Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-30
COURT RESENTS
PORTER'S CRITICISM
OF ITS LENTENCY
Judge Dougherty Denounces
Police Department for
Frequent Disregard Of
Law.

Charges by Director of Public Safety
Porter against the courts for leniency in
disposing OF prisoners we're answered to-
day by denunciations of the police de-
partment from the Judges referred TO in
the directors criticism.
An hour after Director Porter had is
sued statement giving the history of
the case of Olga Miller who was sem
fenced to the House of Correction and
released on a writ of habeas corpus be-
fore she had time to enter prison. Judge
Dougherty, who had signed the writ, re-
plied by declaring that 1.-THE actions of
some policemen in making arrests Is an
outrage and an entire disregard of law
Olga Miller was sentenced yesterday to
nine months in the House of Correction
by Magistrate Renshaw. Before the po-
lice boat carrying her had reached the
prison a writ for her release was served
on the superintendent of the House of
Correction. When she appeared in court
this morning for a hearing of the writ
Judge Dougherty reduced her sentence to
three months.
To Director Porter's criticism of him
for reducing the Miller girls sentence
Judge Dougherty replied this afternoon:
today. and while have no detailed recol-
lection of this particular case, ! will say
that in numerous cases of this class
which have come before me have found
that the action of some of the policemen
In making arrests as they do Is an out
rage and an entire disregard of the law
There have been occasions when some
of the policemen should be held them
selves for the manner in which they give
testimony.
In many instances they try to provoke
crime instead of making an effort to
prevent it: they make the first advances
and then If the woman makes the slight
est reply she is arrested as a disorderly
street walker
I'm the cases of women who have been
discharged by me on writs of habeas
corpus. or whose sentences have been
reduced, such action, in my opinion, was
in strict conformity with the law, and
demanded by the fair administration of
Justice
Director Porter's statement, which pro-
voked the reply from Judge Dougherty,
was as follows:
"Amplifying my statement OF n few
days ago before the Ministerial Assoca-
ton concerning the action of the Judges
or the court in releasing prisoners who
have been arrested for keeping dis
orderly resorts or for acting disorderly
oIl lhe street lne following case lis in
teresting:
Olga Miller was tried before Magis-
trate Renshaw yesterday, charged with
being disorderly on the street and sem
fenced to nine months in the House of
Correction.
Before the police boat with this
prisoner in the custody of its officers ar
rived at the House of Correction wharf,
where she was to be delivered to the
warden. a writ of habeas corpus was
issued by Judge DouEherty and present
ed to the superintendent of the House of
Correction and this morning in the Court
OF quarter Sessions, Judge Dougherty re-
duced the sentence to six months
This woman's record is as follows:
July 3. 19l0-Charged with keeping dIsor-
derly resort Held In 5000 bail for court by
Magistrate Belcher.
March 25, 191l-chargod with keeping dis
orderly resort. Convicted before Judge orme-
November 10, i012NCharged with keeping
. December 81, 10l2-Charged with keeping
dlsorderly resort. Tried and sentenced to %
days IN the county jy, prison and fined 800
orderly resort. Tried, sentenced to 30 days In
tho County Prison and fined $500.
October TO- 1e13-Charged with being dsor-
tho House OF Correction.
April 3, 10l+-Charged with being disorderly
on street. Sentenced TO three months in the
"Docember 20, iOi4-charged with being dis
in the House Of Correction. Sentence reduced
to six months by Judge Dougherty.
GEORGE D. PORTER"