, 1879-06-01
POLICE BRUTALITY.
Col. Van Arman's Opinion as to the
Illegality Of the Shooting.
Deputy-Supt. Dixon Also Has His Doubts as to
Whether It Vas Justllable.

guted By Supt. Seavey, but as johnson has no.
friends In particular 1t is not likely that any:
thing will be done to the officer. He may be
simply reprimauded, and told to be more care.
fus in the future. Had johnson relative who
would see to It that the attention Of the Grand
Jury was brought TO the matter, Croak might
be prosecuted and sent to join Policeman Jones,
who was put ip Joliet for clubbing Purncl1
a1unson's son SO that he died from the effects.
The patromcn OF the city are entirely too reck-
less with their revolvcrs and clubs, andit is about
time d stop was put to their shooting and
brutality. They defy the law, and tact on
their own responsibility" but their superiors
would seem to wink at their crimes since 1t is
useless to make complaint; they always manage
to 20 scot free, unless the victim or his friends
70 over on tue North Side for justice.
A reporter ran across
COL. VAN ARMAN
Yesterday and asked him what law authorized
policeman to shoot down a man for running
away.
aNone," said ho. 1.-THE Constitutions Of the
Of man without legal process except IN the
single case where he is caught in the act" :,
"Is having something under ones coat
crime?" !,
uNo. The shooting OF that negro the other
day was the greatest outrage Lever heara Of:
Our policemen laye gotten Into tile haolI OF
chasing people and shooting at them. Ihat
officer bad no right, under the circumstances,
cyeu to arrest him."
MAYOR HARRISON,
who is a lawyer, was also interrocated, out he
declined to bo interviewed on the ground that
what he would say might have a tendency to
demoralize the force. go.
supt. seavey being at home stck' hfs deputy
"Ss & What law iustiHes the arrest Of man with
01s 4 ! No 1aw," said Dixou, SUNLESS be IS acting
susplctously. It has been customary Tor on
GERS to arrest on suspicion especially al un-
0What law gives an officer power to shoot at
man who acts suspiciously and runs away:'
UNone unless the officer is told the mop had
committed some crime. It Is frequently done
to fetch them to-; not with:the intent OF Killing
| them."
lis suspicion in the mind Of gu officer that
! q man has committed q crime sufficient 1ustit-
cation for his arrest"
*Not always"
st!Have the officers any orders on that polnti,n
u'rhey have orders II they have reasonable
| ground to suspect that q crime has been com.
rnittef to use every means to secure the party
! NAnd to flre OF him if be runs away!"
''They have no Instructions to mat .a eteee. ec'
Where mau's life Is taken e.. be must nave co""
s1ne iav eavs hat one canuot be arrested,
rn,ats tzc can"bt IL the act, without warrant2"
auofs savs fiat. and It is supposed that officers
hovc Intelligence enough to arrest parties only
~hen thev have committed crimes. mud, in seri-
wnen e,aes nnrderers burglars, if they attempt
Gus caseo' - h1;nc item to hay. We do not up-
So,a 10 oscers Who bull out eir revolycrs the
nrst t1.IS sst ~ ~ ,hn;r nwn Observation-Disclosures
1ney 10 70 ou custom M in the Department to arrest
| s.;tha,+ - - nrncess Of law-merely upon sus-
men wt5uou' a,; pN'>
"a freoneptlv done at night where party
s;' II 1ie aro,'nd in a neiphhorhood where uli-
IL pro"a'.a ,or;as a, ~ rnhheries have been com
| mero9s 9a' -