The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-10
eioLA PRATT, AGE
THIRTEEN YEARS.

THIRTEEN YEARS
The canton OF this article was TAX
on from an Associated Press dispatch
from Kansas city. That message al
SO related tae gil was killed by bull
le, fred from revolver held by a
policeman, the occurrence being at
four O'Clock in the afternoon. on one
Of the busiest thoroughfares OF the
Missouri ~lver valley metropolis
Nos in years have the wires told
such n story of absolute insanity as
that of Tuesday afternoon IN Kansas
CITY. There was a Wild man wno
claims TO be Deity and who actually
struck a school PROBATION official over
the head with "a revolver, the officer
being prostrated by the force OF she
blow Rising TO hlE feet the official
escaped to the police station. though
the religious fanatic tried to shoot
ism Madlened by the occurrence,
policemen rn he'd into the crowded
street and engaged the frenzied fana-
tic in street battle, bullets 1ying in
al directions. In the fight several
people passing were injured three
killed. one being the little thirteen
year-old girl.
There was TO occasion for the me-
lee. The man WHO had attempted to
injure the probation officer could have
been arrested AZ his home and he is
so marked II Is impossible TO escape
the officers OF the law. Thousands OF
Innocent people use the street cor
ReTs where the mnrderous battle was
fought at the hour the shooting COM
meneed Men and women peaceful.
orderly and splendid citizens, were
impe.'lled and not a few injured be-
carse the officers of Kansas City were
mad In fact the officials were filled
with the mob spirit. They were right
Cously Indignant that an officer whose
duty Ct is 10 see that the children OF
Kansas City, attend school had had
his llfe III peril at tne hands OF
frenzled brute. Tneir determination
TO avenge the injuries and iniignities
Is the same determination OF the mob
which refuses 70 accept the mandates
and delay OF the law It is inexcus-
able upon the part of the citizen--in
the officer swoln to 30 his duty and
preserve the peace. st Is damnablel
The highest responsibilities at
times rest upon the act of men who
are sworn to protect the pelce. Citi-
zenship, government and all apper.
tanning Thereto Is centered around
the protection the state gives to tho
individual. Otherwise the Individual.
forced 10 protect himself anil his de,
pendent ones, would not pay Dy toll
for the government. What then must
be the feeling OF the parent who saw
lowered in the grave the body OF the
tairten-year-old maid, her death due
70 & mob battle In the streets Of a
great City at the most crowded time
OF the Jay?
All err The officer OF the law who
must. IN time OF danger use bo.h mind
and eye FOR the betterment OF society
should be surrQunied with all the
physical ami moral protection good
citizenship can bestcw
But there WAS no cause for the
tragedy In the Missouri city. A crisis
had been passed: the one who hai
been endangered lad been saved. Ar
resting the assailant was Of course a
duty. but wild dash out into the
streets, discharging Of guns. manning
innocent and harmless pasaersby. moi
one of whom had the least opportuni
~ 20 protect himself-all caused By
officials allowing their anger to master
their Judgement is a crime whict
should be punished NTH p-onpt an.
effective severity.
No one OF those implicated
In the assault should be allowed I,
retain his place. and rigid adherenc,
To- prosecution should prevail. No
that any one OF these men may pi
called a criminal when in his prope
mind, but that can be said of al
eases in court where the accused /.
not an habinal ccininal. Chldrei
on tae streets OF any city have mucl
% contend against hut the little cir
whose life wa forfeited 20 the shrin.
q Official anger Though she were IN,
chiA8 0i one of the frenzied religion
biSots) was NOT al the years OF az
conntablliiy; although sese the reyer
sc true the officers would be no les
in-excusable.
Public sentiment must be arouse
against the reckless use OF firearms
no matter whether in the hand OF tn
mobblng iaity or OfiicialdOm. ~