The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-07-04
TIE LAW az HnRESr.


that the supreme court of T"%Hs had
unanimously affirmed the Judgment Of
the court and jury in Falls county,
sending former deputy sheriff for 1--WE
years TO the penitcntiary Tor shooting
II prisoner who was trying TO escape.
We commented approvingly ON the
decision, and remarked, perhaps To"
generally, in the hurry Of writing, on
the danger of allowing subaltern peace
officers the right to shoot whomSoever
they saw fit in the arrest ol prisoners
or accused persons. We wrote then,
and to-day write under an indelihle
recollection of the reckless conduct of
the state police, who shot down scores
of defenseless men in cold blood all
over this state and became Il terror to
the best people in the land, under the
plea of enforcing the laws. In some
counties, under the late radical admin-
istration, where negroes and unprinci-
pied white men ruled, the county oil
GERS were about rs much dreaded as
the police. They were armed-often
| ignorant and vicious men, while the
people were disarmed, and for nearly
three years some as good men as this
state affords were afraid to sleep in
their own houses, and passed their
nights in thickets to avoid nocturnal
assassination by these men claiming to
be peace officers, and acting under the
abused cry Of law and order.
The blood Of innocent men all over
this state--of Applewhite, of Groes-
beck, Jack Mitchell, of Ellis, Thomas
Duncan, of Bell, John and Henry Kel-
ly, of Lavacca, and hundreds of Others
latest the truth of this statement
The convicted deputy sheriff of Falls
county was evidently one Of the same
licentious brood, and we rejoiced and
still rejoice at his conviction. 1t was
with such feelings and under such re-
collections that our article was penned,
as is manifest OH its face.
But, greatly to our surprise, the sher-
iH of this county, elected by the people
only few months ago, in the interest
of peace and security, comes forth in q
card assuming that our epithets of
"understrappers," "subalterns, " etc,
apply to him and his deputies,
ana thereupon Eliminates his decree of
ostracism against us. He claims that
his deputies are worthy young men of
the best families, as if we had arraign-
ed them. The truth is, that in writing
the article, we never once thought of
him or them, unless by incidental
comparison with the bad men above
referred to, and the sheriff of this
county, as a man of reflection and Or
dinary kindness of heart, ought to
know it, and why? Let us refresh his
forgetful memory.
Throughout the canvas last fall we
supported him with all our heart and
rejoiced at his election. After the cleo
ton, when he was denied possession of
the Office, we waited for no mans opin-
ion, but boldly espoused his right to
immediate possession, not only doing
so cditorially, but in u card to the peo-
pie of Dallas county, over our own
name, whereby we gained the ill will
of several personal friends.
He was sworn into Office and got
final possession about five months ago,
and now we will wager him two things:
First-that not scintilla of censure
has ever appeared in the HERALD
against him; and, secondly, that he has
been praised, as an officer, in our col
umns on an average of at least five
times month. We challenge him TO
examine our files, and, moreover, ap
peal 10 the recollection of our readers.
Now, the moment he nnaSines some
Ching aimed at him or his deputies
wherein they were not even thought
of. without even coming to us or ask
ing an explanation, he turns upon well
attested friendship, and through anoth-
er channel, arraigns US. IT these are
not facts, we stand ready for correc-
tion.
AS to his deputies, as we were writ
ing of former abuses under which
the people groaned, and discussing gen.
eral principles, it is enough to repeat
that they, young men so lately APP
pointed, and of whom we have heard
naught but praise, never entered our
mind. On the contrary, while know
lug them but slightly, and some of
them not at all, we knew that five of
them at least were the sons of as good
friends as we have, and as good citizens
as there are in Dallas county. They are
truly subaltern officers, but we could
never apply the term "understrapper"
to such young men, and no man who
will read our article, understandingly,
in connection with the Falls county
case, can so construe it.
So much as to the animus of our ar
ticle. These are simply the facts, and,
on that head, we have no more TO say.
The principle of law involved is an
other matter. If we are not in error,
a policeman was sent to the peniten-
tiary last fall, from Dallas county, for
shooting at a man who was running
to avoid arrest for some minor offense.
We have now the Falls county
case, presented by grand jury, tried
by "twelve good and lawful men" un-
der oath. presided over by one of the
best district judges in the state, then
appealed to the supreme court, argued
and unanimously affirmed. lIe are
content 10 stand ia such company. The
subject, however, is one of grave i'm
port and should lie discussed calmly,
with sole view TO the peace, security
| and rood order of sopiatv