Evening star., 1914-11-14
COURT HOUSE.

Chief Justice Covington and Associ-
ate Justice Mccoy of the District Su-
preme Court are confirmed pedestrians
and each morning take advantage of
the magnificent autumn weather to
walk about three miles before holding
court. The Chief Justice resides on
Biltmore street and the home of JUS
tice Mccoy is at the Wyoming. The
jurists meet nearly every morning on
their way to court and walk together
to the city hall.
During the month that he has pre-
sided in Criminal Court No. Chief
Justice Covington has passed sentence
on "A persons convicted of crime. y
total of l5S years is involved in the
sentences. OF this number Al years
we're meted out to four prisoners on
whom previous Imprisonment appeared
not to have borne fruit. Ten accused
tion system extended to them. The
chief justice shares the opinion of his
predecessor, the late Chief Justice Cla-
baugh. that the extreme penalty of the
law Is the proper sentence for con-
firmed 1awbreakers, while he is always
ready to extend clemency in a proper
case.
Justice Mccoy in a months term on
the bench has gained the reputation of
an indefatigable worker. The clock on
the wall of the Justices court appears
to be for ornamental purposes only
when the justice thinks a case should
be disposed of without trespassing on
aEother' day. The hands of the clock
indicate the usual hour of adjournment
3 o'clock-unavailingly, for Justice Nc
Coy sits on until the case is finished.
One day recently the clock registered
fifteen minutes before 6 o'clock before
the justice gave PERMISSION 10 lhe
cr1er to declare an adjournment. But
the case was finished and the court
calendar was clear for the business Of
the morrow.
The inroads maze into the time for
court sessions by demands from law
yers for .long panels" in jury cases
are very noticeable. Sometimes two
or more hours are wasted ana tne
court and fourteen jurors remain 1die
while a panel is considering Its YER
dict in a case submitted. If these de-
mands continue it is said to be likely
that steps may be taken to curtail or
do away with the privilege.
James Luxon. crier Of Justice Ander-
sons court. will celebrate ms goloen q
was married in 1864, and took q posi-
| tion at the courthouse February l, 1885
The criers of the District Supreme
the "old guard" They have served
many years in the position-one has
been employed at the court nearly
forty years, two went to work there IL
1886. one in 1885. another in 1897 anc
the youngest in 1901. Charles Doing IL
the Oldest of the criers. and served
under the first chief justice of the
court. He was appointed in 1877. vii:
liam Carroll, better known as Pat,
accepted court position in 1889
February /. 1856. and Prof. Maurice
Joyce presented a personal letter It
Marshal Wilson from President Cleve
land and was given position January
%, 1856. Capt. Daniel NJ. Goodacre
who has recently been placed on the
tstaff of the commander-in-chi of the
jG. A. r., was made a crier in 1897
Joseph Bonn secured the latest ap
|pointment to the corps In 1901.
| c. U. Landrum, disbursing officer o!
the office of Marshal Splain, is enjoy
ing a brief leave of absence. This j:
the first time he has been of the job.
For the first time in thirty-two year:
the consultation room where the jus
tices of the District Supreme Cour'
meet daily for conference has been re
furnished. New mahogany swive
chairs, upholstered in leather, are no"
grouped about a handsome mahogany
directors table, and four reception
armchairs to correspond are provided
for occasional visitors. A velvet car
pet has also been furnished. The ole
furnishings of the room had becom,
eyesores and were in an advanced stag.
of decomposition" since, with the ex
ception of a change in floor coverings
no new furnishings had been purchased
since the addition to the old cour
building was erected in 1882. A law
yer, commenting on the change. re
marked that the furniture dealers o
Washington would so bankrupt II th
local housekeepers did not refurnisl
their homes oftener than the court.