Evening star., 1923-12-31

trict of Columbia the year 1923 was
MARIE maaked by the elimination of dead
United States Attorney Gordon de-
cloeo TO dismiss all cases where there
was no chance of a conviction due to
the lapse of time, the death of i'm
portant witnesses or the scattering
OF such witnesses throughout the
country. These cases with those con.
Victed and the pleas of guilty re-.
ceiyed throughout 1928 totaled 1899
The grand jury reported 1.117 new
indictments last year and ignored l0J
cases presented to it. A total of 26
homicide charges was disposed of
during the year. There now remain
about 1,500 cases pending in the Of
fice of United States Attorney Cor
don.
The Office also heard complaints
from coo wives during the year that
their husbands were not supporting
them. Many of these cases were ar
ranged satisfactorily without re-
course to the grand jury. AS a re-
suit of these arrangements the pro-
baton officer received $4,000 for the :
support of dependent wives and chi
dren.
The criminal docket was not thu
only one depleted in 1923. The intS
sistence by the justices in the Law
and equity branches of the court on
trials or other disposition of cases
decreased greatly the volume of litf
= L
probably one of the smallest dockets
in the history of the court.
The outstanding feature Of REL
view of the years work in the Dis
trict Supreme Court was the trial OF
Charles w Morse. his three sons and
four others on charge of conspiracy
to defraud the United States through
war contracts for ships. The case was
the first of the so-called war frauds
and established a record for this dis
trict by occupying :a.s attention OF
the court and jury for fifteen
weeks. The jury declared the ac-
cused not guilty.
PcpcO Case Continued.
The attempt of Pepco to get posses
sion Of the s4,000.OOO impounded fund
and to prevent a revaluation of it's
property by the court was frustrated
by the action of Chief Justice Mccoy.
The court directed that a revaluation
be made and pending final disposition
of that matter the impounding be con-
tinued. Justice Stafford has set Feb
ruary 10 for hearing on the revalua-
ton.
Among the many suits filed during
the year were two of particular inter-
est. James V. Martin of New York is
seeking to secure 100000 from the
Manufacturers Aircraft Association
and number of persons prominent in
aeroplane circles for alleged con-
spiracy to ruin his business. Walter
Holland. a local attorney, is suing tho
American Express Company for $5,-
240, 400, which he claims is the valu
of 1900, 900 German marks for Whif
he bought money orders from Il
While the Court of Appeals decla..
ed there was no criminal responsible
ity attached to the Knickerbocka
Theater disaster, civil actions wad
hTn1Oht
gal representatives of more than
of the victims against the Knid
booker Theater Company and
others connected with the constl
demurred to several of the decIa
tions, and the court held that
happening of the event placed
on the defensive and 1t m
answer. others sued jointly With
company also demurred and w.
overruled noted appeals. which
still pending.
Three of the cases in which
company only was made defend
went to trial before jury and v
diets were returned in all exonerat
the company. Other suits will
heard early next year.
New grist continued to pour b
the court mills. On the equity sid
the clerks office there were filed
new cases, of which probably
related to marital infeliciCes.
the law side a total of 1,125
cases was entered. The clerk
received 225 mechanics liens,
bankruptcy petitions, Al condemh
tion cases, in addition to a largS
number of applications for citizen
ship.
While not shattering any records
Dan Cupid reported good year il
marriage licenses and a slight ady
vance over the business of 1922. Dur-N
ing 1923 total of $500 licenses were
issued, with June the buseiest month,
with 725 Iiceness, and December next
with 575.