Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-10-18
A RECYLEss POLICE OFFICER.


Again has it been demonstrated |
that the police-ofiicers OF this city
regard CoIored men but a step
higher than ours.
LEWIS BLAND, a hard working
Colored man was shot through the
leg by Officer GIBSON on JET
fersoD ST. near Broad Saturday
11th inst. The following is the !
Officers statement as published in |
the Dispatch.
''l first noticed Blair on Broad street
between oilmer aud Graham. He was
drunk and interlssiug with women pass
ing. stopped him and collared nim
and he caught hold OF me and drew
back 10 hit me. held on TO him and
started Tor the station house. l had
trouble all the way down Broad street.
On Jefferson between Broad and Mar
shall n struck me terrible blow with
hi fist and knocked me down. he ran
down jefferson towards Broad. 4 head
ed him CT al Broad aud he ran back up
| Jefferson towards Marshall, and turning
/ into Ramcat alley he ran towards Mad
ison. 1 caught mp with him and he
struck me again several times. l took
out my pistol on JeHers - ~'~v he
knocked me dowa. -
the .ater he at. axe
me ill.,. n ne did hit me a.. would
shoot. he started towards NE sgsin
and / fred over his head. He did not
stop and l shot him in the leg. lie rau
about 100 yards alter he was shot,"
1t will be remembered that this
police-ofiicer stands sworn to rec.
ognize the civil and political equal.
ity of all men before the law.
Would he under similar clrcum-
stances have shot white mani
II ne would not, he stands con.
victed of having sworn to do one
thing and doing another.
AS it is, this official seems to
have mistaken his calling. 1t is
not intended that hot-headed mell
shall be armed with deadly wea-
pons to fire upon citizens because
at some time they may happen &C
be in a state of intoxication. The
next question is as TO whether OF
e not this officers life was in danger
After chasing a man arounS
{ squares, through alleys and by
ways, was it necessary to shoe
r him because he was a Colored M an
Il The provocation might hav
r been great. Let us concede that
C was, but a man who has no NOR
judgement than to fire on an III
g armed man because he has tn
d power, should be stripped OF hi
u buttons, and relegated TO the real
&c where he can associate with tina
Y class Of people who are denomina
N ed DULLES and who stand as a cor
II slant menace to the peace an
Is prosperity OF a community.
IL Where was that deadly weapon
the club, which officers take sue
It delight inG Why was it not use
D. first
Why was Officer GIBSON {
q cowardly as to fire on an unarme
~ drunken manf Was that bra
10 eryq Did it show nerve or COY
IN ardicef
y, Yes, he shot this man as be sa.
- in self defense.
~ Officer GIBSON. by one warniI
ON rap could have brought, in tv
minutes to his assistance enoui
police-officers to carry half doz'
men.
:. What excuse then was there I
- shooting an unarmed drunk
ps Colored man :
- Now it is intended to ia
BLAND TO Court as soon as he
- able to be moved, send HIM on
- the grand jury, fine and possil
- jail him for resisting police-o
Ger, and then this will be call
ON the bestowal of justice in the Fl
the of the fact that this hearth
the policeman will hardly be rep
tbA manded.
ker BLAND's punishment is alres
sufficient This officer has alre:
sur taken the law into lis own hal
ess and melted it.
0tr; GOD knows we do not un
lish stand how some men, white
mo black can ignore the sentim
tits One touch of nature makes
will whole world kim"
rain The officer says he fired I
en- over GLANDS head. Did he m
ONE that he fred point-blank at
hulo and missed his mark. the