Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-25
VIRGINIA
Judge Gives
His Clients
YuIe Break
By ALEX r. PRESTON

BY ALEX r. PRESTON
A tradition that viii go UNI
broken today Is the holiday
court" held annually by Civil
and Police Court Judge James
r. Duncan in Alexandria.
Since 1885 Judge Duncan
has held the courts to give
short term prisoners and 9TH
ers who might have to wait
In Jail only to be acquitted,
a chance to. get out early. It's
his Christmas present to the
minor offenders.
Since Christmas falls on
Sunday this year. Judge Dun
can says he will hold court at
midnight tonight to avoid an
unnecessary layover for some
of the prisoners during to-
morrow's legal holiday.
The Judge usually holds
these sessions on every legal
holiday. The only time In the
81 years he has missed was
Washington's Birthday and
Labor Day this year. because
of illness. He hasn't missed q
Christmas yet.
incidentally, he plans to do
the same thing again next
Sunday at midnight. This Is
to accommodate those who
may have usilered In the New
Year a little too rambunc-
tiously.
Some to You!
Today this column departs
to personal references In pub
licly acknowledging with great
appreciation q Christmas
greeting from the Junior Sen
ator from Ohio, whom we've
never met.
About six months or so ago.
this department recourted o
certain incident that occurred
in Virginia. It's not perth
nent here.
The Senator, George K.
Bender. expressed what I'm.
doubtedly was his sincere dis
agreement with the conclusion
reached by the writer. He
telephoned to protest at q time
when the writer was out Of
town. Later. we were unable
to reach him the one time we
called him back.
| Somehow, the matter wac
allowed to slide and time
went by.
| Last week we had the heart
warming surprise Of receiving o
Christmas card from the SEN
ator and Mrs. Bender. It's last
line read:
| =. and goodwill toward
men"
The Senator. it seems to us,
| personified that Christmas
spirit.
| There must be a lot of
Ohioans like that. We mar
ried one.
Noel
Fairfax County government
employees last week received
seasons greetings sprinkled
with a bit OF humor from the
county executives office.
Distributed to all depart
ments was q green and white
mimeographed square Of paper.
It was from Carlton c. Massey,
the county executive: Harvey
A. Mitchell, assistant to MIR.
Massey; Mrs. Edna A. Bicksler,
clerk to the county super
visors. and Mrs. Hazel c. Sheer.
secretary to Mr.. Massey.
The card read:
GREETINGS
From
Carton c. Massey
Harvey A. Mitche
Edna A. Bickser
Haze c. Sheer
The letter missing in our
names
Could mean that we can't spell.
1t doesn't though, but don't
you know
It's just our way to tell
The secret word. You must
have heard.
(No a." no LILY
You Cont Fight City HoII
II you're feeling down In the
dumps during the next week,
dial King 9-77O0. That's the
Alexandria City Hall.
The telephone operators
there will wish you q happy
new year.
During last week. City Hail
callers have been greeted thus
ly: Merry Christmas. City
Hail."
1t is the idea of Mrs. Ada
Corkins, $40 South Washing
ton street, Alexandria. one Of
the operators. She's an en-
ploye of the city.
Mrs. Corkins thought up the
idea about three years ago
and it has been the custom
with the switchboard star
ever since.
I'VE just thought it would
be a good idea," Mrs. Corkins
says simply. City Manager Ira
Willard and a number Of city
officials agree.
X \
No More Greetings
Virginia's State police bar
racks this year didn't get the
r1oyar Thrist,pNnc oraaf;rcs