Evening star., 1949-03-04
Judge Mcmahon, 50,
On Municipal Bench
Here 81 Years, Dies

Municipal Court Judge John P.
Mcmahon. SO, a veteran of 80
years service on the bench here.
died last night at his home, 1929
Columbia road NV.
He had failed to report at court
yesterday after suffering a heart
attack which relatives said had
not appeared to be serious.
One of Washington's most re-
spected jurists, he was the city
courts oldest judge in point of
service. He was first appointed
by President Wilson in 1917 and
was reappointed by succeeding
Presidents.
Judge Mcmahon was constant
champion of the dignity of the
police bench. Lawyers who made
the mistake of referring to Dis
trict Court as the "big court" in
Judge McMahon's presence in
variably met with stern rebuke
| from the bench.
Freed 48 on Christmas Day.
Those who felt there should be
back door" to every judicial
chamber soon found that Judge
Mcmahon was not one to recog-
nize Influence" in deciding any
case. He would direct terSe.
peppery lecture whenever he felt
it was called for, whether the re-
cipient was a banker, laborer, po-
liceman or attorney.
Yet he never failed to temper
Justice with mercy when he felt
the circumstances justified it. Last
Christmas Day he released 48 of
81 defendants charged with drunk
enness, commenting, II hate to see
every one go to Jail on Christ
mas Day"
Municipal Court adjourned at
10:45 am. today until II am. to-
morrow out of respect to his men,
ory and an order was entered in
the minutes of Municipal Court
and the Municipal Court of APP
peals expressing the judges deep
regret at his death. Only cases
of "locked-up" defendants were to
be disposes of during the adjourn
ment.
Services Tomorrow.
Flags on the court buildings
were at half staff.
The judges planned to attend
the funeral services at 10 am. to-
morrow at Sacred Heart Church,
Sixteenth and Park road NV.
Burial will be in Mount Olivet
Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers at the
services will be Charles E. Alden,
Charles A. Appel, ST.; Carl j. Berg
mann, Ralph Jones, Elkins Reed,
Henry E. Stringer. all friends OF
long standing of the judge.
A committee from the District
Bar Association will consist of
Charles w. Arth, Austin F. Can
field, John j. Carmody, Arthur P.
Drury, George E. Mcneil, Godfrey
L. Munter and George E. Sullivan.
A lifelong resident of Washing
ton. Judge Mcmahon attended St.
Johns College. and was graduated
from Columbia College now George
Washington University. He prac-
ticed law privately, and later
served as an assistant United
States attorney.
Formed "Speedometer Club"
During his years on the bench
he had been particularly alert in
enforcing traffic laws. believing. as
he once said in court, that viola
tions were "due almost entirely to
careleSsness "
Once, in 1895, he read from the
bench all six pages of gruesome
magazine account of what hap
pens to the victims of automobile
accidents, and another time, in
1899, he halted the march Of law
breakers in his court to read a
four-verse poem pertinent to the
occasion, which he had clipped
from a magazine.
At onetime he advocated that
traffic offenders join an informal
organization he called the Speed
ometer Club. which had no officers
no dues and no headquarters
except in the minds of the mem
berS.
In this little club" he said, "all
you have to do is glance at that
speedometer now and then. It'll
save you some money to become
a member"
Affectionately known about the
court as Judge Mac" he enjoyed
a reputation for fairness that drew
the respect of policemen, prose-
cutors and defending attorneys
alike.
Widow, Sisters Survive.
He habitually greeted obvious
untruths by witnesses by asking
that the statement be repeated,
raising his eyebrows and very de-
| Iliberately saying, oh"
Stern and perhaps even
crotchety looking on the bench.
where he frequently kept up
Staccato of pencil tapping. Judge
Mcmahon was genial and friendly
outside the courtroom.
An instance of his dry humor
came recently when two co-oWners
of a transfer company came be-
fore him for playing ball in
downtown street. After hearing
testimony that they had been
passing football around, he
asked both:
Did you make a forward pass?
Did you score any touchdoWns?'
Then, more sharply, you're both
grown men, and you should act
as such" He released them after