The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-12
On Thursday last, after the appearance Q

On Thursday last, after the appearance 0
the VIRGINIAN, we stepped into crown
citizens, composed, in part, OF several OF I'LL
policemen and Justice Cease. The subject
conversation was the difficulty growing OUT o
the arrest of Mr.. Rahm. After some remarks
in reference to the matter, in which 1t was
claimed that the publication in the VIRGlNIAn
was only partial statement OF the case, anu
did not represent both sides, Mr.. Cease re-
quested us to step into the Mayors office fol
the purpose of hearing full statement OF tne
facts. We did so, and what was said by MI.
Cease was substantially that given i'll the V"s-
dicator, to be found above. There were other
statements made tending to vindicatlon OF
the policeman who made the arrest ana the
Justice who tried the case. One remark mace
by Mr.. j. a. Bickle, was quoted with great en-
phasis by the Justice, and the policeman ana
Mr.. Mich. Gregory, as showing that Mr.. Blckle
participated in the suspicious of the Messrs.
Gregory as to the purpose of Mr.. Rahm to vlo-
late the law, viz: that he intended to purchase
bill of goods from Rahm, and that he could
be caught then. This remark was referred to
in manner to warrant the conclusion that
Mr. Bickle was in doubt as to the fact OF Kahn
having license, and to aid the dctective-in
which capacity Mich. Gregory seemed to APP
pear-in fiXin2 a violation of the law upon
Rahm. After we had patiently and carefully
listened to the case as thus presented, we re-
marked to Mr.. Cease, in substance, that ii his
version Of the affair comprehended.all the facts,
the judgment in the community was very
harsh against him, and that if injustice had
been done him by the VIRGINIAN, we should
feel it due to ourselves and to him that that in
justice should be voluntarily corrected. We
thought from the statement OF Mr.. Cease that
his action had not been as censurabe as the
terms used in this paper had indicated.
After this interview-which was entirely pa
cific and in the most respectful and friendly
spirit-we thought it Tut fair to all parties, to
make further inquiries. We accordingly called
upon Mr.. J. A. Bickle, who was an eyewitness
to the arrest and cognizant of most of the facts
attending the difficulty. In long converse
ton with that gentlemen we gathered the facts
as detailed in the above statement published in
the Vladicator, and the conclusion expressed
by Mr.. Bckle that there was nothing in the
publication in the VIRGINIAN that was not
fully sustained by the circumstances connect
ed with the affair within his knowledge. So
far from his remark to Mr. Mich. Gregory,
about purchasing bill Of goods from Rahm
to catch him, bearing the construction convey
ed to us by the interview at the Mayors office,
it was directly to the contrary. He had re-
peatedly remarked that he believed Mr.. Rahm
had proper license-that he knew him-llad
purchased from him beforehand that having
every confidence in his purpose, he intended
to buy goods from him ON this occasion but
if Mr.. Gregory did not think SO, he could de-
tect him at his storerooms, as he expected to
make purchase-that is, Mr.. Bickle had no
doubt about Rahm carrying with him properly
authenticated license, otherwise he would not
purchase from him, but if Mr.. Mich. Gregory,
who had been shadowing Rahm all morning,
was net satisfied, the opportunity would be Of
fered him of testing the justice Of his susri-
cions.
| With the statements, as above published
from the indicator, and the conversation.with
Mr.. Bckle before us, while we do not arraigE
the motives of the Justice, and do not believe he
would wilfully disregard the obligations of his
office, we must adhere to the belief that the
/ Judgment was erroneous, the arrest wrong, and
the method of the arrest cruel and barbarous-
totally unjustifed by all the facts in the case.
There is one point in the statement OF Mr..
Mauzy, which we have heard corroborated by
others, that we cannot allow to pass without
bringing it out prominently. 1t is. that when
Mr.. Rahm was under arrest, and in the pres
encc Of the Justice who was trying the case
the policeman addressed him with an oath and
threat. If such were the fact it was the duty
of the Justice to have at once suspended the
officer, and promptly reported the case to the
City Council for action. 1t must be remember
ed that the law and the dignity and proprieties
of the law should be as sacredly observed in a
police court, as before higher judicial tribunals.
Suppose deputy sheriff, in charge Of prison.
er, who was being tried in Judge McLaugblin's,
Judge Hendren's or Judge Smiths Court,
would address that prisoner in language and
manner imputed to the policeman on this oc-
casion, wllas would be the result? The sever
est penalties of the law would be promptly Wis
tied upon him. without doubt. Btu. the JUS
tice in this instance, did not even administer a
reprimand, or at least there is no evidence that
the dignity of his Office was indicated by any
demonstration whatever OIL his part.
Without any personal end to crafty and free
from the least faint of prejudiced feeling, we
have simply to say that the method adopted tc
enforce the law in the case of Mr.. Rahm will
not do. To be suspected without just cause
to be arrested without warrant of law to be
assaulted, without mitigating circumstances
and to be condemned merely because thus ar
rested, is a species of justice that no enlighten
ed and civilized community can afford to toll
crate.
just here we will state that perverted no
ton Of the law governing sample merchants il
entertained by some Of the police officers
They assume that any person has a right tt
/ demand the license of such persons, just as liz
would have in the case of peddler. There il
a great difference in the two classes. A ped
-dler is one who offers his wares from house tx
house in the country, where it is seldom tina
an officer could be found to demand an exhib
it. For this reason any person has right tt
ask for the evidence of his privilege to peldle
or on refusal to show the authority, to repor
the case. A sample merchant stands upon the
e. IL