Evening star., 1932-02-07

and which did court service for
many years after the church people had moved
uptown.
The old Police Court Building was dedicated
rs the First Unitarian Church on June II,
1922, its first pastor having been Rev. Robert
Little and here Gen. Lafayette attended divine
service shortly after he arrived in Washington
late in 1924.
1t was designed by Charles Bullnch one of
the architects of the Capitol, and was con-
structed Of brick with smooth plaster finish
exterior, and was noted for its distinguished
communicates, included among whom were
John Quincy Adams John C. Calhoun, William
Winston Seaton, Joseph Gales, sr., and the
son, Joseph Gales; william Eliot, Charles Bull
finch, John F. Webb C. S. Fowler Judge
William Cranch. Horace Greeley when he
served in Congress from 1843 to 1849 and
Mard Fillmore when serving in Congress and
as Vice President.
Thomas Law. who married Mrs. WaShingtons
daughter, was at least a contributor toward its
erection, and Richard Wallach, Mayor of Wash
ington, attended there while Edward Everett
Hale began here his notable career as
preacher. The church building was also used
for while during the Civil War a hospital
and was known as the Unitarian Church Hos
pital and also as the CTanch Hospital. After
it was vacated by the Army, December 26,
1862, it was again used for religious purposes
by the Unitarians until they moved to their
new location at Fourteenth and streets early
in 1878, wkere it became known as All Souls
Church. The denomination is now at Six
teenth and Harvard streets, and is the edifce
attended by the late exPreSident and Chief
Justice Taft.
THE Police Court dates its origin from the
! administration of Gen. Grant, when that
President, in accordance with tie act Of Con-
gress approved June H. 1870. signed the COM
nj NJ
the newly created court on June 30 Of that
year. President Grant appointed many good
to Office, but none more thorough and
efficient than was Judge Smell. Indeed, he
took Office just at a time when man of his
caliber was needed and required and until the
day of his retirement from the bench, 18 years
later he faithfully performed every duty to the
entire satisfaction of the citizens of the District
and the Federal officials.
Before the Police Court came into existence,
justices of tie peace appointed by the Pres
dent performed not only civil duties but
handled to certain extent criminal matters
well. One of these, who had his Office above
Florida avenue on Seventh street, was o. S. B.
WALL a light colored man, whose first name
was Orindatus. OF course, there were many
distinguished men who served as justices of the
peace in the District of Columbia, and it is not
unusual to run across such names as Robert
Brent, the first mayor of the city; Thomas
y
ably the original proprietor; Thomas Corcoran,
father Of tie philanthropist, w. w. Corcoran;
Captain William Easily, grandfather Of Col.
James S. Easby-Smith; Richard Bland Lee,
who served in the First, Second and Third Con-
crosses from Virginia. and who was appointed
in 1919 by President Monroe judge Of the
Orphans Court of the District Of Columbia.
Thomas Sim Lee, appointed a justice of the
peace here in 1901. by President Thomas JET
ferson, had the distinction of being a member
of the Provincial Council Of 1777 Governor of
Maryland, 17791783 and 1792-1794, declining
this Office, though elected in 1888 and was
member Of the Continental Congress- 1783-1734.
John Mason, who owned and resided
Analostan Island son of George Mason o.
Gunston Hall, also received his commission
from Mr.. jefferson. Tench Ringgold was
appointed to serve from Alexandria County,
then a part of the District Of Columbia.
Andrew Rothwell, great-grandfather Of George
Rothweu Brown and of Mrs. Jennie Stickney
Sheriff Scharf, was first appointed in 1851.
William Thornton, architect of the Capitol
Benjamin Stoddert, fTst Secretary of the Navy;
Roger c. Weghtman later Mayor of Washing
ton, and Lund Washington, sr., also served as
justices of the peace in the early days of the
city.
r ECENTTY the writer came across an inter-
n esting case tried before one Of the old
police justices in the days before the Police
Court was established. 1t was tried before
Thomas Courtney Dom, of the better
known police justices of the District who
usually held his court sessions at the Central
Guard House which was built about 1910 and
adioined the Center Market on the north and
on line with Eighth street. 1t was here that
Capt. John H. Goddard and his auxiliary guard
OF IS men had their headquarters until the
new guard house on Louisiana avenue
completed in 1859. 1t was OF brick, two stories
high had a bell tower, and was used as a
temporary prison for lawbreakers and for the
trial of offenders
1t was in tie days when the temperance
movement was at its height, and when those
opposed to it did everything they could to break
up its meetings. The weapons used upon this