The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-03-28
BIGGER THAN BOBBY
PEOPLE WHO, UNDER ENGLISH LAW,
MAY LAUGH AT THE POLICE.

The Various Classes of Persons In
Great Britain Who Cannot he Ar
rested - Royalty, as 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 n 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 fin
ger on him. Even tho judge seemed
surprised that the man could not be
arrested But II is probable he never
will be arrested, for, rs he carries ii
charm on his person In the form of a
brief, his body cannot be seized. This
is because no one engaged on business
breach of the civil law. II you happen
TO owe a debt. to have Judgment de.
llvered 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.
pmnaed rs a 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 ut the police. or course no
member of the royal family can be
arrested Under any circumstances,
Servants Gf the royal household also
have great privileges In this way
Should one of the royal servants com.
NIT crime at the command of the
crown he could not be arrested As the
crown 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 he arrested for some things,
are exempt in certain cases where or
binary citizens would certainly be run
In, If a member of the house of com
mons commits Il crime he can be ar.
rested Ike any other citizen. but II 1t Is
n case of contempt cf court, sach MS
not paying debts. he can snap his fin
gers at the police during the greater
part of the year-that Is to say, he can.
not be arrested Willie parliament Is sit
ting nor for 10 days before and 10 days
after the session. This gives HIN cS-
emption during aaaal n!ne trnths Of
the year.
OF course Il peer enjoys the same
good fortune. md 50 does Il peeress Ia
her own right. But In their case the
privilege Is still greater, for they can
not L. arrested on a civil process II
any time, whether parllamcrt Is sit
ting or net In fact If tie heir 10 Il
pecraee happens TO he in prison for any
oifense rot criminal. he is liberated the
moment he succeeds TO the title.
Foreign ambassadors may commit
any offense. from drunkenness M to
MURDER without running the slightest
risk of seeing the inside Of an EnglISn
prison And not only have the cmbaG.
sadors themselves this privilege but
their secretaries. coachmen. cooks.
wallets. etc, are equally favored lnd
ylduais, for the theory Is that an en-
basSador Is uaelcss without his dinner,
his drives his shaves and the like.
When an ambassador commits n
crime all that can be done is to ask
his government to recall him. But of
course f he went about the streets
knocking many people down lie would
certainly lie arrested and held tempo
rarily But lie could not be tried and
punished The foreign ambassadors
house, family and servants are looked
upon as If they were in their own coun
try. Undcr no circumstances could
policeman or baiIiff break into the
house or arrest any OF the inhabitants.
Soldiers. while on service. could run
up debts, refuse to pay, and If Judge.
after ordering them TO pay. without re-
suit. Issued n warrant for their arrest
ana comnlttal, no policeman dare exc.
cute II unless the amount were over
$50 Navy men enjoy the same privi-
leges, but no doubt they seldom get
the opportunity of exercising them.
The clergy are another class of men
who are sometimes secure against ar
rest A clergyman cannot be arrested
when he Is celebrating divine service
or conducting the celebration of rites
for the dead; nor can he be touched
when going to or returning from either
of these duties. Any one breaking the
law In this respect might be punished
with rs much as two years imprison-
ment with hard labor.
On Sundays we are all privileged
No one can be arrested on Sunday OK
cept for treason. felony or breach of
the peace. If any one tries 1t on with
you. you can resist up to the point Of
killing him
\ curious rule In connection with ar
rest is not generally known-lf police
man comes along after n fight or an
assault. he can make no arrest without
warrant. - London Tit-Bits.