The Washington herald., 1920-01-24
Round the Town
Jaunting With
Capt. ]. Walter Mitchell.
Motor vehicles for MerRue.


The crying need of Transportation
facilities for the District morgut
was exemplified when two recent
inauests were ordered for the SAINT
day. The Jurymen were directed tc
report at the morgue at 1880 a. m
1t was necessary that the six men
with Assistant Coroner w. BROWNE
CARR, visit the late homes OF the
deceased in order to be sworn al
jurors over the remains. The first
place to be visited was away ovel
in Southeast Washington, near ths
jail: the second. beyond Petworth
1t was a cold. raw day. and to reach
the places by street car would have
been impossible as the inquests were
set for 3 o'clock the same afternoon
at the morgue in extreme South
Washington.
sessed a touring car in which fivt
OF the six jurymen were conveyed
to the widely separated points. The
sixth man. through the courtesy OF
DIR. Carr, rode with him in his pri-
vate car. 1t is argued that the gov.
ernment should not have to depend
upon private charity or courtesy fol-
the transaction of such importan,
business as that OF the coroner's of.
fee. The only vehicle connected
with the morgue is a somber old
dead wagon" hauled by a condemn.
ed fire horse, which collects from al
quarters OF the District the unclaim.
ed dead. and those who die by acci.
dent, sorm or under suspicious cir.
cumstances requiring investigation
Following a snowstorm or hard
freeze. II is with diff1culty that this
aged vehicle can be pulled from
point to point.
In this connection, CHARLES
MORRIS points out that the United
States government has a large mum.
Der of automobiles---disca of the
late war-from which two could be
secured for use of the mergue.
II am sure" Mr.. Morris said. ''ii
the Commissioner make requisttior
for the transfer of a couple of the
cars to the District service. they
can be procured"
One From John Moore.
My oldtime friend. JOHN e
MOORE, chief of division in the
office OF the auditor for the Navy
Department. related this one on az
old Scotch woman who lived fol-
many years on Capitol Hill:
"She walked into one of the down.
town banks where she kept her saw
ings. handed her deposit book to the
clerk and said she wished to draw
all her money. When the residue
of her savings was handed TO heI
she went to, table in the bank
lobby and carefully counted it. She
then marched up to the teller and
said:
".Aye. sor, that'lI doe; jist pit II
back again. l only wanted to see
IL 1t was a richt.'"
Makes Dark Places Light.
While in the roops of the Com
mittee on Pensions or the House,
overheard this ,one:
What Is the difference between 9
reporter and a detective"
Lots. One makes dark places light
the other makes light places dark"
BaiIin Adrms Is Artist:
THOMAS A. ADAMS. a popular Of
fetal of the Police Court, is an artist
Of unusual ability. During a recess
Of the court he showed me an as.
sortment Of exquisite water colors
from his brush. He is best, however
as a painter in oil. He paints from
pencil sketches made by himself
while on his summer vacations. Mr.
Adams Is descended from distin
guished English family.
"But II Doesn't Mean Anythins."
While on my way to the morgut
to attend an inquest 1 observed q
sign at the. entrance of a wharf
on Water street, near Ninth. with
this inscription in large black let.
ters: mo loafing. fishing or bath.
ing on this wharf" The rtempera-
ture was away below the freezine
point and the wharf was covered
with snow, while a biting north
wind swept over the deeply frozef
surface OF the river. A man with
q philosophical sort of mind read
the legend, shivered, and com.
mented:
who the Tom Henry wants to
loaf. fish or swim on q wharf thii
frigid weather? That sign doesn't
mean anything at this particular
time"
In front OF nearby cook shop
was another signboard. 1t read:
Ice cold watermelons."