The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-09-11

in a legal way, which they have al
ways done with a marked degree Of
success. Naturally, therefore, it
should remain for me to say whether
| shall prefer charges against the Of
ficer referred to in Tuesdays Ameri-
can in connection with the Finis Wal
ters' case, or when l shall do so.
When | do, then it will be his duty as
a servant of the people, more sub
servient now than ever because of
the Office he holds, to see to it that
the case is handled properly and the
citizenship protected.
"Those who know me know very
well that my statements are correct
beyond question, and in their opinion
it is not necessary for me to prove
anything. However, the case will be
brought to the attention of the grand
jury, and will be vigorously prese-
cuted for humanity's sake, and not
for the individual. If Walters was
injured by butting his head against a
beam. it is strange that the top of
his head should be split open"
1t is understood and clearly so, that
the man, who, through his article
and manly position in the matter,
brought it before 1.-THE authorities,
was actuated by the noblest motives
that could arise in the breast of a
worthy and justice-loving citizen. His
duty, as it is every good citizens
when he sees a crime committed,
whether by officer or other, was to
speak out, and he spoke out and in
no uncertain way at that. The val
ue of such citizens, who have a high
sense of justice and courage COM
mensurate thereto is inestimable to
any community in which they live.
1t was not the arrest, but the un-
necessary beating of the unresisting
prisoner that gave rise to the pub
lished protest.
The American has the following to
say about Mr.. Jones' action in the
case:
HE has not yet decided whether
he will bring charges before the Civil
Service Commission in the case, as he
is awaiting the advice of an attorney
who is now out of the city. How
ever, according to his statement, the
matter of the alleged m~istreatment
of the Negro, Finis Walters, will be
brought to the attention Of the grand
Jury, and Walters will be represented
by at least one attorney in the trial
Of the S
"Mr. Jones states that there were
four men other than himself who saw
the incident from the east bank of the
river, and that they all agree with
him as to every statement he made
in his letter to the American. He
declares that it would have been i'm.
possible for the witnesses of the oc
%currence on the west bank to have
seen the incident, as the blows were
struck behind a clump of bushes. He
declares that the Negro was struck
eight times on the body, besides the
blows on the head"
There is no necessity of an officer
of the law, whose duty 1t is to main
tain peace and order, resorting to his
gun or billy to make an arrest wheT
the alleged offender submits withouI
resistance. To accost a man and al
most brain him upon the instance i:
palpably wrong and lies outside
the pale of reason, duty and manly
courage. Offenders of the law mus
and ought to be taken in charge by
those whose duty it is to do so, bu'
then there is the way for doing thi'
without accompanying the word of ar
, rest with a bullet or a knockout blow
with the billy" No sympathy fol
: nor extenuation Of any m~isdemeanoI
[ or crime finds room in this communi
cation. The position of can Unwill
{ ing Witness" is the position here
J taken. There is no need of officers
| beating up those whom they wish Il