The Washington times., 1922-06-22
66 ELEl I
T0FORFEIT
SURE TIES.

Tribunal Begins Work Without
Ceremony, and Quickly Dis .
poses OF Its Business.
Washington's new traffic court
was faced by q docket Of nearly
100 cases when II opened for its
first session at IL o'clock this
morning.
Collateral lists from the pre-
eincts, containing the first sep
arate lists of traffic arrests,
brought in a total Of seventy-one
new cases, the First precinct lead.
ing with fourteen cases.
In addition there ware four
prisoners locked up for violations
Of q more serious nature. and a
number Of cases were left over
from yesterday, through continu-
atiops and delays.
Quick Action ON Speeder.
The first conviction In the new
court was secured at 1880, when
Frederick e. Ringe, 14S3 Florida
avenue northwest, was fined $40 for
speeding this morning. Ringe was
charged with making twenty-seven
miles an hour while travelling west
on Maryland avenue between Third
and Fourth streets southwest. He
pleaded guilty, stating that he was
late to work, but didn't realize that
he was exceeding the limit He said
he had been driving car In Wash
'tngton for eight years and had
never been In court before.
The first case called In the new
court room was That Of James
Brown. colored, who was locked up
on charges Of operating an automo-
bile while drunk, operating without
a permit, and with dead license
plates. Brown pleaded not guilty,
declaring that he was not in the car
when arrested, Judge Mcmahon
ordered the case continued to per.
nit the calling of a witness, this
action being taken ..in view Of pos
sible misunderstanding owing to the
confusion of opening the new
court" Brown was released In $500
bond. .s
ne ScCOHu CdSc, t1dt VI TTlNdIe
Andrew Washburn. a soldier, charged
with driving an army truck In excess
of the speed limit, was also continued
to permit investigation Of Wash
burns claim that the truck was fitted
with governor which would not
permit of its being driven at a speed
of more than twelve miles an Lour.
Crowd Throngs Court Room. Il
Owing to the separation of traffic
cases from the ordinary run Of cases
facing the District branch Of court,
the court finished up all OF it's other
cases by 1890 O'Clock, a full half
hour before the opening Of the traffic
court.
The new court, fitted up in the old
police trial board room on the third
floor of the police court building. was
crowded to the doors a full half hour
before the court opened. the jury box.
witness seats, and officers section
) being filled to overflowing.
There was no ceremony in connec-
tion with the opening. As Judge
John p. MacMahon entered the room
q bailiff called: silence In court;
everybody stand up. Sit down. The
court II now In session"
The reading Of the collateral list
began Immediately and only five
answered to their names, the remain
ing sixty-six on the mornings list
electing to forfeit their collateral
rather than appear In court. Those
responding, who will stand trial TO.
day, are Ashton F. Embrey, John +.
Rogers, Rusel Murray, Murray VIII
son and Manuel r. Allen. Following
the reading of the collateral lists
police officers whose prisoners had
failed to respond were excused and
the court proceeded Immediately
with the first case. n.
A. room adjoining the new court
room, formerly used for Newspaper.
men, has been opened as a witness
room for those appearing to testify
In traffic cases. Prisoners locked
mp for trial on. serious traffic Of.
fenses are confined In the cell room
for prisoners called to appear before
the United States branch of court.
Expected to Speed Up Work.
A street entrance to the court has
been provided, through a door on
Sixth street and a stairway directly
20 the courtroom and witness room.
A big sign bearing the words "Traf-
flc Court. marks this doorway.
II Ii expected that the new court
will result in the expedition of the
entire business OF the District. branch
of court. II has already resulted In
q great saving OF time for witnesses
and, officers appearing In traffic
cases. II n expected that the traffic
court win also be the means Of q far
closer checking up on persistent
violaters Of the traffic regulations.
A suggestion by Motorcycle Po-
llceman r.. II. Mansfield. OF the
Second precinct. that a special book
be kept In which the name of every
man convicted OF traffic violations
be entered for immediate reference
bx the court, win be brought be-
fore Judge Mcmahon this after.
noon and II is expected that such
a system win be provided.
The new traffic court, which IL
operated by the Judge and court
officials of the District branch of
Police Court II expected to be the