The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-07
MOUNTED RURAL POLICE.
Representation Nash of Spartanburg
Says He VIII Support Bill of
Representative Aull.
Spartan Herald.

Spartan Herald.
Establishing a thoroughly organ
lied system fer the better enforce
ment of the law in the county IS III
nv opinion one Of the most import
ant matters to be considered by the
general assembly, said Representa-
tive J. Wright Nash when interview
ed by the Herald reporter yester-
dav. In outlining a police system
for the county, Mr.. Nash said:
''At present there is no organized
concerted effort to enforce the law
in the rural districts. We ought to
have a system Of mounted rural po-
lice. I find on the calendar Of the
house a bill by Representative E. II.
Aull Of Newberrv, which will bring
this matter before the assembly. L
mean to stand by that bill.
*'There is absolutely no protection
against the breaking Of the peace to
rural communities. IF a man breaks
the law, .le cannot be arrested until
a warrant is issued. It is quite dill
ferent in the city. A.; soon as a 'Uw
breaks ont the police are on hand to
arrest the disturbers Of the peace. In
the country women and children, and
men. for the matter, can be assaulted
and the offender be miles away from
the scene before a magistrate can be
reached. The wonder to NE Is that
there are no more crimes committed
than are. There are twenty-one mag1s-
trates in this county, and each mag
istrate has constable. These mag
istrates are scattered at considerable
distances, and the constables cannot
act in concert.
"We ought to do away with AN
these constables and have fifteen
mounted police, with chief with
headquarters in Spartanburg. Let
each policeman have a beat and re-
port to the chief every day in the
year. Let each magistrate turn his
papers over 70 the first policeman he
can find.
PAY each Of these men a salary
that will justify him in keeping a
horse. and let him be on duty all tle
time, except the time necessary for
sleep.
."Let these policemen serve all
criminal process free Of charge, but
make the regular fees out Of all civil
papers.
"Give the chief Of these rural po-
lice power to call two or more po-
licemen and raid suspected places
when ne deems it necessary to do So.
:'Give the police of any county au-
thority to call the police of other
counties when such trouble arises as
will necessitate extra force. In 9TH
er words, give the whole county a
thoroughly organized system for en-
forcing the law.
s'I believe that under such a sys-
tenn blind tigers and gambling will be-
come very scarce, and that women
and children in remote places will
have better protection than they have
ever had before.
II think that this system Of rural
mounted police ought to be maintain
ed for about $4,000 per Year. This
is very little, if any, more than the
present haphazard system costs.
II consider this one Of the most
important matters 10 come before
the general assembly, an1 I mean to
help Mr. Aull with ills bill. I under
stand that this system has beep
worked with great satisfaction in Sew
;.eral counties in Georgia. The coun-
= try is becoming so thickly settled,
= and property interests are growing
so valuable all over the land, that the
people nave right to expect the law
: to take care Of them"