Evening star., 1933-07-16
DELAY IN TRYING
CRIMINALS HERE
VIRTUALLY ENDED
Recess of D. c. Supreme
Tribunal Finds Only Al
TriabIe Cases Left.
MACHINERY FOR CIVIL
ACTIONS ALSO SPEEDED
Convictions Obtained in Important
Murder Cases in Year, None
Remaining on Docket.

Delay In prosecution of criminals,
which has been blamed for growth OF
criminal activity in many cities, has
been virtually eliminated in Washing
ton.
Under the direction of United States
Attorney Leo A. Rover, the criminal
docket of the District Supreme Court
was brought to the point, during the
past nine months. where only Al cases
were actually triable at the end OF
the fiscal year last June 30. Eleven
of these cases were indictments re-
turned on June 90, which could not
be tried because of the adjournment
of court for the Summer.
A distinct advance in the civil courts
was also reported during the past fiscal
year. At the end of 1882 it required
about 18 months for a case to be
reached for trial. This interval be-
tween the filing of a suit and trial
of the case was cut to approximately
one year in many instances during the
past session.
Wheat Halls Improvements.
These improvements in both the
criminal and civil docketS have brought
| the local courts to a position Where
thev compare very favorably with those
opinion of Chief Justice Alfred A.
Wheat, the presiding justice during
the past four years.
One unusual feature OF the crlmlnal
docket is the fact that no f1rst-degree
murder cases were pending when court
recessed. Among the more important
murder cases in which convictions were
obtained during the year were those
| of Charles Harris, the slayer OF Milton
| w. "Milsie" Henry: FeWel Workman.
Claude Myers. Everett L. Blackwell and
Albert F Cash. convicted Of the murder
| of Elmer H. Ecklund in an attempt to
hold up a House Office Building pay
roll; three colored youths found guilty
' of Staying Park Policeman Milo Ken
nedy. and Joe Goodman and George
|Pitmond, who were sentenced to death
| for the Staying of William Slmms,
|watchman in a feed store.
A total of 210 criminal prosecutions
were pending at the close of the fiscal
wear 1882, as against 1872 this year, ac-
cording to a report submitted yester-
day to Mr.. Rover by his chief clerk.
John c. Conliff. During the fiscal year
Just ended 1,411 criminal prosecutions
were started and 1489 terminated.
This left a total Of 1872 cases, all but
Al of which were fugitlves.
I,I24 Convicted During Year.
During the past fiscal year there
were 1,l24 convictions, 9l5 pleas OF
guilty. 2l1 verdicts of guilty, 80 &C
ouittals. 7 cases dismissed because OF
' the death of the defendant and Tor
other reasons. and 270 cases dlscon-
tinued or nolle pressed.
This condition of the criminal DOCKET,
according to Chief Justice Wheat, mas
| the desirable effect of bringing In a
| large number of pleas of guilty. He
pointed out that a current docket gives
assurance of a speedy trial for those
indicted, and he believes that men VINO
are guilty of the offense charged against
them seek delay only when they know
long period OF time must elapse be-
fore they can be brought to trial, and
during which Government witnesses
may die or leave the Jurisdiction.
II a man knows he is guilty and that
| he will speedily be brought to trial,
| the chief justice said, he often pleads
guilty so he can begin serving his
Isentence as soon as possible.
Chief Justice Wheat believes the i'm
Iprovement in the civil docket is due
primarily to four developments during
the past few years. These are the crea-
ton of an assignment commissioner
who sets cases for trial, the creation of
motions court, where preliminary
matters can be more readily heard, a
decrease in the number Of condemna-
ton cases and the establishment OF
| four instead of three law courts.