The herald., 1896-01-06
THE ARREST OF WEIGH
Two Communications in Justification
Thereof
The Redondo Justice Of the Peace and
Friend Hive "Writ to
the Paper

Apropos of the arrest for vagrancy at
Redondo of an old soldier named Robert
Welch and his conviction on the charge
before the local justice of the peace The
HERALD has received and herewith pub
fishes two letters justifying the course in the
matter of the arresting constable and con-
vlcting justice. The latter person is ,he
author of one of the epistolary efforts,
while the other is by supersensitive
friend of the interested officer, and ex-
hibits wide and wild misconcep ion of
the functions of peace officers and local
magistrates, also of the case in contrO-
versy and THE HERALD's position. 1HE
HERALD has treated both locally ami
editorIally to some ex ent of the injustice
perpetrated Oh Mr.. Welch. 1t has con-
tended tina the arrest for vagrancy was
unwarranted and illegal; it has seen no
reason for altering its opinion, but on the
contrary is confirmed in the position
taken, by the course of Judge Smith, Sat-
urday, in releasing Mr. Welch from
custody on the ground that his detention
was without warrant of law. Desiring to
give the Redondo officers he benefit be-
fore the public of any defense they or their
friends have to make The HER Id nup-
fishes the communications noted, il. full.
They are as follows:
REDoNDo, Jan. 3, lS9G.
your paper th,s morning headed: "Victim
OF zee Grabbers." l. tnink you would, be-
fore writing and permitting such an article
In your paper, and commencing on it as
you do that you would at the very Least
try and find out some of the facts i'll the
case. Neither Mr.. Blanchard nor myself
had anything more to do in the matter any
more than the law requires of us, and com
pels us to do. A Mr. L. >. Reynolds came
To me and made complaint against Mr..
Welsh. then issued warrant. gave it o
Constable Blanchard, who is himself an
old soldier. Mr.. Blanchard arrested Mr..
Welsh, and when before me he plead
guilty to the charge of vagrancy and sent
him up for ten days in Jail. Now, then, if
you think that because a m an / an Id sol
der he can dress himself in old clothes and
demand food and drink at the back doors
of houses in the outskirts tf own, from
women in absence of tn ir husbands, and
frighten the women and children, say the
proper place for such Old soldiers
is the chain gang, and those who
uphold and defend them ought TO bear
them company. AS o Mr.. Blanchard or
myself looking for fees, we have some-
thing else to do. AS for myself | have
paid into the county treasury more than
twice the amount of my fees IN fines col
lected from criminals convic ed in my
court of crimes committed here. As 1T is
you that had better know what you are
writiug about before you abuse people in
this manner, for doing their duty. But |
see pl ,inly where the trouble is, some one
is trying to throw people off of tn ir tracks
where they need investig tting and you are
trying shield them. Don't be alarmed,
my acts as "a justice of the peace will bear
the closest Investigation, but when an old
vag- comes before me, and pleads guilty
to crimes committed here the old solclier or
rebel friend or foe he will get his just
deserts, MIR, Welsh let one here know
he was an old soldier. Yours truly,
Il. .WITHERIL,
Justice of the Peace Redondo township,
Los Angeles county.
MONETA, Cal, an. 8, 500.
EDITOR HERALD: In The HERALD OF to-
days date we see an editorial in regard to
the actions of the justice of the peace and
constable at Redondo. Is the editor bliudei
to justice, or does he jump at conclusions?
Why should privileges he accorded to old
soldiers thar are not granted to Others?
Does the wearing of Uncle Sans uniform
license u man to commit acts that gentle
men would not be gully OF? Ii not, why
all this to-do over an old soldier? Is he
not amen 'ble TO the laws of our country,
as other citizens are?
his man calls at the house for drink
of water. II lis kindly endered him; he re-
refuses to be put off with the plea that
there is no milk for him. He tr es to break
into the house. Was this the act of 4 gem
tieman or patriot? l am an I'D sol lier,
but am tired of all this fol de ro that
there is nothing 90 goo for an old soldier.
This man Welch is supplied win good
home and all the comforts OF life by the
country he served yet he must invade the
sanctiiy of our homes at will, be gully of
misdemeanors, yet the fact of his ,,eiug an
old soldier protects him. Our upon such
fal acy. He acknowledges his gui t; let
him suffer the consequences. Iustead of
ten days the law should have given him
100 days.
Co stable Blanchard is an old soldier
ana his hearts sympathies are with his old
comrades. yet he dares do his duty, and
the better class of people commend
him for it. AN OLD SOLDIER.