Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-23

When a reputable citizen who chances to
be out late at Eight meets a policeman and
Is requested to halt" he promptly assents
and satisfies the officer Of his harmlessness
in the criminal sense. but should that same
citizen be held up by an individual clad In
not over-stylish garments of the everyday
sort his natural inclination would be either
to fight or run. II the reputable citizen
CHANGED to be a negro there would be an
additional incentive to fight in the wide
spread fear among the race in Washing
ton Of capture by the mythical might doc
tors" who are supposed to convert living
negroes into anatomical subjects for the
medical colleges. The same tendency to
fight or run would be present even If the
Interfering stranger were to announce him
ssR an officer, for that sort of q statement
has frequently been used by highwaymen,
who, without ID, could not have approached
near enough to their victims. Willis Wash
ington seems to have been reputable citi-
zen and ne may continue to be one II the
bullet which Officer Terry fired into him
does not put an end to his usefulness. The
facts In what ought soon to develop into the
case of the United States versus c. B. Ter
~ were told in yesterdays Star and since
that publication the only additional tcsti-
mony uncovered Is against the officer. OF
course every resident Of Washington knows
that during the past two or three weeks
there has been a reign Of terror conse-
quent upon the daring misdeeds OF an un-
known individual whose popular designa-
ton Is Jack the Slasher,' and that there
has been extraordinary vigilance on the
part OF the police. Suspicious characters
have been closely watched and the sur
Vigilance has been extended so as to in
yclude all persons on public highways be-
tween the hours of midnight and sunrise.
That the work of repression or detection
be rendered less difficult the officers on
duty at night have eschewed uniforms and
appeared in citizens clothing. These pre-
cautions in behalf of the public safety were
and are appreciated as are also the willing
vigilance Of nearly every member Of the
force. but when policeman is thoughtless
enough to imagine that his official charac-
ter reveals itself through his unofficial gar
ments and Is plain TO startled people in the
darkness of night. he is clearly out of place
and should seek some other occupation.
Then there are officers who feel called upon
to take advantage of every opportunity
afforded them to shoot and who do not hes
ttate to make an opportunity, and of these
Officer Terry seems 10 be one. His assault
on Willis Washington seems to be without
well-behaved citizen from promenading the
streets at any hour of the day or night.
In the interest of public policy he may be
required to disclose his identity, but be-
cause he refuses to stop when two roughly
dressed men make the demand Gas in the
present case) the disguised officer has no
right to kill him nor even to club him. The
law gives every prisoner the benefit Of such
doubt as may exist, but policemen like Ter
~. convict. sentence and execute as rapidly
as a self-acting revolver can be manipu-
lated. It Is hoped that Washington will
not die, but his recovery should not prevent
the prosecution of his assaiiant. Pistols
are placed IN the policeman's equipment to
be used only when the last stage of self
defense has arrived or when a dangerous
IcGiminal Is escaping illegitimately. The
courts should emphasize this fact on every
suitable occasion.