The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-01
BIGGER THAN BOBBY
PEOPLE WHO, UNDER ENGLISH LAW,
MAY LAUGH At THE POLICE.

The Various Glasses Of Persons In
Great Britain Who Cannot BE Ar.
rested - Royalty, ~ q Matter Of
Course, 10 First ON the List.
The other day at the Westminster
(EnglandD county court q warrant for
the arrest and cOmmittal Of q 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 q 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 a law court can be arrested for any
breach Of the civil law. If you happen
to owe 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 If you are sub
penaed 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 arc 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 crime ut 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 he
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
binary citizens would certainly be run
In. II member Of the house Of COM
mons commits a crime, he can be ar
rested like any other citizen. but If it is
case Of contempt Of court. such as
not paying debts. he can snap his fin
gers at the police during the greater
part Of the ycar-that is to say, he cam
not be arrested while parliament Is sit
ting nor for 40 days before and 40 days
after the session. This gives him ex.
emptiOn during about nine.tenths of
the year.
or course a peer enjoys the same
good fortune. and so does n peeress in
her own right. But In their case the
privilege is still greater for they can
not be arrested on civil process Mt
any time, whether parliament is sit
ting or not. In fact, II the heir to q
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,
Wallets. etc. are equally favored indi.
viduals. for the theory is that an em.
bassador Is useless without his dinner.
his drives. his shaves and the like.
When an ambassador commits q
crime, all that can be done Is to ask
his government to recall him. But, Of
course. IL be went about the streets
Knocking many people down he would
certainly be arrested and held tempo
rarily. But he 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. Under no circumstances could
policeman or bailiff break into the
house or arrest any Of the inhabitants.
Soldiers, while on service, could run
up debts. refuse to pay, and II Judge.
after ordering them to pay. without re-
suit. Issued warrant for their arrest
and comrnittal. no policeman dare exc
cute 1t unless the amount were over
$3.50. 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 as much as two years imprison-
ment with hard labor.
On Sundays we are all privileged.
No one can be arrested on Sunday ex-
cept for treason. felony or breach Of
the peace. II any one tries 1t on with
you. you can resist up to the point Of
killing him.
A curious rule in connection with ar
rest Is not generally known-if police
man comes along after n fight or an
assault. he can make no arrest without
q warraut.-London Tit-Bts.