Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-20
DEADLY WEAPONS.
Who Has and who Has Not n Right
90 Garry Then I'm Public-A Per-
ntefOas Mabit that should be In
t0Fdfcted.

that of carrying concealed weapons by
day and by night, has been the fruitful
source Of numberless o~ffenses against
the peace and dignity Of the State. The
custom is far more honored in the
breach than in the observance in all
civilized communities. Judge Logwood
in his charge delivered to the grand jury
Of the Criminal Court, a few days since,
made special mention of this violation
Of law, and asked the jury to investigate
such violations in the fullest possible
manner. The penalty for privately car
rying a dirk, sword.cane, s~tiletto, belt or
pocket pistol or revolver is indictment,
a fine not less than ten nor more
than fifty dollars and imprisonment,
at the discretion of the court, for
a period not less than thirty days
Ior more than six months, and also the
party convicted shall have to give a
bond 10 the sun Of one thousand dollars
to keep the peace for six months. To
this penalty is also added the fine Of
fifty dollars imposed by the Recorder,
and the appearance bond Of three thou
sand dollars, showing that the pathway
OF the pistol toter, when he is detected
by the myrmidons of the law, is not sur
rounded by roses. Under the laws Of
the State citizens are permitted TO carry
pistols openly in the hand, but not other
wise. Officers or policemen, while bona
6de engaged in official duties, in the
execution Of a process, or while search
ing for or engaged in the arrest Of Grim
inals, or other persons who are bona fde
aiding such officers Of the law in making
such arrests, are permitted to carry
deadly weapons, concealed or otherwise
A person who is on a journey out Of
his county or State is also permitted to
carry a deadly weapon.
All officers Of the law, such as sheriifs,
deputy sherifs, coroners, justices of the
peace and constablss are compelled by
oath of Office to enforce the sections Of
the code bearing upon this subject, to ar
rest aud indict all offenders, and if they
fail to do so they render themselves liza
/ BILE to a fine Of not less than ten nor
more than fifty dollars, and TO be. dis.
missed from office and disqualif. ID from
holding Office for the periods Of their IN.
expired terms The code also provides
that any civil officer %arresting and pros
eauting to conviction any offender under
this act shall be entitled to the sum o
fifty dollars as a reward, the amount Il
3 be taxed against the offender in the bill
of costs. Judge Logwood charged tn
grand jury upon another importan
G point wherein the law is violated almos
daily by many of the civil officers of GU
State. he said:
1t is and has been the custom anon
/; some of the officers above mentioned
and even some tpecial constables, /
. habitually W r pistols, and they CLAIM
that they have the right under tn
,e statutes to do so. L. is your duty, gen
tlemen of the grand july, 10 begin a pre-
cess Of instruction which will enable a.
ie such to lie IN more accurately the law i
re this regard. You will observe that tn
p, section of the code referred 10 exempt
% only such officers are actually ell
gagged in their ofici | duties, in fhe ex,
o. cution Of process" etc. The ceurt il
structs you that the word process" a
a. here used, does not contemplate a wa
pc rant, writ, subpoena or other p per in
civil case, which does not direct the of
Ger to take possession Of the body of
person; nor does it include any paper @
document in a criminal C Sc, except sue
K as commands an arrest. When officer
OF of the law 60 about wearing arms j
violation OF the law, and unmolested,
l. has a demoralizing effect upon the con
munity. Officers of the law should b
the first to set the example Of obedienc
as to law.
I'd 1t is true that masyroughs and thiev
ly 90 armed all the time, and the peaceabl
citizen is entitled to protection againt
ne them, and for that reason many citizen
RS who reside in the suburbs Of the city z
he armed, as do also many of those either
who at Eight visit their friends out in II
n suburbs, but yet the law grants them n
be special permission to carry conceale
c weapons, but makes it punishable just
10 all other cases. This is somewhat
a hardship, because it places the peac
:. able citizen at the mercy Of the arme
= footpad or robber, yet the only legal we
m to avoid the penalty ia to carry the wes
IN on openly in the hand.
IN Judge Logwood deserves credit f
~ making a strong effort to break up Il
10 dangerous and barbarous practice, at
we understand that it is his intention
enforce heavy penalties in all cases
IL this nature coming before him for jud
ment. He most truly asserts that:
The practice of carrying weapons
one of the most baneful known to so,
ETY., and is the primary source Of mu,
bloodshed and crime, and often culu
mates in the commission of homicid
The carrying of deadly weapons is a
tagooistic to civilization, aud is a relic
my barbsrism. 1t is not in keeping wi
lly the age in which we live, nor the Cover
ment which is bound to protect its ci
zens and all who %sojourn with US. Ma.
young men wear weapons because th
.en see older persons doing so, and are I
am alive to the great aud many evils tn