Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-15
First Precinct
Station Moves
To City Center
DRINKS Are First
And Lost Arrests
Made in 50 Years

The Number One police precinct
station today made its long-awaited
move from New Jersey avenue and
E streets NV. to the street floor of
the Municipal Center, 800 Indiana
avenue NV.
Although there was no interup-
ton in regularly assigned beats of
footmen and men in squad cars,
every policeman assigned work in
the building itself was busy help
ing to move books, records and
furniture.
Actual moving of the equipment
from the old site to the Municipal
Center was done by laborers from
the Department of Sanitation. Two
trucks, one owned by Sanitation and
one by the Police Department, were
being used.
Building Delayed Move.
The transfer of Number One, old
est precinct In the city, was ordered
by Mai. Robert J. Barrett shortly
after he was sworn in July l as
superintendent of police.
The move was delayed several
weeks, pending settlement of a pro-
test lodged by organized labor when
police were used to do some con-
struction work. in new cell block.
Although actual building of new of
fees was finished last week by civil
ian employees, workers still were
busy this morning painting the 48
cells in the basement of the center.
All prisoners arrested today by of
flcers from Number One will be
lodged at the Second Precinct until
the paint is dry,
Meanwhile, District employees we're
busy hooking up telephones and
teletype equipment in the new Of
fees on the street floor of the CEN
ter. Actual installation of the wires
was completed last week, but the
equipment was not connected until
arrival of the desks this morning.
Old Building Closes.
The old precinct building, which
was first occupied by No. / sixteen
years ago, will be officially closed at
4 O'Clock this afternoon First roll
call in the new Offices will be half
hour earlier, when the afternoon
shift reports.
The last prisoner booked at the
old station was charged with being
drunk, as was the first prisoner ar
rested when No. l was established
on February "a, 1862.
From its creation until 1881 the
precinct was located at 316 Twelfth
street NV.
Shortly after the first contingent
arrived to take over the new quar-
tiers at the Municipal Center, huge
basket of flowers arrived from the
On Leong Tong, Chinese associa-
ton.
Benches Lowered by Ropes.
Because of the narrow stars and
doors in the old three story build
ing, movers were forced to lower
benches and lockers from the
second-story squadroom by ropes
from the one-story roof of the cell
block.
Capt. R. c. Pearce, head of the
precinct, said most of the equipment
would be taken to the new Offices J
today. Still to be moved tomorrow.
however, will be the many old arrest
books which record the history of
the precinct. Busy preparing the
books for shipment was Pvt. Samuel
Davis, Sc, of 3125 North Eighth
street, Arlington. A warrant clerk.
Pvt. Davis had been stationed at
the precinct during his entire "a
year career with the force.
IA check of the old arrest books re-
vealed that prisoners in the early
days were asked if they could read
or write in addition to the primary
queries as to name, address and oc-
cupation.
In March, 1864, one Robert Adj
ans, colored, a hack driver, was
arrested for refusing to attend
funeral when not engaged"
Assassins Booked at Precinct.
Capt. Pearce said the assassins OF
both President Lincoln and Presi-
dent Garfield were first booked at
that precinct.
The new headquarters of the pre-
cinct extended from the Municipal
Center's lobby back to the corridor.
Detectives and clerks, forced to work
in cluttered surroundings at the
small building just vacated, now will
have offices of their own. The first
Office next to the lobby will be the
room where the public may lodge
complaints, pay fines or make in
quiries.
Although the work of moving was
carried out with orderly precision,
the four kittens recently adopted by
the officers were completely bewil-
dered by the whole thing. Capt.
Pearce said they would not make
the move, but would instead be
given to private families who had
requested them.
n4A H~ D.