The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-23
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i Iifk HAHGEHT1-HldffN NfaiyhN'
| PAsT experience has indicated that q certain
class OF dangerous criminals are peyono tne
reach of the law in Philadelphia, and that they
can commit, with impunity, the most terrible
offenses. When attempts arc made to arrest
them they assault policemen, and If they arc at
last duly summoned TO answer In court, they
give bail for an appearance which is never made
and the bail-money thus forfeited is usually not
sued out The proceedings of the Court OF
Quarter Sessions yesterday indicates that
Judge Brewster is determined to break up these
practices. Some time ago ex-Reserve Policeman
James q. Hill was directed to arrest the renowned
Jimmy Haggerty, and he subsequently alleged
that, IN the effort to make this arrest, he was
6ercely assaulted by the offender and his at
teudant friends. AS he was seriously wounded
in the contest, lac brought against Haggerty the
charge of assault and battery with intent to kill,
and he visited various newspaper offices to in
press them with the importance of vigorous
prosecution of this case, on the ground that if
Haggerty was allowed to murderously assault
policemen when they were attempting to dis
charge an important official duty, men Of his
stamp would soon set the laws completely at de-
6ance Subsequently, certain stringent orders
of Mayor Fox led to the arrest of Haggerty, who,
duly arraigned at last, gave bail in a large sum
Sessions. For some inexplicabe reason, Hill,
who a short time ago was anxious to prosecute
Haggerty, reented, and when a bill was sent to
the Grand Jury he requested the District
Attorney to enter nolle proSequi which
that officer properly refused to do,
whereupon, in the reported language of
the judge, Hill then appeared before the
Grand Jury, and by the negligent manner in
which his evidence was given, the bills were
ignored" In the ordinary course of affairs, the
whole matter would have ended here, and the
thieves, blackguards, and murderous rowdies of
the city would have been strengthened in the
conviction that it is entirely safe to defy all at
tempts AZ arrest, by assaulting policemen, pro-
vided you have influential hackers, and know
how to soften the heart of the prosecutor and to
get bail.
Judge Brewster, however, has wisely con-
clused that ''the public have an interest in this
matter" Il is time to decide whether the police
force, maintained at an immense expense, can
be set at defiance by bold rufiians and whether
any gang of rascals is powerful enough to brave
the official army of the city. In the case under
consideration, the Judge peremptorily ordered
the Deputy Sheriff to proceed and sell the pro-
perty of the enterprising individual who had
become bail for Haggerty, and he also directed
an attachment to issue to bring Mr.. Hill before
the Court, SO that further light may be thrown
upon these proceedings.
Judge Brewster deserves the thanks of the
community for this action. The point at issue
is one which deeply involves the maintenance of
order and the protection of life and property
If the precedent is fully established that a
favored class can commit crime with impunty
and laugh TO scorn all efforts to arrest them, we
may as well acknowledge the supremacy of the
rule OF outlaws at once, and submit in future
to any outrages they choose to nfict.