The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-10
IN DARKEST MEMPHIS.
The Manner I'm Which Tennessee
Policeman Enforces the Law.


Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Lie in this community is cheap; the lie
of a negro so valueless that 1T is freely
taken without fear of future punishment
in this world. Yesterday morning negro
died at the City Hospital from wound IN
fiicted by Lewis G. Slaughter. merchant
at 1917 Walker avenue, who had been dep
utized by Patrolman A. s. Boyles TO guard
the prisoner while he went after his uni
form. The negro was shot down in colo
blood, apparently without justification, and
after the manner of dog. This is the tes-
timony of eye witnesses, women of highest
responsibility and virtue, who were pres
ent when the tragedy was enacted. Those
implicated give another version; they al
ways do in such cases.
From the news story of the crime as pub
lished in the Commercial Appeal, this ne
gro, who is said to have been harmless ana
inoffensive, was hawking chickens In That
neighborhood. Patrolman Boyles saw him,
and with his keen Foxy CUTLER brain and
eye discovered in him thief who was try
ing to dispose of his pilfered wares. Sus-
pending work on house he was building,
Patrolman Boyles accosted the negro,
called him thief, rushed to his house, Sc
cured his pistol, and then came back and
arrested him. II took the negro to Slaugh-
ter's grocery" said Patrolman Boyles in
an interview, land asked Mr.. Slaughter to
watch him until 1 could go back home and
get on my uniform. l handed my pistol 10
slaughter as went out ana remarked:
If this man tries to get away from you.
kill him." Continuing his narrative Pa
trolman Boyles says:
"A few minutes after I left the negro
jumped up and made a break for the door
Slaughter took my Injunction to shoot him
literally and fired. The first shot brought
the man down."
This is the story of an officer who re-
ported to acting Chief of Police Perry that
because
broken away from him in an effort to
escape. 1t was very magnanimous in Pa
trolman Boyles to take upon himself the
sins of another. Such events are so rare
that each 10 classic, and Boyles and
Slaughter now take their positions on ped
estas in the hall ALA, at the opposite end of
filled with heroes and martyrs, chief among
which are Damon and Pythias. But how
Of an officer, sworn to his duty. clothed
with the ring of authority and invested
with the majesty of the law, who DELHI
erately makes false statement to his
chief? Il stated that / shot the negro.
said he, because 1 considered myself as
much responsible as If 1 had done II.
Here is a solemn truth! Patrolman Boyles
is responsible for this crime. Who gave
G. Slaughter to guard his prisoner, and
kill him II he tries to get away?" Was
the negro so obstreperous, SO powerful. SO
pugnacious that Patrolman Boyles needed
assistance? Why could not Patrolman
Boyles have taken the negro to his home,
II 1t was necessary for him to get on his
uniform? Why did not Patrolman Boyles
call the patrol wagon and send the negro
| to the station? If there ever was q case
in which more ignorance, more careless
ness and more laxity OF law was evidenced
than this, the records do not disclose it.
Patrolman Boyles evidenced all the def
ciencies which enter into the makeup OF
thoroughly inefficient and incompetent
police officer. That he thought the taking
of human life a small matter is fully shown
by this brief but telling dialogue, which
occurred between Patrolman Boyles and
Slaughter just after the killing:
well, you got him, didn't your" said
Boyles.
The more one reflects ON this affair the
greater the Indignation that burns within
him. This negro was a harmless creature,
perhaps from the rural districts who would
naturally become confused when accosted
| by policeman and accused, as he was
| in this instance, of being thief and hav-
| ing the goods on him. The sight of a pis-
| impulse would be to flee from his captor.
| He was docile and easily taken, and had
he been bad man with a criminal rec
would not have allowed himself to have
been arrested, but would have evaded the
| unarmed officer. But he meekly submitted
| to arrest, waiting for the officer to get
his pistol from the house, and walked
| submissively to Slaughter's store. Here
| he was terrorized by the command to kill
| him, and had he made break for liberty
| 1t would have been natural consequence
| of the circumstances. But bystanders as
severate that he did not run, and that he
was murdered in cold blood. The report
| further states that a small boy was in the
| track Of the bullet. which would have kill
| ed him had 1t not struck the negro first.
| Slaughter is said to be IAN aged man.
| and an ex-Confederate soldier" Does this
palliate his offense? Does the record of
| honorable service In the Confederate army
license man to violate the supreme com
| mand of the Almighty? Worth makes the
man, not a war record and the clothes he
wears. Because Slaughter's locks are rimy
with age, and because he wore the gray
| does not mitigate his offense
Acting Chief of Police Perry Is quoted
as saying that Slaughter will not be ar
rested, and it is inferred that Patrolman
Boyles will resume his beat and continue
| the work on his house. II this is the de-
nouement. then is justice a misnomer i'm
| this city. The coroner should probe this
matter to the bottom, and the death of
this low-browed, unthinking and unoffend-
| ing negro should be avenged by the law.
| 1t must not be said In this community
| that the life of even the humblest citizen
can be taken with impunity.