Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-16
DELAYS IN TRIALS
JAM PRISON CELLS
Moyamensing Facing Grea
overcrowding During Hot
Season Of Year
COURT DOCKETS CLOGGED

Prisoners in Moyamensing face the
possibility of having to sleep four or
i've In a cell during the hottest weather
OF mid August because of the food Of
crime and the impossbility of provid-
ing means of trying them before Au-
gust IS.
There have been SO many arrests Of
late that there are now 2TO prisoners
in the "untried department" Of Moya-
mensing. At the present rate this
number viii have increased, II IS esti-
mated. to 200 before mid August
Moyamensing has the largest number
of untried prisoners locked in its cells
| at present of any time in the institu-
tion's history.
The impossibiity of cutting down
this huge waiting list arises from the
| fact that judicial vacations have just
begun and Will continue for full
month. There will be no "jail court"
| sitting until that time. when Judges
Davis and Ferguson will open court
for the trial of prison cases.
Suggests Court All Summer
| Judge Barratt said today that it
would be an excellent idea to have the
| Criminal Court in session throughout
the summer, II such a thing were pos
sible.
Unfortunately. said the Judge.
\ this was not provided for in time. It
always has been customary to close the
courts for this period of a month. Con-
sequently there was no grand jury ana
no petit juries provided for this vacation
season. 4 months time usually is re-
quired In advance to make such ar
rangements.
Personally. I would be glad to sit
through the rest of the summer to help
dispose Of these cases. il provision had
been made for such sessions. AS il is.
nothing can be done. I believe. how.
ever, that the accumulation Of cases will
be disposed Of soon after the courts
reconvene-August 15."
Where Clogging Starts
The Municipal Court does not GUS
tomarily sit to try Jail cases. The
criminal branch of the Municipal Court
sits as bail court, trying bail cases
only The Municipal Court criminal
branch has not been sitting since June
10. Between June IL and July Is
ii is estimated the Municipal Court
could have disposed Of about 100 cases.
These would have been cases of ac-
cuscd persons out on bail. however,
and this would not solve the problem
presented by the hundreds of untried
men and women who are now In Moya-
mensing.
District Attorney Rotan is anxious
to find way out of the difficult situa-
tion. He blames 1t upon two things
| the large number Of arrests lately and
the great number of murder trials which
have taken place this year.
From January ] to June 80" he
said today. there were sixty four
! homicide cases tried. OF these the
District Attorneys office got five frat
degree convictions, eleven convicted In
the second degree, sixteen convicted of
manslaughter and one declared insane.
There were thirty -one acquittals. At
present there are twenty-five cases in
Moyamensing Prison awaiting trial for
| lhurder =
The District Attorney explained that
| the seriousness Of murder charge and
quircd for the adjudication Of the case
set back the docket of trials of lesser
| offenses.
Asks Brown for Help
The District Attorney has sought to
Moynmcnsing, but the best he has been
able to do has been to get the promise
of President Judge Brown, of the Mu-
nicipal Court, that he win assign y
| Judge August - to conduct prison
| court.
1T is essential to keep the prison
| list down" said the District Attorney.
1T must be remembered also that many
of those persons held in jail and await
ing trial are innocent. Every man ar
rested. no matter what the season of
the year. should be able to get an
immediate trial.
~ firmly believe that if the press
Of business warrants it we should have
as many as four or five criminal courts
| in operation at the same time--as many
| courts as are necessary for the speedy
| transaction Of business. 1t was with
n realization of Ovcrcrowded conditions
| in Moyamensng Prison that Ftook up
! with President Judge Brown the ques-
ton of having Judge assigned to con-
! duct prison court in Room 653. City
| Hall, as an auxiliary to the regular
! court. Some time ago ! made the sug-
gestion that We should have a house of
detention In which could be lodged those
prisoners who were awaiting trial. but
| nothing has come Of this -
The Judges Of the local courts are
dispersed over the country on their
vacations, though only Judge Auden-
ried. who has gone to Europe, is far
away. Judge Monaghan IL in town,
and wtil be all summer; Judge Nc.
Cullen Is sitting one day each week to
entertain motions; Judge Davis is at
| Spring Lake; Judges McNichol and
Bartlett are in Atlantic City, and Judge
German at Bustloton. However, though
the Judges are near nt hand. aud no
doubt others, like Judge Barratt. would
| be glad to help relieve the overcrowd-
! ing at Moynmcnslng by holding sum
mer sessions. II would be Impossible,
| II Ia said, because of the impractical
bility Of getting jurics.
Camden Liens to Build WadIng Pool
Indorsing the movement Of the Cam.
| den Rotary ClMh TO cstnbliSh MaAing