The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-07
Something on the Subject of
Constabulary Ontrages.
Mr.. Geo. s. Legare Tells aehat he
Ksous About Several Recent Gases.
News and Courier March l..


A representative of The News and
Courier called on Mayor George S.
Legare last night to know what had
been done in the Belitzer case against
Walter Gaillard and Charles Nc
Donald
Absolutely nothing" answered
Major Legare Il went myself with
Mr.. Belit2er to Trial j ustice Williman's
Office Monday morning about II O'Clock
and we bad warrant sworn out against
the constablcs. I requested that the
warrant be served at once, and was
assured that it would be- In the after
noon Mr.. Puck baber a client of mine,
reported to me that his porter, Lawrence
Williams, had been arrested and taken
to Justice Williman's Office by two con-
stables. Williams is the young boy
who was shot at by Mcdonald on Satur-
day. Upon further inquiry / learned
that Mcdonald has assisted In the arrest
of Williams and had handcuffered the
boy. Whether depu'ized to make the
arrest or not I cannot say, but the fact
remains that Mcdonald and another ar
rested Williams and took him before the
justice despite the fact that warrant had
been issued for his (McDonald's) arrest,
and he (McDonald) is still at large. I am
confident that Mr.. Belitzer has we'll
founded complaint against the constable.
I have no doubt that the robbing of him
of the empty demijohn was done through
malice entertained towards by him the
spies. Mr.. Belitzer was one Of my wit
nesses for the State in the Elliott-Nolte
case. 1t would not have surprised me
in the least if they had taken bis horse
and buggy along with the demijohn.
As far as the law is concerned they had
just as much right to it. 1t is hard to
tell where this sort of thing will end.
Each day We are confronted with some
new act of atrocity at the hands of
these vagabouds. Although the head
gentleman Of them all, Governor Till
man, has said the Act does not intend
that private houses shoald be raided, l
understand that two such places we're
raided to-day. One Of these places, l
am told, presented very pitiable scene
between the spies and some four or FIVE
children, their mother and aged grand
mother Governor TiIlmau's cattle
went about their degrading work 10 the
usual way, regardless Of the protesta-
tions, tears and entreaties Of the women
and children. who were crying out for
protection with no Que to protect them.
The Act Of the last Legislature
undoubtedly gives them the power to
search private residences 10 the day time
or at night and without warrant 20
matter what the Governor may say to
the contrary. I think this is clearly set
forth in the able editorial of to-day's
issue of your paper However, this
searching private residences. or any
other place in fact, without warrant is
absolutely unconstitutional. Indivi-
dually | 60 beyond this and say am
thoroughly in accord with the express
sions of the Hon. Geo. D. Tillman as
published in The News and Courier
some time since. A mans house is bis
castle aud when the sanctity Of bis home
can be violated at any time by horde
Of uuscrupulous rascals such as these
men are known to be, then we 90 longer
live in land of freedom. It we're bet.
ter far to live in Russia. However. !
am glad that those people Of Charleston
who we're anxious to have. the metro.
politan police bill passed have this
opportunity of judging for themselves
what metropolitan police would mean tc
Charleston.