The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-23
THE DUTY OF POLICEMEN.
A Case In Point Under Judge scott's
Recent Decision.

| A Case In Point Under Judge ScOtci
Recent Decision.
e. B. Lacy, Of the Pension Bureau. re-
| Gently sent communication to Richard
Sylvester, Major and Superintendent o.
Police. making complaint that Policeman
Skinner, OF the Metropolitan force, hat
failed to make an arrest in Brookland or
what Mr.. Lacy thought sufficient grounds
In his letter to Major Sylvester, Mr.
| Lacy says that on the evening of May 49,
when it was about lark, mulatto came
| to the back porch of the house Of Mrs.
| Il. A. Means. where Mr.. Lacy boards, The
man. he says. was apparently drunk, and
threatened to take the life Of one of the
female servants. Mr.. Lacy thus describes
what followed:
When 1 arrived upon the scene the
man had vicious looking knife in each
hand and was swearing and using threat
ening language. Though ordered off the
porch, for time he refused to leave. AS
soon as he could be gotten out of the
yard policeman was sent for In order to
have the man put under restraint as a
dangerous character. Policeman Skinner
finally came, but upon being told the facts
and having the man pointed out to him
in the distance he refused to follow him
up or to make any effort to ascertain
whether his condition or threatening man
ner would justify arrest taking the ground
that as he had not seen or heard him
make the threats of violence against the
woman, he could not arrest him without
warrant.
ITO the argument that the man was
drunk and had two murderous looking
shOemaker's knives in his hands. the
policeman replied that a man could rot
be arrested for being drunk, etc. He was
informed of all that had transpired, but
he positively refused to undertake to
verify the statements made to him as to
the mans condition by following him up.
although there were about dozen per-
sons present urging action
THE officer based his actions on Judge
Scott's recent decision, and no doubt
thought he was right. I cannot believe,
however. that Judge Scott had the inten-
tion of encouraging such a construction Of
the law Of warrants, nor do believe you
SO understand the decision.
My sole object in wishing the negro ar
rested was to prevent a notoriously bad
man, who was manifestly viciously drunk
and in possession of dangerous weapons.
from running at large. He had threatened
the life OF the woman and there was dan
ger that he would return. In less than
half an hour after the officer left he was
discovered in hiding near the house. evil
IDENTIFY bent on mischief. but upon an alarm
being raised he left. 1 have since learned
that he went home and spent the night ter
rorizing his family to such an extent that
his wife fed from the house for safety
''You can readily see that IL your men
interpret the law as to warrants as Police
man Skinner did, persons living In such
exposed places as we do are at the mercy
of drunken rpwdies, and nothing can be |
done until they actually kill some one or
MAIN them. and not then without a war ]
rant, unless an officer actually sees the |
assault
1t will bO recalled that the decision Of |
Judge Scott referred to in the letter above |
was rendered in the case of Louis Will |
liams, a colcred man, who was arrested !
for assaulting Policeman James Kava-
naugh, and acquitted on the ground that
the officer had no right to arrest him with
cut warrant, unless he had seen the
unlawful act committed. Policemen" the
Judge said, Ought to knJw their duty in |
the matter. They should understand that
in cases of misienearcr they must have
warrants when they have not witnessed
the violation. II officers are to make ar
rests on mere complaint 1t is possible for
one person 10 have another locked up at
any time"
In making report on the case to the
Commissioners the Superintendent says.
When the last edition OF the Police Man.
ial was Issued the law of arrests. as de-
termined by the highest authorities. was
inserted therein for the information OF
the force At that time the question was
thoroughly examined by the Attorney for
the District and he would probably now
hcld as he did then.
Under any circumstances 1t is neces-
sary that the Superintendent give some
positive instructions to the force at this
time in order that a citizen may receive
nat protection to which he is entitled
The Commissioners have taken the mat
ter under consideration, and 1t is under
stood that some action will be taken to
make little palmer the proper course for
!. policeman to pursue in cases like that
described by Mr.. Lacy.