The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-07-02

THE Austin STATESMAN approvingly
chronicles the fact that deputy sheriff of
Falls county, for shooting prisoner trying
to escape, was sentenced to the penitentiary
for five years for murder in the second de-
gree. He appealed to the Supreme Court,
composed of five able and honest judges,
who unanimously affirmed the sentence of
the jury below, whereat the STATESMAN re-
joices, and so do we.
The idea that an understrapper in the
shape of subaltern peace officer should be
allowed the privilege of shooting down, as
beast, mortal soul, while seeking the
natural right of escape from arrest, is to US
monstrous Where do we stand If life is
placed at the discretion of such man
Who is safe
A sheriff or constable, charged with the
execution of process, is by no means clothed
with discretionary power over human life.
If any person charged with crime can es-
cape, there is no law on earth, nor under
heaven, which authorizes or justiies a
peace officer n shooting him down as
bear or a tiger. To tolerate the idea is to
place at the discretion of frail, weak and
excitable subordinates, the lives of men
whose souls are as precious In the sight of
Jehovah as those of other human beings.
A peace oihcer has no right, human or di-
vine, to take human life, except in self
defense. He has a right to use physical
force for arrest, but none under heaven to
take life. If he cannot arrest without muir
der, let the accused escape for the time, and
seek other means of enforcing surrender.
We rejoice that we have a supreme court
pure enough to sayto that deputy sheriff in
Falls county, you murdered man unnec-
= ia
Let these loose ideas of life be dispelled
from every breast. The experience Of gene
rations, as handed down to us, provides
courts, grand and petit juries, to whom
under oath, taken on the holy book of God,
are entrusted the issues of life and death.
That petty subordinate officer should be
clothed with such discretion-perhaps an
illiterate and unthinking youngsters too
to be free citizen of a free country. Away
with such monstrosities.
Policemen, nor others, should be allowed
to carry about their persons the engines Of
death, except under special and extraordi-
nary circumstances. BY SO doing they ex-
cite and provoke the opposition Of the most
quiet and law-abiding citizens. True man.
hood and good citizenship rebels at the idea
that an irresponsible subaltern shall be al
lowed to carry arms to intinidate quiet peo-
pie, while the best in the land are compelled
to 90 unaFmed and at the mercy and caprice
of such men,
We honor the Supreme court of Texas
for affirming the judgment Of that jury Of
twelve good and lawful men, in sending
that deputy sheriff to the penitentiary for
Ave years for nurdering,a prisoner who was
trying to escape.-Dallas Herald.
The above correct and opporune views
we give with a great deal Of pleasure.
such sentiments boldly expressed win do
much to put 3 stop to the outrageous prac-
tees which have found such hold upon
the mind Of many. Let The pres every
where CRY aloud, and spare not against all
evil-doers and uolators Of the law. Soon
there win be correct views Of the duties Of
the citizen disseminated; and our beautiful
and lovely State become exempt from crimes
which startle the people Of other States and
cause them to look upon Texas as a vast
fctf d 1iooi where mems lives are not con
sideIed 81 more value than the cattle which
nam over her broad rch praiues. Crime
and mob law must be put down; and al
good men are called upon 70 unite in the
good work.