The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-09
Hunger " 4:
|Highlights
Police
Court
Relief Setup Tragic
Says Judge as Dad
Is Found Guilty
by PAUL BUSSELLE

After rendering a lengthy
decision UNFOLDING constitu-
tionality of the city's dis
orderly ordinance. during
which he commented the pres
ent relief setup lis tragic"
and hunger in the midst of
plenty is "deplorable." Police
Judge Joe Mallory late We'd
nesday found Montell Finstad.
2S-year-old father. guilty of
interfering with property of
others"
Finstad. who resides with his
wife and two children at 1s45
Fawcett ave, was arrested June /
when he sllegedly declined to leave
Pierce County Welfare office, eis
Market st, when requested to.
The court sentenced Fin
stad TO serve two weeks In the
city jail, then suspended the
sentence pending good be-
havior.
Defense Attorney Hugh Rosel-
hni made an impassioned plea for
dismissal of three counts against
his client, but was successful only
IN having charges of disturbing
the peace and interfering with the
duties of police officers. which
come under the disorderly ordi-
nance. stricken from the COM
plant.
Finstsd, according TO arrestine
officers, was one of group of
"between IS and 80" demonstra-
tors at the welfare office who re-
fused to leave the premises when
the relief agency closed for the
day.
Finstad related he was with !
out food; alleged his wife.
small daughter and son We're
starving; and admitted he
told police, summoned to the
office, to take him to JAIL
as he would "at least get |
something to eat.
Officers admitted Finstad was
"erderly" during the time they 1
were attempting to persuade him |
TO leave the welfare office, and |
that he offered no resistance when /
told he was under arrest"
More than 20 spectators who
damned the S m a ! courtroom
laughed and "booed" County Well
fare Administrator George NJ. V.
Brown when he asserted his office
at all times attempted to render
service" to indigents.
Judge Mallery warned the crowd
against any demonstration.
Brown stated Finstad had
been refused a food voucher
because he had "been given
the amount of relief he was
entitled to" at the time.
Brown related that the day
prior to Finstad's arrest. the man
had been in the relief office, and,
before leaving, allegedly re-
marked:
Il will he back tomorrow at
n, M, and I will not leave
until get a food voucher"
Finstad later said he did not
recall making such an asser-
ton, hut admitted he might
have"
Judge Mallery had TO warn the
crowd a second time as they burst
into laughter when Rosellini asked
Brown:
You objected TO working little
overtime, and yet you get 1928
month";"
The question went unanswered
when City Attorney George Abel
objected.
After UNFOLDING constitu-
tionality Of the eity's dis
orderly ordinance, Judge Nal
lery commented: e
Il contend one does not have
right to stay in a public building
after hours One may not in
sist on staying in a public building
over night The present relief
setup is tragic . and hunger IN
the midst Of plenty is deplor-
able
PERSONALLY" continued the
court. I'm my heart ] feel like
dismissing this charge
hut. ~ a man sitting on the
bench and Judging from
the facts In this case, / must Z
find the man guilty -.
In suspending the sentence i'm
posed. Judge Mallery declared.
7 am satisfied Of this mans
good intentions Il he proves
otherwise. / viii revoke the sus-
pension and ne Will serve the fun
two weeks
The crowd cheered the decision
q. -