The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-01
ILLEGAL STRIFE IN
DISTRICT ON
! INCREASE
Courts Last Year damned With
Civil and Criminal
Suits.

y
Legal strife in the District Of Co
lumbia, including cases OF a civil
nature as well as those Of a crimi-
nal character, is on the increase,
according to the docket and &C.
tivities Of the District Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeals dur
ing the last year. =
The increase is due to various
causes. Among these, the World
War comes first with its train Of
legal contentious Of all kinds. Con-
spiracy to defraud the government
in connection with war contracts;
suits against the alien property
custodian for the recovery OF prop
erty seized under the Trading with
the alien enemy act: crimes direct
~ due to the influence Of the war.
The National prohibition law did
not figure as prominently in the
activities of the District Supreme
Court as might have been expect
ed. The reason for this is due to
the fact that most offenders against
the dry act" when confronting the
Police Court demand jury trials.
Counsel representing bootleggers
and others breaking the prohibition
law make use Of every little techni-
cality to protect their clients with
the result that regular jam or
undisposed cases of this kind has
accumulated, and is waiting to be
eased by the courts.
Civil Case Docket.
Among the celebrated civil cases
tried during the last year and ao-
Indicated by the courts were the
decision of the Court OF Appeals
hciding the minimum wage law
unconstitutional.
The suit of Mrs. Emma C.. Berg
doll. mother of Grover G. Bergdon,
the war draft Stacker to recover
about $1,000, 900 worth OF property
part of which belonged to her son,
Grover. She lost her suit.
Mrs. Nina Van Wrinkle, head OF
the women's bureau Of the police oe-
Dartment, was exonerated OF All
charges preferred against her Dy the
poIice trial board in connection with
charges of alleged insubordinaton
preferred against her.
The International Brotherhood OF
Electrical Workers lost its suit Tor
an Injunction against Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty in connection with
the strike Of the railway men.
OF will cases the suit of Mrs. Con-
stance Setback Oracle, widow OF Col
Archibald. Oracle, against her son-in-
law, Dunbar S. Adams, of New York,
for part Of her daughters estate, was
one Of the most prominent. Mrs.
Oracle lost, and her case is on ap-
peal.
Another case which held the atten-
tion, Of the court and jury for six
weeks was the half-millon-dollar
heart balm suit Of LIEUT.. Lorimer c.
Graham, u. S. N, against Augustine
L. Hnmes, wealthy lawyer OF New
York: The naval officer lost out. but.
m appeal has been noted by hiseat-i
torneys, Daniel Thew Wright and
Philip Ershler.
$50 Wills PrObated.
The Knickerbocker Theater case is
now before the Court of Appeals,
where it was taken by the district
attorney on the decision of Justice
giddons, holding that the indictment
was defective.
The register of wills handled $50
wills, involving property appraised
at $7,116,501.
The fact that crime is on the in
crease III the OASlEICl was Greatly
tablished by the justices of the Dis
trict Supreme Court deciding on the
need and organization Of third
criminal division.
Governmental agencies of all
kinds, duly authorized to act in this
matter, have determined to wipe out
II possible, or, at least, hold back the
ever-increasing tide Of the drug evil.
The office of the district attorney
has done herculean. labors in that re-
spect, and it is stated that the traffic
IN dope is pretty well in hand now.
Nonsupport cases take much of
the time of the District Attorney and
his assistants, as well as of Proba-
ton Officer Amos A. Steele, to
whom are referred most Of the non
support cases for investigation.
The justices presiding in the Grim
inal branches have determined that
there shall be no more pocketbook-
snatching or highway robbery in
Washington, if they can help it.
The maximum penalty is dealt out
TO offenders. as a rule, which seems
70 be fnf1exible.
Joy-riding, heretofore one of the
most frequent crimes committed, is
on the decrease. due to the fact, in
large measure, that offenders
when coming up for sentence, as a
rule. received the maximum penalty.