Daily Republican., 1878-06-26
Onicer Brickel's Mistake.

who visited Browntown, on Sunda,
morning, June 10th, had no warrants t
make the arrests which they there at
tempted to make, but which ended il
the killing of Williams against. whom
there was no charge, simply because h
was little insolent towards the polic'
and defied them to arrest him without
warrant. This statement needs littl,
modification, for it appears that one 0
the policemen had warrant for the ar
rest Of Jackson the thief, whom they
did arrest, but let go again, hut thi
warrant was one that had been ISSUED
several weeks ago for his arrest fo
some supposed robberies that he hat
committed. 1t was a warrant, however
and they had perfect right to- arres
him wherever found within their jur
isdiction. Having Strengthened this W
according to the best information We
could receive in the case, we would also
say that Williams was not shot in his
own house but in the house adjoin-
ing. t.-
This however made but trilling diff
ference for we are informed that no
house can be entered to make an arrest
without a warrant, unless to quell a
disturbance, fight, riot, or something
which endangers the lives Of citizens or
disturbs the peace Of the community. 1t
Is but just to officer Brickle to say that
tits contended that as he had arrested
Williams, having laid his hand ON his
arm and told him to come along, that
hewas his prisoner and he had right
tofollow him and take him wherever
found. We are almost sure that this Ia
a mistaken idea, for when prisoner
goes into an occupied house, he is se-
cure from arrest unless the officer has a
warrant. and unless the occupants of
the house see proper to deliver him up.
This, however, is a question for law
.yers to argue, and We leave it. The
main point Of Williams offending
seems to consis { his defiance to the
officers to arrest him without war;
rant. 1t was even testified before the
Coronor's inquest, that Williams re-
monstrated with Officer Brickle about
calling him such terribly profane
names that he did not swear, and
wouldn't allow anybody to swear at
him-especially to call him by the dis
gusting names which, according to the
testimony Of Officer Bouzearth, Brickls
used. Those who testified that Will
liams used no offensive language, We,
think either prevaricated or did not
hear all Williams said, for it is not
likely thai such man was governed
by very deep sense of morals, and it
is likely that he was about as profane
AZ the most Of policemen generally are.
To conclude an article which is
already growing too long, we have only
to say that Brickle and Bouzearth when
they arrested Jackson should have
brought him away; that Williams talk
was not worth listening to so long as
he made no attempt to recue the priso-
ner; that Brickle was entirely too free
n.the use Of his pistol, he having pointed
it at Williams head with horrible oaths
forced him back into the house, even
after he (Williams) had said that if
the officer would give him time to get
his coat he would go along, and after
being driven back in self defence, see
ing the officer still pressing on him,
still threatening to shoot, he seized a
pair Of shears and as officer Bouzearth
testified he was jabbing with them at
Officer. :.Brickle. The fact thatWilliams
was unarmed while outside of the house,
shows that he had no hostile intent, and
even inside the house his only weapon
was pair Of shears which he had
grabbed up when pressed by officer
Brickles' pistol.
Of course the same strata of feel
ing prevailed the coroner's jury,
that prevails generally, especially with
one of the political parties, that ga mig
ger isn't of much account" and with
determined pertinacity the colored wit
nesses were badgered, until in their
confusion they contradicted themselves,
and then of course their testimony was
considered of no account. We do most
emphatically say that the coroner's Jury
on the evidence alone of Sedgwick and
officer Bouzearth, white witnesses,
should have censured officer Brickle for
his indiscreetness and too free use Of
fire arms, and we think in this, the pub
lie indiscriminately will agree Through
the courtesy of Coroner Rose who made
no objection to furnishing us with
list of the jury who heard the case, we