Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06
~Run. Niger Run, or the Patrol Will

NUT Mt99cFf Hunf u Auc FaAS' WV
Get You'll"
ION. r. B. BLACKBURN. OF Full
ton county. has forwarded TO
me a bin which he win intro
duce into the next legislature
which has many admirable features. as
view the matter.
The bin authorizes a patrol In every
militia district composed OF a captain and
six men. ali citizens OF the said district
each patrol 20 serve twelve months from
date Of appointment
These patrol members are 10 be select
ed By the grand jury OF the lcounty and
the foreman shah notify thep OF their
selection
The seven men shall elect their own
captain They shall meet once week
and Il shall be their duty 10 arrest AL
persons wandering or stroiliug about IN
fdleness who are able 70 work and who
have no visible means Of support; also
an persons leading an idle and prOfiigate
life those who have no fixed place OF
abode and no visible means OF support
All who live by stealing, bartering or
buying stolen property All uampefs'
who can give no good account OF them
selves. II shall be the duty Of such pa
troll to carry all such persons before the
justice OF the peace in said district ana
cause a warrant 10 issue charging
them as warrants and after trial before
Justice OF the peace II found guilty. then
commit such persons TO the court which
a. competent TO try the case
~AM the patrolmen must serve or oe
fined. All fines TO be collected into the
county treasury. The treasurer shall
hold such fines. subject 70 disposal OF
grand jury. and the grand jury IS Quaas-sed
10 appoint their successors in ONCE
These patrolmen are exempt from road
duty and may carry weapons that VIII
ala them in discharge OF their duty, and
each arrest shall be paid for as sherins
are paid for making such arrests, the
county TO furnish arms and ammunition
the arms being the property OF the eoun-
This bin does not propose to abolish
existing vagrant laws. All bonded con-
stables 10 De ex-oficio members OF said
uatrol IN their respective districts
PERHAPS I am not as well Informed as
some other people. but a bill Of this sort
is one OF the most needed and indispensa-
be for public safety under existing con-
dftions-
me towns have a police force Of some
sort and people live near enough TO each
other 70 be a mutual protection and mu-
tual assistance, but IN scattered cOun-
try homes there seems 10 be no protec-
ton whatever.
For instance: Last April we were the
victims OF an incendiary IRE. We lived
within hearing OF the town church bells.
hut had no more protection from the city
or county authorities than If we were
ratlves q Congo land
There were plain tracks leading TO and
from The burned spot. and there were
three ex-convicts within hallOo on that
dreadful night. but We were too old 70
rs-r=1e the wretch that burned up barn
and cribs. ard il was nobody's business.
or nobody did Il. at any rate; so We have
slent with lone eye open" all the year,
IS helpless as people Of our age ever get
70 feel. Insecure and often sleepless.
u we had been under a provision OF
law such as Hon. 1lr. Blackburn's bsll
contemplates. that patrol force would
have spotted somebody who was out OF
place and those idle eN-cOnvicts could not
have been harbored In negro shacks so
near 70 US. and those tracks would have
been fitted 10 shoes in the neighborhood
ana we would have felt that our heavy
tax money brought Us show OF protec-
flor. As II Is. we had absolutely nothing.
ard II we did not 90 out and haul the CT
fender before the court We were not going
70 have any protection guaranteed 20 US.
from any source whatever We onered
considerable reward. but Il had no ef-
feet. II strikes my mind that this patrol
business has become a necessity, for Il
has reached place where girls are afraid
10 20 20 school In the day time. and young
married women shiver with dread when
left alone with only their little children
in their dwelling houses
The land Is swarming with ex-convicts
who have neither credit nor character.
They can rrowl and plumber and set in
cendiary torches while you arc asleep
Something must be done TO protect coun-
try people. OF they should not be forced
10 pay tax money and yet receive no
protection.
become a necessity.