St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1898-03-19

nNE day q young man was walking
along street in Chicago enjoying
ull Of those liberties which are guar
anteed to us by the constitution.
He wus well-dressed young man OF
frank and open circumference, and his
career up to that particular moment
had been particularly free from blame.
In his younger days he had attended
Sunday school. Laterson he abandoned
the practice, with great relief sto him
self, but he continued to wear his best
clothes on Sunday, and he never stole
from q bank or murdered any OF his
relatives, which he might have done 1t
he hadn't attended Sunday school in
early life. Ellis conscience was COM
b paratively clear, and he was not pre-
pared to feeia heavy handon his shoul-
der and to hear grinding bass voice
say: "Herel Come back herep @ j.
It Vas a policeman, of course. The
young man was greatly surprised, and
asked: "What do you want? What's
the matter?'
Now, merely to digress for moment
When an innocent man is arrested by a
policeman he may be grieyed and
humiliated or he may be stunned with
surprfscsor ha~~r.v be calm and col
lected.
1.-The is grieved an>-----,
liceman interprets his con. -ose---
virtual admission of guilt, because Il
he isn't guilty why should he be wor-
Tied by the mere formality OF an arrest?
III he is surprised, that proves him to
be IN experienced criminal who is try
ing to pose ms an honest man.
IL he Is cool and Indifferent, that Is
positive evidence that he issan old and
hardened criminal who Is accustomed
to being arrested. #
No matter what the conduct of the
man may be at the trying moment, be
will convict himself in the eyes of the
officer, It Is inevitable that police.
man should come TO regard every mar
as guilty until he can prove has limo
cence beyond the shadow OF d doubt
A strong presumption OF guilt closes
upon every man who comes under sus'
picion, and 1t cannot be removed ex'
cept by overwhelming evidence, and
even then the policeman reserves the
right TO have his doubts.
Consequently,Sw when this particular
policeman had hold of this particular
young man and the young man gasped
in astonishment and asked; "What Dc
you want Z" the policeman saw in mo
ment that he was deuling with tricky
oldrtimer. ~ g@
'.Now, don't give me none Of that!" ht
exclaimed. "Where's that leather yoI
just swiped from the lady?"
'sI don't know what you mean.
saw, come Of. I've heard too fnucl
Of that kind f1alk. Come along. Com
with me-"
They walked back to the corne
where d nervous and excited woman
was telling Ter story to placid Gen
man who had stepped out Of butche
shop. Is
'.Is this him, lady?" asked the police
man, pointing to the young man wit
the Sunday school record.
Yes; officer, that's the very one."
Ibid he grab II out of yonr hand? ~ {
'sNo, for I had it here III the outsid
pocket of my jacket, and Just as b
came past me- here ae brushed Hgains
me. and as.Soon asshe gotspast + FELT 1
my pocket and the purse was gone, an
then I saw you here at the corner an
told you"
well, madam, IL didn't take you
purse" stammered the young man, an
anyone who was half a detective coul
have perceived that he was confuse
by the overwhelming evidence Of hi
guilt
eve know all about that, too" sal
the policeman. with grim smile at tn
woman. "You be ut the station te
morrow morning at nine o'ciocl
ma'am. I'll take your name and pu
IL down. I'm Officer Reddy."
The young man, having somewhat n
covered and recognized the danger (
his situation, began to try argument
on the policeman.
''Why, look here. officer, this is oil
mistake" he said. II don't know an1
thing about that lady's pocketbook.
may have brushed against her, but
you think I took her purse you CO
search me right here. If you'll wal
down with me to where,I'm working
can bring 80 witnesses to prove tht