Evening star., 1942-02-22
DC. Police Court Sets
Record by Handling
64,071 Cases in Year
$816,e7S Collected in
Fines and Forfeitures,
Annual Report Shows
BY w. G. POLLARD.

BY w. G. POLLARD.
Police Court during 194l set an
all time record for a year, both in
the number of cases disposed OF and
In net receipts which, in the opin-
ion Of Walter F. Bramhall, clerk of
the court, reflects the rapid growth
OF the population of Washington"
Total cases disposed Of during the
year was 64,071. as compared with
58,700 handled in 1910 and net re-
ceipts sent to the collector OF taxes
during the year totaled $816, ,978 .86,
as compared with $57S,04o.l0 In
1910.
These figures are contained In
the annual report for 1941 released
yesterday by Mr.. Bramhall. who
pointed out that before last year,
1910 had been the busiest year in
the courts history.
"A key to the increase in the courts
business is shown py going back 10
years to 1881 when net receipts to-
tailed only 1888 .O3329 A still fur
ther index showing the increase is
indicated BY receipts Of only $685.
s51.l1 taken in in 1888 when the
funds reached the lowest for one
year during the l0-year period.
Behind In Jury Cases.
Figures show the court behind In
fury cases, with 527 pending trial
on January /, 1912. as against 476
pending trial January /, l94l. The.
total pending trial up to Yesterday
was estimated at approximately
$50, although no exact figures had
been compiled up to that time.
During part of November and De-
cember two Jury courts were con-
Quoted, instead Of only one as usu-
ally is the case, with the result that
the number of jury cases pending
trial during the latter part OF De-
cember had been reduced to a low
of 44o from more than 900, which
at one time had been pending dur
ing the fall.
The two jury court system was
abandoned, however. after Decem-
Der, only one jury court being OPP
eratad during January and this
month, with the exception OF q few
cases being tried by judges to help
out the regular judge presiding In
jury branch.
The number of cases in the four
branches of the court during the
wear included 1896 in traffic
branch, a net increase of 3,770 over
the preceding year; 21,57S in Dis
trict of Columbia branch, an IN
crease of 1,--90 over the preceding
wear; 6,608 in the United States
branch, an increase of ITO over the
preceding year, and 1889 in jury
branch, an increase of 24l over the
preceding year. OF those in the lat
ter branch, however, only 376 actu-
ally we're tried.
Only Five Mistrials.
OF the cases actually tried by
fury there were 1873 verdicts OF
guilty and 1872 of not guilty. OF the
remainder tried by jury there were
Is directed verdicts of not guilty. Is
cases on which the jury disagreed
and failed to reach verdict and
five cases in which mistrial was de-
clared.
BY far the greater number Of
Jury cases were disposed of by
guilty pleas or by being nolle
pressed. Guilty pleas received
totaled 737 and the number Of
cases nolle pressed in jury branch
totaled $50.
OF the total cases in traffic
branch 16,149 were listed under the
heading of miscellaneous" which
included illegal parking. Next in
line in the number of offenses m
the branch was speeding, totaling
l0,96O for first offense, $50 charged
with second offense speeding and
q with third offense.
A total of 1,676 cases of operating
without a permit also were taken
to traffic branch. Other offenses
in the higher brackets in traffic
branch included LIP cases of fall
ing to stop at red lights and 795
cases of passing stop sign. There
were 479 cases of persons operating
their automobiles without proper
tags.
Driving While Drunk.
Among the more serious traffic
offenses were 391 cases of driving
while drunk, six for second offense;
28S cases of leaving the scene of an
accident after colliding and 113
cases Of reckless driving.
Out of the total number Of cases
IN District branch of the court, as
in past years. the largest number
was for drunkenness, there being
1876 on this charge Next In num-
ber were 3o41 for disorderly con-
duct. Other high numbers in the
branch included 349 for soliciting
aims. 305 for vagrancy, 173 for vio-
lation of health regulations and
597 under the general heading of
violation of police regulations.
There were 1872 cases of indecent
exposure in the court during the
year.
OF the total cases in United
States branch of the court. 1880
we're accused of assault, 443 for as
sault with dangerous weapon, 298
for carrying a deadly weapon. 1,141
for larceny. 267 for false pretenses,
PSI for housebreaking, 222 on
charges of robbery and 154 for
grand larceny. Among other
charges which numbered high in
the court branch were 318 for
threats and IA for violation of the
District Unemployment Compensa-
tion. Act.
Other figures in the annual report
show that the number of cases in
which collateral was forfeited at the