Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

point, JuOlcldry square Is one OF
* the most historic places in the Dis
trict of Columbia. and its Importance
in this connection no doubt will never
cease so long as the Court House is located
here in which famous Federal cases are fire.
quently being tried.
From the very beginning of the city it was
destined by LEnfant a pubic reservation
and early spoken of as Judiciary Square
However, it not occupied by court build
ing for some years after Congress moved here.
though a Jail the site as early as 1903
This reservation. can easily be seen. forms
the top of hill the ground Soping eaStwardly
toward the old Tiber. southwardly again TO the
Tiber and to the low lands, and enthusiastically
toward the Center Market, disappearing.
Indeed. 1t is a part of what is known as the
street ridge which all travel took place
from Georgetown to the Capitol until the
swamp land along Pennsylvania avenue was
filled and the roadway sufficiently improved to
admit of the passage of pedestrians and teams.
Though it has been said that this reservation
Is a part OF the Benjamin Oden tract. yet the
map would indicate that it part of the
David Burnes farm. purchased from that
original proprietor by the Commissioners for
5000 acre. the Federal Government paying
for the l9 acres s. .263. 50-almost as good q
bargain as the purchase of Alaska.
THE first settlements made on Judiciary
Square. or In that area between Fourth and
Fifth and D and G streets, was by Irish
laborers employed in erecting the Government
buildings and who simply used the rule of
squatter sovereignty, and without asking any
questions built their shacSs, and perhaps stayed
there until elected until they decided to
leave. These ancestors of some of fore
most families spread out even to the blocks to
the south and for many years this part of the
city known throughout the District as
Irish Hill-English Hill being close by to the
east and northeast In this connection an
Irish friend of the writer's in recently speaking
of these localities said the of the Emerald
Isle finally the English away from English
Hall and took possession of that place also.
However this may be, We do know that the
Irish gradually worked their way northeast
wardly. forming a considerable settlement
known in later years "Swamppoodle," where
the catcher just loved" to CO.
Just where the first Jail in the city
located the writer will not attempt to de-
termine. At date prior to 1900 a log house
on New Jersey avenue and D street southeast,
was used for this purpose OF the McGurk Jail,
on the north side of street between John
Marshall place and Sixth street. have more
definite information around the year 1902,
when unfortunate prisoner held there
and later taken from there and executed. Mr.
Bryan tells that this building small
brick edif1ce Of three rooms and that 1t was
continued q county institution under the
authority of the Levy Court even after the year
1902 He also says that from the scanty records
Obtainabe this may have been the Jail used
by the Levy Court of Prince Georges County
James Croggon, In speaking Of this Jail some
years ago. said: When the Circuit Court Of
the District by act of February "a, 1901, was
established, with William Kitty, James Mar
shah and william Cranch rs judges, the neces-
city of q permanent jail arose. D. Carroll
Brent the marshal until its completion, had q
temporary place of confinement in the alley
north of G street between Four and-a half
and Sixth streets long known McGurk's
jail, from the fact that . man Of that name
was confined there in 1902 and executed near
Pennsylvania avenue and Second street for the
murder of his wife
by act of Congress approved March 2, 1902
Congress made an appropriation for the
erection of Jail. and the site chosen Is said
to have been about the center of the square,
or perhaps 1t can be more definitely placed
on the north side of e street between Fourth
and Fifth streets The following year an ad-
ditional appropriat ton of SO, 700 made and
the building completed at nearly $4,000.
1t a plain oblong building. one end Of
which was fitted up for the jailer, and for
years 1t housed prisoners under commitment
for trial under sentence runaway slaves and
the INDECENT insane and those confined there
at the instance OF their families For years
Tippett occupied the position Of
jailer, being succeeded by Thomas williams
who filled the ONCE until about l847 when
Robert Ball, ST., was appointed he being
assisted by his son, Robert Ball jr then a
mere lad, but who was some 20 years later
placed in full charge.
The saying that love laughs at locksmiths
is well Illustrated by story told on that great
friend Of matrimony, Dan Cupid who even
visited this little jail and caused the jaiIer's
daughter and a prisoner to become man and
wife, and which not only made the jailer q
father-in-law, but incidentally secured the