South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-27
SEVERE ARRANGEMENT
OF POLICE METHODS
Prominent Belgian Citizen
Discusses Recent Shoot
ing of Van De Velde.
Mishawaka. July %. 1916.

. LAAAUA 4 AAt view - AllAESs
sir on the goth inst. 1 noticed
in the mornings edition Of The
News-Times that CAMEL Van De
Velde OF this city was shot in the
left leg By Officer Horton Turbush.
While reading the article 1 became
interested in learning something
more about the facts.
Upon a close investigation Of the
case / find that Alphonse Van De
Velde, who had been living during
the last stwo years with his brother
CAMEL on S. Wells st, No. 416, be-
came dissatisfied with the latter for
the reason that he had killed a few
OF his pigeons. In a moment of eX-
element and through the encourage
ment Of one Of his friends. who, by
the way. was not so friendly toward
his brother, he went TO the prose-
cutor to have his brother punished
for the offense. a warrant was then
issued TO an officer of the law for
the apprehension of the accused. The
officer, being well equipped with billy
and gun, undoubtedly felt that he
was able 20 fulfill the task. Arriving
at the house Of Van De Velde, the
officer declared his intention to ar
rest him. Van De Velde, who was
sitting on the porch attired in a pair
Of tennis slippers. asked the officer
to exchange shoes. Upon refusal of
the officer he tried TO escape by run
ming to adjoining property. The
officer shouts out to him 10 stop and,
upon his failure to comply with the
order and without any attempt to
capture. him. he shoots The victim
falls, being struck in the calf Of the
leg with a bullet. breaking both
bones, perhaps crippled for life.
This is what some people might
call justice, others might call it more
appropriately a dirty outrage But.
regardless of what you rlight call il,
let US see if justice could not be
obtained in some other way Could
Mr.. Turbush not employ some other
means before going to such ex-
tremes? Could he not try to over
take the accused before he shot? If
he was not able TO do il alone, why
not ask for help? Did the nature Of
the offense really demand such ex-
treme measures?
Here is a man who is a citizen of
this community and who has a fam
| lily depending upon him. He is
charged with killing a few pigeons
belonging to his brother. For this
/ offense he is shot by an officer OF
the law not because he struck the
officer or because he used any VOL
ence 10 resist him. but because he
tried to escape. The facts are that
he never touched the officer or did
not use any violence at all
1t is true, perhaps unfortunately
so. that an officer is given a great
deal Of latitude in affecting an ar
rest. The laws Of this state provide
that if, after notice by the officer of
/ his intention to arrest the defendant.
he either fees or forcibly resists, the
officer may use all necessary means
/ to affect the arrest. Undoubtedly
courts and juries may differ as to
what constitutes necessary means.
/ 1t certainly does no. mean that un-
necessary violence or bloodshed shall
/ be resOrted TO when other means are
/ available. But it is OF little import
ance what the legal aspect may be
at this time on the question. The
moral side is clear An officer Of
the law whose duty it is to protect
the citizens Of a community ought
( TO have a clear case of extreme
necessity before going to the extent
of shooting and perhaps killing a
human being.
Another case of recent occurrence
might be mentioned in connection
with this where two human lives
were lost which might have been
avoided by using a little more eau
ton and a little better judgment on
the part of our police department.
Some day we will have policemen
who will realize that force-brutal
force-is not the only means to be
used in discharging their duty. Some
day this brutal force will be super
seeded by prudence. reason and good
judgment exercised by men who
have the safety and welfare of their
fellow citizens at heart.
In the meantime il will be of some
interest to the citizens of Mishawaka
TO note what the board of public
safety is going 10 do with a man of
Mr.. Turbush's type who has demon
strated that he cannot be trusted in
executing orders in a position he
now occupies.
Achille c. COlpaert.