tho
matter to the attention of the proper au-
thorities' The committee is empowered
to employ counsel and incur all neces-
sary expenses in carrying ON the work.
Mr.. Hutchins declared there is AN or
ganized attempt to throttle the society's
huma nitarian activities. He also asserted
the law regarding the suppression OF
cruelty to animals is badly constructed.
This law, which was passed in 1871. does
not allow the prosecution OF the society
cases by the counsel of the society. They
must be prosecuted by the prosecuting
attorney Of the court.
Says Witnesses Are inundated.
The adoption of the resolution came
after a long discussion of the treatment
of the socety's cases at the hands OF
the court Medical Director j. {. Wise.
l. s. N, retired in speaking of the
prosecution of cruelty to animals cases in
the Police Court, declared that the Wit
nesses for the prosecution arc PROV
beaten and inundated" by counsel for
the defense. Such treatment has made
| IL f.v A
| to come to the court TO testify. he said.
DIR. Wise urged, however. that all the
members and friends of the society stand
ready to come to the Police Court and
willing to do so Your affiliation with the
society does not amount to much, hs
added.
| The president and other officers were
elected yesterday and the reports Oh tle
| secretary and treasurer were read. Those
| elected were: President, Walter Stilson
| Hutchins: first vice president, Medical d.
| rector John G. Wise, l.. >. N; vice presl-
dents. Mrs. William e; Chandler; Mrs.
| Crammond Kennedy. Miss Harriet Il.
| Loring, J. B. L. Topper; honorary vlcs
| presidents, Rev. DIR. Wallace Radcliffe,
Mrs. John B. Henderson. Mrs Z; Z.
| Halliday, August 5. Worthington. MISS
| Addison Mitchell Mrs. Charles a. Prouty,
Mrs. Edward Douglas White, Henry h.
| Blount Nathaniel Wilson. Justice Henry
| b. Brown, Miss Emily V. Lindsey. Mrs.
| Florence Cairns: secretary, John l..
| Heap; treasurer w. Clarence Duvan; en-
| ecutive committee, Chester y. Snow. Col
! Archibald Hopkins. Mrs. Ida 4. Bennett,
Mrs F. f. Smith. II. Ross Perry. Frank
| J. Lewis. Mrs. Alexander Sharp. John r.
Larner. Rear Admiral Charles Z. Clarke
| T. s NJ retired: Prof William NJ. Da-
wilson and Dr. Taylor Boyd Dixon.
The secretary's report showed that dur
| ing 1872 ten police agents We're employed
| and that they made 1.S2I cases securing
4
| that there We're 40 bands of mercy Or
| ganiZed. with 1856 members and that
the society now has an even 300 mem-
bers.