Evening star., 1933-03-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago the Police Court in
Washington was presided over by Will
liam B. Smell.
Judge Rules on who, though q
Two Dyed Horses. doers, dessy. " was asa az.
ways the "just and upright judge" In
The Star OF March 15, 1888, Is the ioi-
lowing news item regarding e case N
which Judge Smell displayed his pow
ers of judicial discrimination
The charge against Hugh Gallagher.
the horse trader. who was before The
Police Court yesterday charged with
false pretenseS in selling a pair OF
horses to Col B. F. Rittenhouse of the
Soldiers Home, which horses ne, GcEa-
CHER. represented to be black, but Wh!cn
had white spots dyed, was before JUICE
Smell today. After making a personal
examination of the horses this morn
ing Judge Smell said that II person
sold a pair OF horses that were prac-
tically white and represented them TO
be black the case would be different.
But in this case there were half dozen
small spots that were dyed. The court
said that the defendant had civil
remedy, which was the proper way 70
proceed in this case. Mr.. Moore stated
that when the case was first presented
to him he had serious doubts as 10
whether the charge OF false pretenses
could be sustained. He also said that
he thought that no jury would convict
On this state of facts. The defendant
was then discharged"
X
"Other cities would do WELL" says
The Star of March l6, 1883, Ito profit
Intercity Gently made in wash
a,I ina
Corruption. Whether sn af Their own
police systems are not as corrupt ana
inefficient as ours has been. The COM
bination between thieves, receivers OF
stolen goods and rascally detectives
which existed here could not have been
so strong and effective as it was unless
it had the benefit of accompliceS In
corresponding positions elsewhere. That
the thieves and keepers OF fences In
different cities act in concert in aiding
each other and protecting mutual IN
terests has long been notorious. but
it needed something more than the CO.
operation of these two classes to insure
complete success and immunity from
detection and prosecution. The SYM
pathy and active assistance of corrupt
police at other points were also needeo
to perfect the plan OF operations and
prevent unpleasant nterferences. THIS
! cooperation was doubtless readily OBJ
tanned whenever safety or pront re-
CURED it, and a little scratching under
| the surface could hardly fail to expose
| the connections II the authorities OF
| our sister cities are too much occupied
to make an examination IN this direc-
| ton. perhaps a committee OF citizens
| might undertake it on their own ac-
count What has been accomplished by
like organization in Washington
shows not only the need for it but the
amount Of good such body Is capable
| of doing"
| Washington's need for an opera
house was expressed by correspondent
An Opera House whose letter
Tor Washington. the nas issue r1e Of Of
March II, 1883, The Star commenting
as follows:
TT must be admitted that this city
is sadly in need Of large public hal,
conventions can be had on an extern
sive scale; but that large opera house
is required is question Of considerable
doubt In much larger cities, such as
Baltimore, Boston tnd Philadelphia,
the large theaters and opera houses
have been. financially, decided failures.
That in Baltimore never paid divi.
dend. Even in New York the Italian
opera Is assured success at the Acad-
emy Of Music-which seats nearly 1000
people-by subscription. while the prices
Of admission to the opera there during
last week were Just the same Tor the
same company that they were in Wash
ington three weeks ago, 81 an increased
auditorium here would not reduce the
prices, as our correspondent predicts.
What Washington ought to have n q
new, beautiful and complete opera
house, of medium size, based on the
more modern experience Of New York
and London managers, and costing
about 100000, exclusive OF the ground.
This would command rental which
could always be met, and 1t would at
the same time afford every reasonable
convenience and luxury to the music
and drama loving public"
The Boys Best Friend.