Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-11
AN OFFICERS BLUNDER

PITY is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use 1t cruelty
Shakespeare.
The killing of James Sharp, ar
humble colored man, in his basement
home in this city Friday night, Au
gust 8, 1928, after he had completed
his davis labor and was sitting II
his own back yard, apparently free
from all cares save those attendant
upon his responsibility as the father
of sick daughter, the brother OF an
unwell brother, and the grandfather
of eight little grandchildren, who
were supported from the meager
earnings made by working for ms
white employer, is one of the most
distressing tragedies that has ever
taken place in this city.
Viewed from any angle, this MUIR
der is without shadow OF justifica-
ton or excuse. Officer Walter b.
Burroughs own statement is all that
is necessary to prove that it is one
of the most atrocious crimes ever
committed in this State in the name
of the law. Sergeant Dan w. Duling
has made an enyiable record since
he has had charge of this body of
sleuths and his good judgment and
faithfulness in the discharge of his
puzzling and onerous duties have
called for the most favorable COM
.mendatiou by both white and color
ed people.
For our part, we never dreamed
that ne had in that array of talent
a man of the temperament and
observation-disclosures of this indiscreet
officer. What are the facts? The
purity squad has a special duty OF
looking after the illegal traffic OF
"bootleggers." In this instance, it
proceeded. or at least Officer Bur-
roughs proceeded, to invade the pre-
eincts of the Juvenile Department
of Virginia and chased youth, age
IT years, for the arrest Of which
youth he had no warrant and no al
legation is made that he and his
associates had violated any law, un
less lettering on street corner a
night can be set up as violation
of the law. When they ran, The
lettering ceased and the using of {
deadly weapon in any event wa'
without the warrant Of law.
When Officer Burroughs wen
upon the premises of James SHARP
without a search warrant and seize(
him inside of his own house, he be
came as much an intruder as an,
other man would be, who was no
an officer Of the law. James Sharl
was justified in striking him with ;
Jar, a bottle or any other weapon
handy and Officer Walter B. Bur
roughs evidently knows it. Certain
ly, his superior officers will evel
now so inform him. Accepting tn
statement then of Officer Burroughs
he is convicted out of his owl
mouth.
Burroughs is an athlete and tina
aged grandfather was no match TO
him in a hand-to-hand struggle
James Sharp had no weapon. H
had no glass jar in his hand wit
which to strike the officer But pre-
Stunning that he did have, here wa
a young, trained athlete with skill
muscular power, a blackjack, revo
yer pitted against an unarmed age
Negro, and he was so scared of hi
that he had to kill him. The NUT
body of James Sharp tells its ow
story.
He was shot three times. Thos
tell-tale bullet wounds upon ths
ebony-hued body speak out in cls
rion tones. On the left side of hi
head is a wound about three-eighth
of an inch deep where the bulle
plowed it's way. Through the rigt
nipple is another hole through whic
another bullet plowed it's way. I
the left on his breast is still al
other hole, through which anothe
bullet plowed its way, penetratin
James Sharp's heart, while
pleaded with his slayer, Don't shoe
me no morew These wounds wei
made so quickly that the repor
from that deadly police revolv'
sounded like one shot, and those WI
heard them were of the opinion TIT