Evening star., 1945-07-29
Owner of UDIeoshed Dog Is Freed From Jail;
Penalty Not Justified, Benefoctor Says
Fine Paid by Lawyer;
Pound Crowded as
People Give Up Pets

EfI1eSt JOI1ilSUH again IOQdy De-
cause a stranger who doesn't believe
the unleashed dog law calls for a
30-day Jail sentence had paid his
fine
Mr.. johnson, a 50-year-old colored
man, had languished in the lookup
since last Wednesday under the first
jail sentence imposed in the Dis
trict for owning an unleashed dog.
He couldn't pay the $25 the court
asked as an alternative to Jail.
Yesterday Uric B. Phillips, 4801
Connecticut avenue NV, an at
torney in the Justice Department,
learned of Mr.. Johnson's plight and
arranged for payment of the S22.50
balance of his fine through the Ma
tional Association for Colored
People.
Master Rejoins Dog.
That brought Mr.. johnson and
his oog, Spike, together again and
evoked the everlasting gratitude OF
Mr.. johnson.
when I reached home last night,
I heard he had been trying to get
me all day" Mr.. Phillips said.
when he finally reached me, he
was very grateful"
Mr.. Phillips was surprised and
chagrined because The Star had
learned his identity.
Il left instructions that my name
was not to be given out" he said.
why did I pay the fine? Why, be-
cause I felt sorry for the poor fell
low. / don't think the crime justi-
fies the punishment"
Mr.. johnson, who has no family
and works in woodward at sos
Marion court NV. told Of the cir
cumstances leading to his arrest.
Il work for Charles B. Paine in
the woodward" he said, land I was
asleep in his truck about o'clock
in the morning. The truck was
parked in lot off an alley up here.
Spike was sleeping under the truck
and not bothering anybody. We
weren't out on any street or even
in the alley. Spike had muzzle
on, but he had slipped it and it
was hanging from his neck.
Arrested by Officers.
These colored officers came
through the alley looking for drunks.
1t was still dark and they flashed
the light on Spike under the truck.
He guards me and the truck and he
growled at them and wouldn't let
them come close until I got out. So
| they locked me up for not having a
leash on him. couldn't pay any
S25 fine so had to go to Jail until
this fine gentlemen paid my way
out. sure got to get hold of him
to thank him"
Records at Metropolitan Police
headquarters show no previous rec
ord of arrests for Mr.. johnson.
Municipal Judge George D. Neil
son, who imposed the sentence, told
The Star that, in regard to Mr..
Johnson's case. had he realized the
defendant could not pay the fine,
he might not have made the penalty
as severe as 80 days in Jail. He said,
however, that he intends to make
severe penalties for violation of the
leashing order because he feels that
serious danger is involved in nom
compliance.
District Pound Crowded.
Meantime, Poundmaster Frank B.
Marks reported the District pound
Is more crowded than ever before
as residents continue to surrender
their dogs in protest against the
new So license fee and the leashing
regulations.
Mr.. Marks said $50 persons have
called the pound during the past
three days to have their dogs picked
up anf that the pound now has
more than 155 dogs in contrast to
the customary so.
The Health Department indicated
for the second consecutive week
yesterday that compulsory vaccina-
ton of dogs was just around the
corner.
DR.. r. R. Ashworth of the depart
ment. who would be in charge of
the vaccinations-a step which has
not yet been ordered by the Com
missioners-has been surveying
school grounds to locate those with
concrete surfaces. 1t was explained
that concrete grounds would be bet
ter for the vaccination centers.
The department sent a letter on
July % to the Board of Education
requesting the use of school
grounds for the vaccination pro-
gram and during the past week
health and school officials have
been searching for grounds that will
not interfere with recreation prof.
ectS.
Hopes to Start This Week.
DR.. Melvin P. Isaminger, head of
public health instruction, said it
was hoped that vaccinations could
start this week. He said that $4,000
Co.'S OF vaccine already had been
received and that a similar amount
was expected the first part of the
week. The 100000 c.c's would be
ouiuCleuG LOT All eSClmaCeQ ZO,0OO
dogs. 1t is believed there will be
$4,000 dogs licensed in the District
this year.
Mr.. Marks said that if dogs are
surrendered at the rate they have
been for the past few days he will
have to abandon the policy of watt
ing 48 hours before destroying pets,
which will be hard on owners who
want to retrieve their dogs. He
said that he urged many persons
who called in to try and find a new
home for their dogs.
| The Commissioners ordered leash
ing of dogs in public streets and
places several weeks ago and the
edict went into effect last Monday.
| -