The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-05
Police Duties.

tie press 10 INC excessive IDcFlieS taken Dy
municipal police officers in tile larger cities OF
the country and the utter peryersion and abuse
OF their brief authority. Within the past twen-
ty-four hours, we have read three long cdto-
rails in as many different papers, in as many
cities, the object of which is to define the linn
its of police duty, and condemn the criminal
license that policeman have INDUCED in. A few
days ago. in the city of Baltimore, policeman
went to the residence of a colorcd man where
some convival entertainment was going on,
called him out, and after some words between
them, SHOT the negro dead on his own prem;-
ses. That policeman is incarcerated in the
city prison awaiting his trial for murder, and
if the evidence published has any influence
over jury, the probability is the offender will
either suffer the penalty Of death, or imprison-
ment for life.
In this case there was no necessity for re-
sort to firearms. because, if there was an Of
fence, it was Of miner grade, merely viola
ton of some municipal regulations and not APP
preaching any of the higher crimes calling for
extreme precaution and suggesting desperate
resistance as a fina, contingency.
We have recently had case in this city to
which particular allusion is made in our local
columns. We do not know how greater ex-
aggeration of police authority could lave been
manifested, than in the method adopted by an
ill-tcmpcred and sliort-siyhted officer to arrest
for supposed minor offencea gentleman who
had given no evidence whatever of disposition
to violate law or disregard legitimate authority.
The fact that the policeman had prepared linn
self with ''nippers''-an instrument intended
alone for criminals of the higher grade and
violent character-is sufficient proof that he
had formed the deliberate purpose to resort to
extraordinary agencies to arrest gentleman
who had committed no known offence, and if
he had been guilty of the supposed transgres-
sion, it would have been Of comparative
trivial character, and not calling for OF justi-
flying the extraordinary means contemplated
and actually used by the policeman. But, the
facts, as developed, show that the assaulted
gentleman was entirely free from any purpose
or intention to violate municipal ordinance OF
) State law-that he was amply provided with
all the legal papers necessary for the business
in which he was engaged, and all that was
necessary was for the policeman to show his
authority for the demand that he made, for
him to be satisfied that the gentleman was
not proper subject for the exhibition
of his cNtra-official intrepidity and belig-
erent propcnsities. The fact is, the policeman
on this occasion, as on others heretofore, plain
} ly demonstrated that he does not possess that
, equilibrium of temper, clear conception OF dtl-
oI,n~
sental in the faithful and efficient discharge Of
police duties, and it is due to the authorities Of
the city, to this immediate community, and to
| the public generally, that the whole matter
should undergo strict scrutiny and investiga-
ton. that the ends of justice be attained the
city be vindicated from any countenance of the
assault made upon an innocent party, and an
, example be established for the future conduct
Of the police officers CT the corporation.
The extraordinary decision Of the police JUS
tice, who, after hearing the evidence, deiiber-
ately imposed a fine of five dollars upon the as
saulted party, must have been the result Of one
/ OF those curious mental hallucinations that
sometimes obscure the perception of our great
est minds, and can only be accounted for upon
the hypothesis that his Justiccship was oblivi-
GUS of the fact that policeman are mercy NOR
tails and liable to err as other people, and
that strangers coming to the city are presumed
to have rights that even the policemen of
Staunton arc rot at liberty to rutllessly and
outageously violate;
1t is not matter so much directly affecting
the persons engaged in the muss OH Saturday
last, either as policeman, justice, or travelling
salesman, as it is question OF broad right and
justice, as it relates to the city of Staun.oh i'll
the administration Of the laws, and respect for
the rights of individuals. 1t presents a case
involving principle Of public policy as we'll
as personal right, and it will be a serious re-
Fiction upon the city authorities if it is per-
mitted to pass by unnoticcd.
--~ -z.<as
The Democratic party, as at present organ
lied, is extreme and radical in everything. AS
represented by the Ohio Democracy, it is for
an indefinite imitation Of the currency, the re-
suit of which would be periodical panics, IN
settling business and paralyzing industry. 10
separate itself as far as possible from the Re-
publican party, it contends that that party is
i'll favor of immediate resumption of specie
payment, regardless OF consequences. the re-
suit of which would be certain ruin to the bus
mess of the country. While the fact is, the
policy Of the Republican party is to approach
specie payment gradually, just as the business
Of the country will justify it. The objcc, is to
keep solid basis for business constantly i'll view
and work towards it until such time as it can
be safely adopted. The Democracy propose to
go in the opposite direction, issuing unredeena-
able paper money, initiating values, derangng
labor, stimulating extravaganza and counting
and inevitably achieving disaster.
The Washington special dispatch to the Bal
timore "Sun'' says that ex-Gov. Bigler is loom
ing up as the probable Democratic candidate
for governor in Pennsylvania, and that the
Republicans, being very much frightened at
the consnmmation Of such result, are urging
upon him that his acceptance of the nomina-
ton will be injurious to the prospects of the
Centennial exhibition in 1876. OF which he is
an active and efficient agent in providing ssways
and means" This is all bosh. The Republi-
cans don't care who is nominated on the Dem
o0 in }'Inxys int + a. fI,oir RI