Evening star., 1914-11-18
Courts to Deal Severely.

Chief Justice Covington. in Criminal
Court No. /. recently declared his in
tention of dealing severely in the fu-
ture with cases of persons who are
convicted of assaulting others with
deadly or dangerous weapons. He said
there are too many such cases COM
ing before him.
William Sindam. colored. was fined
$50 in the Police Court today by Judge
Mullowny on a cna.g ge OF carrying
concealed weapon. Policeman McDon-
aid of the first precinct testified that
boy told him Sindam had a razor in
his pocket and that he had threatened
to cut him with 1t.
The officer arrested Sindam and found
the razor. The defendant declared
that he only put the razor in his
pocket yesterday for the purpose OF
delivering it to his brother. but that
he did not see him. He denied that
he had threatened to use 1t on the
other boy.
wallace Dubois forfeited $50 in court
today when he failed to appear and
answer a charge of carrying a con-
rested by Policeman H. A. Cole. is
charged with carrying revolver.
A case Of carrying a concealed weapon
against William s. Pratt is to De heard
by Judge Mullowny tomorrow. Pratt. who
was arrested by Policeman Samson Of the
first precinct, Is charged with carrying q
blackjack.
Jail Sentences Legal.
That absolute Jail sentences can be
imposed by law on persons convicted
of carrying concealed weapons was the
statement of Judge Pugh in the Police
Court today. Il have on many occa-
sions imposed an absolute sentence,
he said. and in most of those cases
the sentence has been for mour mon hs
i ne la ~ says that the court can impose
a fine of $50 and not more than 1000 or
give Jail sentence OF one year. That
means a sentence OF $500 fine, with one
year in Jail. and one year additional. In
default of the payment of the fine. can
be imposed.
The law regarding the carrying of a
concealed weapon is ample" he added,
but there should be law regarding
the purchasing of them"
Il have been advocating for the past
ten years a law which would compel
persons desiring to purchase a weapon
to come to the Police Court and get
a permit" said Francis Sebring. clerk
of the Police Court. There is law
requiring persons who desire to carry
a revolver to come here and get
permit, but there are but few cases
where the permits are issued by the
judges. When the person finds out that
bond of 5000 is required and that the
permit is only good for thirty days.
and that the bond must be renewed
every thirty days, he soon decides that
he does not want permit
Provisions in District Code.
The District code provides in the case
of carrying concealed weapons as fol-
lows:
ANY person who shall within the
District of Columbia have concealed
about his person any deadly or dan
gerous weapon, or who shall carry
openly such weapon, with intent to un-
lawfully use the same. shall be fined
not less than $50 nor more than $500,
or be imprisoned not exceeding one
year, or both. Provided. That the off,
GERS. nom commissioned officers and
privates of the United States Army,
Navy or Marine Corps. or of any reg
ularly organized militia company.
police officers. officers guarding pris-
oners, officials of the United States or
the execution of the laws for the pro-
lection of persons or property. when
any of such persons are on duty. shall
not be liable for carrying necessary
arms for use in performance Of their
duty; Provided, further, That nothing
contained in this section shall be SO
construed as to prevent any person
from keeping or carrying about his
place of business, dwelling house. Or
premises any such dangerous or dead
ly weapon, or from carrying the same
from his dwelling house or place OF
business to any place where repairing
is done to have the same repaired and
back again.
provided further. That nothing con-
| tanned in this section shall be so con-
strued as to apply to any person who shall
have been granted a written permit te
| carry such weapon or weapons by any
| Judge of the Police Court of the Dis.
| trict of Columbia: and authority il
| hereby given to any such Judge tt
grant such permit for a period OF no,
more than one month at any one time
upon satisfactory proof to him of the
necessity for the granting thereof, and
| further, upon the filing with such judge
| of a bond, with sureties to be approved
| by said judge, by the applicant for suct
| permit, conditioned to the United State:
| in such penal sum as said Judge shal
require for the keeping OF the peace
| save in the case cf necessary self de.
fense by such applicant during the con
tinuance of said permit, which bono
| shall be put In suit by the United State,
for it's benefit upon any breach of sucl
condition"
Stringent Laws Favored.
The movement for more stringent
laws governing the sale Of deadly
weapons was indorsed by the Petwortt