Evening star., 1927-10-02

looked upon him with pity rather than
heartless hostility.
Il don't believe you're in any CON
dition 20 defend yourself" said the
Judge kindly. so I'm going TO ask
this lawyer to take care of you-to
see if there is anything he can do
for YOU
He motioned TO young ColOred law
yer who evidently specialiZes in traffic
cases and who accompanied the pris-
Oner back to a cell. trying to get a
coherent story out of him.
Then came young man accused of
driving without lights. He said they
We're all right when he left home.
Have you q nominal sum with
you?" asked the judge.
"A what?"
"A nominal sum-that may he 4
pretty big word TO use so late at night.
Well. how much money have you
got?"
About five dollars"
Leave it here. Wen call that a
nominal sum this time"
EROM then until midnight cases
dragged. The judge came down
from the bench and chatted rather
pleasantly with the court officials
There was good deal Of chattering in
the room. The court closed at Il and
the weary policemen went back to
their station houses or to bed.
IF we have TO come here as
witnesses outside our regular hours. -
one of them said, Its on our
own time and makes it rather
hard on the boys. But they have
been pretty decent about it. They
try TO give us time off the first day
they can. to make up. so 1 guess it
works out all right in the long run.
Here's bunch of warrants I've got
to serve Monday morning-fellows
tagged that didn't show up. Here's
one for parking overtime won't
bother to go after him. Here's one
for no 1ights-guess I'd better pay him
a call
Just now, the policeman explained,
the department seldom bothers with
parking cases. The offenders simply
leave their collateral at the station and
forget about it. But those caught in
speeding, reckless driving or collision
cases must appear before the judge.
Now warrants are being issued in
cases of inadequate lights.
Traffic policemen appear at their
best in the corridor outside Traffic
Court. They recount their experiences.
joke and smoke cigarettes like real
human beings, philosophiZing on the
frailties of mankind. One can hardly
believe that these sturdy young chaps
with their hats off are the same stern,
fearsome guardians of the law who
confront the hapless motorist with
books of summonses.
After hearing them talk among
themselves, one is almost tempted to
admit that they may be good fellows
in the seclusion of their own homes
or in the station house after hours.
Perhaps they have been misjudged.
1t may be that their long vigils along
lonely roads in all sorts of weather,
their dangerous chases and the gen
eral suspicion in which they are held
are responsible for a good deal of the
cantankerousness with which they
come in contact with the general
public.
AS rule. they recite their evidence
in mumbling, singsong sort of way.
as il they We're repeating parts of a
ritual:
Paced defendant on Wisconsin ave-
nue. between Mount Alto Hospital and
Massachusetts avenue-30 miles an
hour
Such Is the customary recitative.
There are no lawyers in Traffic Court
TO probe beneath the formula. to de-
mand details and to question esti-
mates of speed. But occasionally
there is one who scorns such cut-and-
dried testimony. One young fellow,
for instance. has completed two years
in law school and seems to enjoy testi-
flying. He has transformed it into an
art, and tells the details of each case
in ornate English to appreciative
judges. 1t takes up more of the
courts time, but relieves the monot-
ony. Soon this young fellow will be
arguing cases before the bench instead
of from the witness stand.
Judges in Traffic Court place good
deal of confidence in the testimony Of
the policemen. If it is a case CT one
usually take that of the guardian of
the law. AS Judge Macdonald ex-
planned to one defendant:
I'VE have contradictory stories. But
one is dictated by self-interest. The
policeman cannot have any interest
except to enforce the law the best
way he can
On the other hand. there seems little
disposition to question eXtenuating
circumstances alleged by the defend.
ants. unless they are too preposter-
Gus. If the culprit declares he was
speeding to get some medicine for his
sick wife, the judge doesn't insinuate
that he is lying or send a policeman
to his house to find out whether he
has a wife. He is more than likely
to reduce the fine and accept per-
sonal bond. OF course, it never is
safe to lie when witness has sworn
to tell the truth.
X
Day Traffic Court is somewhat less
picturesque and more monotonous
than the tribunal which sits at night.
The first move is to read. off hun
dred or more names of persons who
have posted collateral. 1t is not eX-
pected that any of them will show up.
Occasionally some law-breaker sur
prises the clerk of court by answer
ing to his name, and there is nothing
to do but go ahead with the case.
The other morning Judge Hit was
r.