The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-11-17
Disarm the Constables.

The feleprapbio dispatches in refer
eoce to the killing Of Mr. Turrer 10
| Sparsanburg county by Couststls
/ Ne~boid do no, give very clear idea
| Of the circumstances under which the
homicide occurred.
| One story is that Newboid shot
twice. but whether both bullets took
efec: il oos stated. Blu: that makss
little difference. One vas enough
! Anosher is that be fred to scare the
mulca, for what purpose we oanaoi
imagine. aod that the pistol 10 .he left
hand veDs of accidentally. However
it Gay baye happened it was most
deplorable occurrence. and good ci.i
zen and 40 ionocent man has lost isis
life for nothing.
If Ne#bold deliberately shot Turner,
as ope report has it, ,be extreme pen
ally Of she law should De ;oSiosed npnn
hin 1t ia hard to behave. though,
that he committed such crime.
Though be came to tbis state viii, he
reputation of being Dad nas.'' be
Gas oonducted himself. generally, 10 a
proper manner. aod bis caoducs aaa
[ no. been suoh as TO jas,ify tbe repusa
tisn an;ch preceded him
VIC say, then. that II Is hard TO be-
liese thss he would deliberately 'hur-
der an inoeceo. nap, bat his fsiiure TO
give himsels, up at once IL elfcnm-
ssanee which viii not tepd to make
the pubic at large believe him inDo-
ceos. aud one which is unexpisinabie
10 the conduct of an innocent man.
Bot We Dc not wish to prelude the
case. The court will have to decide
{ upon hisX innocence or guilt. Ncser-
theiess, there Is lesson to be drawn
from this affair. which the governor
aud tie Legislature should seriously
consider.
Adjusting that the homicide vas ao-
seideotal, would it have occurred if the
state did not doubly arm men with
yillainons and death dealing pistols 20
ecforce particular law-the dispen-
sary act ?
Is the life Of an upright. honest. iu-
dustrious citizen Of less value t5an
barrels of eontraband liquor?
It would seem SO, judging from the
action of the state. The whole ma
ch;nery of ske government. seems 9i-
rooted 10 one par.ioular purpose. and
that is the enforcement Of this 'a~.
We could understand why so much
zeal and energy was showo 10 iss be
bali When it vas ooe vas. political
machine. but now i: il practicall5
shern of tha. power. and there il no
reason Why politicians should seek to
enforce it more than any otter Law
True the bene6ciaries CT il might wish
to do so, but they are few in number
and. as rule. have no great political
iuaaeace
Governor Ellerbe should take the
pistols away from every constable at
once. Let them do detective work !;
secure evidence aud present it to the
solicitor.
es,as, if it is deemed necessary for a
Or officer Of tbe kind to go armed,
let positive instructions be given fhem
never to shoot except 10 setf-defenre
Let II be further positively understood
that any violation of these instructions
will mean instant diamissal, and. if
harm results. let the offender be turned
all, over to the courts for trial Above
les there be clear, numistakable aad
ioviolable rule that in case of coovic:
ion ahere will be no executive inter-
ference.
1t is time this killing Of citizens for
the cake of little whiskey should
stop, The people are becoming sick
aud tired Of it and We mistake their
sentiments and character If they sub
mi, 90 is much looger.-Register.