Evening star., 1939-07-05
Criminal
Cases Pending
In District Court
Pine Pleased With
Mark as Fiscal
Year Closes

District Court closed the fiscal
year on Friday last with only 67
criminal cases pending, United
States Attorney David A. Pine today
announced-the lowest number in
recent memory.
Making public a tabulation pre-
pared by John C. Conliff, jr., special
assistant United States attorney and
chief clerk, Mr.. Pine disclosed that
there were neither first st-degree mur-
der nor manslaughter cases on the
pending list and but one second-de-
gree murder case. Mr.. Pine made 1t
clear that all cases were counted save
those in which fugitives are involved
and they cannot be brought to trial;
also, where defendants are of un-
sound mind. No housebreaking case
was on the unfinished books when
the fiscal year ended, the prose-
cutor said.
There are only "A defendants in
Jail now whose cases are pending
in District Court, Mr.. Pine said, and
there was no solitary case of bond
forfeiture nor bond jumping aris-
ing out of that tribunal.
Obviously pleased with the rec
ord, the courts and his assistants
have made in reducing the number
OF cases classed as unfinished busl-
ness, Mr.. Pine told newspapermen
that the outstanding cases will be
set down for early disposition.
1928 Indictments Returned.
In submitting his report to MI.
Pine, dealing with felonies during
the fiscal year, Mr.. Conliff declared:
During the fiscal year beginning
July /. 1888, and ending June 80,
1899, there was total of 1928 in
dlctments returned. At the begin
ming of the fiscal year, on July |,
1888, there was total of ITO GRIM
inal cases pending in the office.
At the close of the fiscal year. on
June 80, 1899, there was a total of
81 cases pending. The pending
cases above mentioned, of course,
exclude fugitive cases and cases in
which the defendants had been ad-
judged of unsound mind.
In this connection it is interest
ing to note that no first-degree mur-
der cases were pending at the close
OF the fiscal year and no man
slaughter cases. In the one pend.
ing homicide case-namely, a Sec
ond-degree murder case-the in
dlctment was returned on June 7,
1889. This case was set for trial OH
June 26, 1889, but could not be
reached because of other trials be-
tore the expiration of the fiscal year.
AT the close of the fiscal year one
rape case was pending, two carnal
knowledge cases. six cases of aggra-
waited assault, six robbery cases, 10
cases OF grand larceny and kindred
oftenses, nine gambling cases and
80 cases of miscellaneous nature,
Ali HOUSEKEEPING Cases Closed.
"As of particular interest. I call
your attention to the fact that there
were no housebreaking cases pend
ing trial and that All cases of this
character were disposed of during
the fiscal year.
Only IA defendants against
whom indictments had been re-
turned were in Jail awaiting trial
at the close of the fiscal year. OF
this number, one was the defendant
IN the second-degree murder case
above mentioned, another could not
be tried, as an examination is be.
ing made of his mental condition:
another was serving a sentence on
conviction of manslaughter in an
other case, another was not tried be-
cause OF continuances granted to
the defendants attorney in order to
enable him to locate a necessary
witness, three could not be tried.
although their cases were on the
trial calendar, due to the engage
ment of their attorneys in other
cases; one was not tried due to the
fact that the defendants counsel
filed motion to suppress evidence
on June rs, the Indictment having
been returned on June 81, 1899
another withdrew his plea of guilty
and entered plea of not guilty on
June 20. The Jail cases will all be
set for trial during July unless uu-
foreseen circumstances prevent.
With respect to the present cur
rent condition of the criminal cal
endar, it may be of interest to note
that during June, 1899, 110 indict-
ments were returned by the grand
jury. OF this number, 1909 per
cent were disposed of during the
month. OF the ITO indictments re-
turned, 81 were disposed of, S are
fugitive cases and 18 are pending
trial. During May, 1899, 1853 in
dlctments were returned, and of
this number 68.98 per cent were dis
posed of within three weeks after
indictment, and 7784 per cent were
disposed of within four weeks after
indictment.
During the entire last fiscal year.
there was not single bond for
feited in the District Court, and not
a case of bond jumping occurred in
this court during the year.
Only eight cases more than l
year old were pending in this Office
at the close of the fiscal year, with
the exception, of course, of fugitive
cases and the cases in which the de-
PENDANTS had been adjudged to be
of unsound mind