Evening star., 1941-02-06
Corporation Counsel
Puts Thomasi in Charqe
OF Police Court0Hi
Quinter, Who Figured
In NolIe Prose- Of Cose,
Shifted by Keeeh

Edward w. Thomas, veteran assist
ant corporation counsel, today was
scheduled to take over his new
duties as assistant in full charge of
the corporation counsels ONCE at
Police Court.
The move was announced yester.
day by Corporation Counsel Rich
mond B. Keech, who, at the same
time, ordered Ralph d. Quinter. jr,
one of the four assistants at the
court, transferred to District
Building assignment.
In his statement yesterday, Mr..
Keech suggested that as an aid to
the speedy disposition of traffic cases
where jury trials have been de-
manded, the judges sitting in the
District and United States branches
of Police Court hear jury cases when
their other assignments are COM
pleted.
First One Man Assignment.
The assignment of Mr.. Thomas
to take full charge Of the prosecu-
ton of District cases handled by
the assistants marks the first time
that such responsibility has been
definitely assigned to one man. Here
tofore the assistants have worked
independently, and we're responsible
only to the corporation counsel.
Mr.. Thomas said he expected to
assume his duties at once. Attached
to the clerks once at Police Court
from 1910 until 1922, he served for
the next six years as a member of
the courts corporation counsel staff.
Mr.. Keech said he would be assigned
for an indefinite period.
The transfer of Mr.. Quinter came
about as the result of an investiga-
ton by Mr. Keech into the modifica-
ton OF drunk-driving charge
placed against M. Edward Buckley,
jr, Washington attorney.
Acted After Representations.
The charge was nolle pressed after
some months of delay on repre-
sentations to Mr.. Quinter by the
defendants counsel that complain
ing witnesses did not wish to pros
ecute. The defendant agreed to
plead guilty to a charge Of driving
on the wrong side of the street and
was fined $25.
In his statement yesterday Mr..
keech said that nothing has been
disclosed to show any corruption
on the part of Mr. Quinter, but it is
definitely my opinion that he used
extremely bad judgment in that he
took action on. the strength OF
statements of persons who were in
terested in seeing that the orig
inal charge was reduced. who stated
In effect that complainant's dam
ages had been paid and that the
witnesses were not interested in the
prosecution of defendant. These
statements, if true, were not SUM-
cient to warrant the action taken"
Mr.. Keech said he was INSTRUCT
Ing his assistants at the court Ito
make a thorough investigation as
to the propriety of charge and the
reasonable proba ability of conviction
at the time the case is originally
presented" and Ito get written
statements from all witnesses and.
where possible, have them signed"
Calls for Immediate Report.
His instructions further state that
mo information should be changed
without consultation with and OBJ
tanning the approval of the assistant
who originally heard the case and
filed the information" This pro-
cedure. although not definitely pre-
scrlbed heretofore. has been the
usual method Of action in cases at
the court.
Mr.. Keech also specified that "a
full statement shall be sent to me"
where a change or nolle PROSE- has
taken place, promptly setting forth
facts justifying such action and
clearly accounting for the change.
particularly with information as to
the necessity for the change from
the time the paper was originally
fled
He pointed out that successful
prosecution Of ajor traffic cases is
dependent to a major degree upon
the timeliness with which such cases
can be heard.
ut is my opinion" he said. "that
more than two and one-half days
per week should be allotted to the
District Of Columbia for the trial of
such offenses, and that If it is pos
sible, the judges who sit in the
District and United States branches