Evening star., 1937-08-29


in writing Of these barracks, refers to
the help rendered the soldiers by Rev.
and Mrs. John c. Smith and says
that the services rendered by Dr.. and
Mrs. Smith to over II 1000 soldiers in
the Judiciary Square Hospital can
never be computed at their full value. I"
After the war. we are told, these bar
racks were used for school purposes
and were removed about 1870.
A T THIS time, according to the late
Washington Topham. this end Of
Judiciary Square was improved with
graveled walks and benches and beau-
tined with plants and flowers. It was
veritable old-fashioned flower garden
OF zlnnias. petunias, 4-o'clocks, princes
feathers, lady slippers and geraniums.
Ihere were many beds of portulacas
or Mexican roses in a profusion of
beautiful shades. Appreciation of the
transition OF this neighborhood was
not lacking, as it proved a haven Of
rest for tired nurses with the chill
dren, as well as for the grown-ups."
Mr.. Topham also relates how he.
when boy, played ball with other
lads OF his age where now stands the
Pension once and tells US: This lot
was also the practice grounds for the
old Olympic ball club and in 1873
used by Benjamin Chambers, ma
chlnlst, at Fifth and H streets, to set
up iron light houses, made for the
Government. for inspection purposes
The old Blue jug" Jail, as it was
called, built in 1889 and surrounded
by high brick wall, was on the east
ern or Fourth street side Of this lot.
at the corner OF G. and many OF its
inmates looked down on a happy
group OF boys who never got behind
its barred windows or inside its hirh,
VhiteWashed brick walls, even to view
hanging, which. I can personally
testify, was much-coveted privi-
lege."
The building occupied by the Dis
trict OF Columbia Court of Appeals,
though a comparatively modern build
ing. does not compare favorably with
the old Court House. which faces
south and overlooks what we were
once led to believe was to be our
municipal center and which UP to date
has seemingly been a great loss
to the taxpayers of the District. How
ever, the building Is not responsible
for this condition Of affairs, for it
does not now even belong to the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, though much OF the
city's judicial business Is carried on
there.
OF COURSE there is another his
toric building occupying this
square at the present time. and though
in former days couple OF temporary
inaugural ball buildings were erect
ed toward the south end Of the res
ervation, yet the old Court House
looms up over all other buildings
hereabout in significance.
This structure Is surely older than
any one living, and necessarily there
fore what the writers tells you about it
is taken from accounts written by
others many years ago. These rec
ords show that the corner stone was
laid on August 20. 1920, or just III
years ago. and its sections were COM
pleted at different times. Indeed,
Sessford tells US. 10 years later: THE
City Hall, that has stood 80 long in a
rough state, Is now nearly completed
on the south front according to its
original design and has a grand ap-
pearance; an extension Of two wings
Is much wanted for city and United
States purposes"
One Of the things that have always
appealed to mankind is the idea Of
getting rich quick. Today we have
the bucket shop. the race track and
a number of other places, legal and
illegal where at least one out of
10000 can make money-and that is
usually the man who runs the busi-
ness. Fifty years ago the Louisiana
State lottery sold its tickets openly
in Washington, and Is years before
that Pennsylvania avenue at certain
points was almost lined with lottery
onices, where tickets in almost all
sorts Of schemes were sold.
When the Court House was built
the lottery business was a legitimate
enterprise and the early stages of
this building were partly financed
by what was known as the National
or Gillespie lottery.
But this lottery. though apparently
conducted under Government auspices,
did not pan out as advertised, nor
was the amount OF money expected
realized, and the building had to be
with local and Federal money.
Finally, in 1873. the District sold
out its interest to the National Gov
ernment, and it ceased to be the city
Hall and became the United States
Court House.
FOR the Districts equity, Congress
appropriated $4,000, which was
to be applied to erecting . suitable
building for the District ofhces. and
that body suggested . site fronting on
and Louisiana avenues
between Seventh and Ninth streets.
But this money, all but $4,000, seems
to have been misspent, and all the
local government had to show for
the balance was a hole in the ground
in the reservation between the north
side Of where the Center Market once
stood (now occupied by the National
Archives Building) and Pennsylvania
avenue. And this is just about the
way we stand today with the Mu-
nicipal Center, although there seems
to nave been no dishonesty.
It would take a long time to write
the history Of this old building, and
especially to review the many cele-
brated and tragic cases that have
been tried within its walls, including
the case Of Daniel sickles, charged
with the murder Of Philip Barton Key,
the United States district attorney,
and the son Of the author Of THE
Star spansled Banner" The trial
and acquittal Of John surratt, the
trial Of Guiteau. the assassin OF Gar