The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-06-07
RECKLESS SHOOTING.

The shooting of Will Bray Saturday
by Deputy Sheriff Jonas Erwin was
not only unlawful, but unprovoked
and inexcusable 1t is putting en-
tirely too cheap value upon human
life.
Recent events suggest the propriety
OF Sheriff Hight and City Marshall
Latta calling their subordinates togeth
er and reading some law to them. All
law is supposed to be founded upon
good morals and of all men an officer
of the law ought to know and obey it.
1t is contrary to law for any officer,
even after a man has been convicted,
to stop fugitive from justice by
shooting him down The law of the
land holds human liberty, to say moth
ing of human life, too sacred to clothe
the arresting officer with the power
to try and convict the prisoner and
execute the law. No one man has or
should have the authority to be judge
jury and executioner.
Strictly speaking, an officer has no
right to carry pistol except when
on duty and he has no right at any
time to use it except in self defense,
or in times of riot or to prevent homi-
eide. An officer has no more right,
in law or morals, to fire his gun to
"scare" somebody, than that some
body has to fire his gun to scare the
officer. An officer has no more right,
under the law, to shoot at supposed
burglar, than the supposed burglar has
to shoot at the officer. If man has
been arrested and charged and duly
tried in a court of competent juris
diction and convicted of larceny OF
burglary or assault and battery, an(
on the way to the Jail or penitentiary
he concludes to run for his liberty
there is absolutely no law that JUST
fies the officer in shooting. TIL,
officers remedy is in hand cutting hi
prisoner and holding to him. If h.
neglects that caution and takes tn
chances on his prisoner running, h
must also take the chances ON over
taking him in fair footrace, no
with bullet.
1t is mistaken notion that officer
have of firing into the air to frightel
people. They have no right t
brighten people that way. They hav
no right to disturb the peace of
neighborhood that way. They have II
right to endanger the lives of other
that way. They are guilty of a
illegal act every time they do it
And rather than to violate the lay
themselves, they had better let tn
prisoner go scott free. The man VIII
was wounded Saturday night, even
guilty of the small offense of steal
ing a ride on railroad train, was les
+ of an offender against the peace an
quiet and dignity of the State tina
0 any officer, who, in thickly settle
: community like this fires his pist'
9 contrary to law.
= And it is time our officers wei
a knowing these things and acting al
cordingly for just few years ago
IS police officer III West Tennessee w;
: tried and convicted and sentenced
h the penitentiary for an offense similt
q to this.
- We do not wish to appear seve,
d upon Mr.. Erwin for what was unique
n tionably an error of the head and nj
is of the heart He has agoo d offici
!, record behind him, and the Hera
- has nothing but the kindest person
II feelings for him. But his mistake
Is use of his pistol is becoming too con
il mon mistake among officers, and
a prevent further unfortunate occurrenc
# of the kind we have thought
N proper to call attention to this unlaN
II full use of their fire arms by pea
- officarc in raOara1