Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-26
PORTER IRONICAL
IN REJOINDER TO
JUDGE SULZBERGER
Suggests Notice by Grim
inals as to Intentions in
Order That Witnesses
May Be Provided.

A sarcastic report embodying the sug'
gestlon that 1t might be good IDEA
to ask all criminals for notice or when
and where they are to commit a crime
was issued today by Director Porter TO
amplfy his previous statements concern
ing the leniency of the courts to crlrnl-
nails.
The Director calls attention in this re-
port to the arrest of Arthur Barratt De-
cember 81, 1914, and declares the man con-
fessed to starting eight fires in Frankford.
The report in part follows:
For the commission OF these eight
crimes the Grand Jury brought out four
indictments. Judge Sulzberger tried him
on the last Indictment for the burning OF
the haystack, and refused to admit the
sworn statement of the prisoner as to the
commission of the other crimes because
there had been no eye witnesses present
at the time of the commission of these
crimes AS a result, the District Attor-
ney's office submitted the three remaining
bills. For the commission of the later
crime the prisoner was sentenced to the
House of Correction for the term of one
year 1t Is probably not amiss to note
at this time that when premises 464S
Cloud street were set on fire by this man
three persons, q woman and two children
were 80 badly burned that 1t was neces-
sary TO send them to the hospital where
they were confined several days.
SIN view of the attitude of the Judge
that there must be eye-witnesses to the
commission of these crimes I presume l
should issue a notice TO the public about
as follows: ~.
"'Notice to all those who desire TO
commit the crime of arson: You will
confer favor on the Bureau OF Police
II you will notify us in advance of your
desire TO commit the crime of arson and
1T. - a.
and place in order that a grandstand
rbe erected in which to lodge police Off
GERS, detectives and other witnesses who
might be used against you as witnesses
in the commission Of the above-men-
toned crime
Apparently for the commission of the
crime OF arson the sentence provided
by law is severe, ranging from a fine
of from $500 to $4,000 and the undergoing
of imprisonment by separate or solitary
confinement from IL to 20 years. This
man was sentenced to the House OF Cor
rectlon, where II is not possible to give
him separate or solitary confinement, be-
cause II Is correctional institution and
not prison."
II will give you just this one state
ment and / will not discuss the matter
further My statement yesterday was not
discussion; IL was denunctation. II
cannot discuss that question, surely my
years prevent me from discussing any
other"
Judge SuIzberger said this was his final
word today when asked what he thought
OF Director Porter's statement to the ef-
feet that ''babbling babes and the inco-
herent mutterings of old men fast ap-
preaching their dotage" described the
Courts yitriolic assault upon him from
the bench. II have no discussion with
anybody" said Judge sulzberger, signi-
flying that the interview had come to the
end. "All my judgments are subject to
review by the Superior Court and the su-
preme Court"
A challenge to debate ION open ground"
was made to Judge Sulzberger by
Mayor Blankenburg as his part in the
latest exchange of verbal fusillades
started by the Jurist's eaustic arraign-
ment Of Director Porter.