The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-05-29
BIGGER THAN BOBBY
PEOPLE WHO, UNDER ENGLISH LAW,
MAY LAUGH AT THE POLICE.

MAY LAUGH AT The POLICE.
The Various Classcs of Persons In
Great Britain Who Cannot Be Ar
rested - Royalty, as a Matter of
Course, 10 First ON the List.
The other day at the Westminster
(England) county court a warrant for
the arrest and committal of a solicitor
had to be extended for four months
more, as, though the solicitor was
walking about the streets in the sight
of the police, they dared not lay a fin-
ger on him. Even the judge seemed
surprised that the man could not be
arrested. But it is probable he never
will be arrested, for, as he carries q
| charm on his person in the form Of q
brief, his body cannot be seized. This
is because no one engaged on business
at law court can be arrested for any
breach of the civil law. II you happen
to owe a debt, to have a judgment de-
livered against you and to be commit
ted to prison for not paying, Of course
you can be arrested under ordinary
circumstances, but II you are sub
punaed as witness you cannot be
arrested while going to the place,
while staying there to give evidence
or while returning home, and you may
feel sure that the courts will stick up
for you.
There. are many other people who
can laugh at the police. OF course no
member of the royal family can be
arrested under any circumstances.
Servants of the royal household also
have great privileges in this way.
Should one of the royal servants COM
NIT a crime at the command Of the
crown he could not be arrested. An the
icrown can do no wrong of course any
order the crown should give would be
considered right, and Bobby would not
dare to make an arrest.
Then members Of parliament, though
they can be arrested for some things.
are exempt In certain cases where or
dinary citizens would certainly be run
In. If a member Of the house Of COM
mons commits crime, he can be ar
rested like any other citizen, but II Il is
a case of contempt Of court, such as
not paying debts, he can snap his I'm
gers at the police during the greater
part of the year-that is to say, he can
not be arrested while parliament is sit
ting nor for 40 days before and 20 days
after the session. This gives him ex-
emption during about nine-tenths Of
| the year.
, OF course peer enjoys the same
Z good fortune, and 50 does q peeress In
! her own right But In their case the
privilege is still greater, for they can
not be arrested on a civil process at
= any time, whether parliament II sit
ting or not In fact, II the heir to .
peerage happens to be in prison for any
offense not criminal, he Is liberated the
moment he succeeds to the title.
Foreign ambassadors may commit
any offense, from drunkenness up to
murder, without running the slightest
risk of seeing the inside of an English
prison. And not only have the embas-
sadors themselves this privilege, but
their secretaries, coachmen, cooks,
] valets. ETC., are equally favored indi.
, viduals, for the theory is that an en-
, bassador is useless without his dinner,
: his drives, his shaves and the like.
When an ambassador commits q
crime, all that can be done Il to ash
Q his government to recall him. But, OF
course, If he went about the streets
8 knocking many people down he would
e certainly be arrested and held tempo
e rarily. But he could not be tried and
i punished. The foreign embassadori
d house, family and servants are looked
t upon as If they were In their own coun
e try. Under no circumstances could Z
t policeman or bailiff break into thu
house or arrest any Of the Inhabitants
q Soldiers, while on service, could ruI
q up debts, refuse to pay. and II Judge
d after ordering them to pay, without re
l. suit, issued a warrant for their arres
e and committal. no policeman dare exc
e cute 1t unless the amount were owe
b $780, Navy men enjoy the same priv
b leges, but no doubt they seldom &c
}. the opportunity Of exercising them.
l. The clergy are another class of me-
i. who are sometimes secure against al
It rest. A clergyman cannot be arreste
n when he is celebrating divine servic
>, or conducting the celebration Of rite
J. for the dead; nor can he be touche
: when going to or returning from eithe
y Of these duties. Any one breaking th
E. law In this respect might be punishe
a with as much as two years tmprisor
ment with hard labor.
IL On Sundays we are all privileged
No one can be arrested on Sunday e.
to cept for treason, felony or breach {
III the peace. If any one tries 1t on wit
ot you, you can resist up to the point {
se killing him.
.e A curious rule In connection with q
m rest Is not generally known-if polic
,e man comes along after a fight or q
assault, he can make no arrest witho,
warrant-London Tit-Bits.