San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-31
A SOPHISTIcAL CITIZEN.

that the beating which Officer Chavez
received while quieting some toughs
, at dance, was owing to the convic-
ton of Policeman Geibel, of Calves
ton, for the murder of the boy Craw-
ford, coupled with other occurrences
of a like character in which police
men have been punished by law
sentences for unlawful use of deadly
weapons. The assumption is gratuit-
Gus; but, if it is not, then are we to
infer that had it not been for the fear
of condign punishment Officer Chavez
would have drawn his revolver and
shot the tough who assaulted him? If
this is not the inference what Is it? II
this is the inference, then every citi-
zen should be thankful that such
wholesome law fear and restraint is
before the mind of the guardian of
the peace. Citizen says: Everybody
else it seems has a right to defend
himself in this country except po-
liceman, he must forsooth, take insult
and violence without resentment"
This is all specious and special plead
| ing. On the cOntrary-the policeman
is specially armed and licensed to
carry murderous weapons, such as
the ordinary citizen may not carry
without snbjecting himself to thirty
days imprisonment and a 5000 fine.
Is it not right and proper that the
policeman should be held to srtict
account liability for the manner in
which he uses these dangerous weap-
ons given to him? The safety of
the community demands such
safeguards. 1t is because of
the abuse of power and the reck-
less manner in which men are often
handled when in the custody OF the
police, that public sentiment most
necessary and wholesome has been
created. 1t IS in obedience to this
sentiment that the police of all cities
are held to strict accountability for
the use of deadly weapons. Does
"Citizenn mean to say that he con-
siders that Officer Chavez would have
been justified in killing the two
toughs who assaulted him recently? |
Would he establish the precedent that
police officer is authorized to kill
the man who resists arrest and
assaults him, when that arrest is
made for a misdemeauor? Citizen
says: eff a man resists arrest he
should be knocked on the head
with chilly" If he shows
fight he should be shot" I'll
a man was knocked Oh the head with
a billy in the hand of an experienced
police officer he is not likely to have
much fight left in him. Every police
man is entitled by law to assistance
from bystanders in making arrests,
and it is not necessary that he should
kill men or shoot them in arresting
them. The exceptions to this rule are
so mighty scarce that it is useless to
cite them. How many policemen in
San Antonio have been seriously in
jured in attempting arrests? Have
any been killed? Has it ever been
necessary to kill man in San An
tonic for merely resisting arrest, when
that man was unarmed. If police
men had carte blanche to shoot all
who showed fight while being
arrested, how long would it be be-
fore our criminal docket would be
burdened with actions for muir
der against policemen. The idea
that an officer of the law
is above law is all bosh. The idea
without licensing every policeman to
shoot on sight all who resist arrest af-
ter being hit on the head with billy,
is all moonshine. Violence begets
violence, and the more violent the
peace officers the more violence will
all their attempts to arrest engender.
The police officer has most thank
less and difficult task to perform. His
HInti irn Hnr
the severest prOvocatiOn and a knOwl-
edge of the best elements of human
character. He will find out the worst
soon enough. The policeman seldom
gets credit for the services he renders
and it is often a perilous one. 1t is,
however, voluntary one, and unless
he considers himself able TO make
ordinary arrests without the use of
gun, he should not apply for or be
given the office. To properly protect
the police, it is not necessary to give
them wholesale license TO kill.
THE LIGHT tallies one for the Waco
Day in the following honest copmen-
dation of President Harrison. The
Brennan Banner had charged Presi-
dent Harrison with carpet bagging in
the appointment to the vacant Flori-
da judgeship. Concerning this, the
Day says:
"The Brennan Banner is mistaken
in saying that President Harrison APP
pointed a carpet Dagger" to the va
cant Florida judgeship in the person
of an Indiana man, one of his warm
personal friends. The . personal
friend, it is said solicited the office,
but it was finally piYen TO q reSidnnf