Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-09
REPORT OF Jury
COMMENDS ROUSE
Says Police Using Revo|vers
in SURPRISING Crime
Should Get Support.

| Commentator for Policeman Clyde
| o. Rouse, who fired the shot which re-
| suited in the death of Ottmer H. Flem-
ing, suspected bootlegger and smoke
screen user, and a statement that police
who find it necessary to use revolverS
in suppressing crime should receive the
support of all law-abiding citizens are
contained in the complete report of the
grand jury which yesterday exonerateo
Policeman Rouse.
The text OF the report, which was adj
dressed to Chief Justice Walter l. NC
Coy, follows:
"Clyde o. Rouse, a policeman,
charged with having caused the death
of Ottmer H. Fleming was held recent
~ by a coronor's jury for the action OF
the grand jury.
1T appeared that Fleming was shot
by Rouse on April "a last while Rouse
and oficer Campbell were chasing
liquo--laden automobile, operated Dy
Fleming and equipped with a smoke
screen.
After carefully considering the case,
the grand jury has ignored the charge
of homicide against Rouse.
Commend Officers for Courage.
I'VE commend Rouse and Campbell
for their courage in trying, at the risk
of their lives. to apprehend and bring to
arrest those who so flagrantly violate
the law and who have no respect for
the rights and safety of law-abiding
citizens. The ownership or use OF
Smoke-Screen is a felony. 1t was the
duty of the officers to apprehend those
committing a felony and in the per-
Torrance of that duty the offender was
shot The evidence is plain that Rouse
did not deliberately shoot Fleming and
every law-respecting person deploreS the
death of Fleming or any other person
killed in a like manner.
THE question ariSeS-Are the police
to enforce the law or are they only to
ask observance of the law? The grand
Jury holds that law-enforcing officers
must enforce the law and every facility
necessary for so doing should be placed
at their disposal. The use Of firearms
in the public highways is at all times
dangerous. fhe life Of an innocent
citizen is more dear than the arrest Of
law breaker.
SquareIy Behind Officers.
I'VE wish to publicly declare for the
enforcement of the law as the best
means to stop the cause for the use Of
firearms. Violators Of the law should
b1ldt JIIC HOlACC 4uOoU w
their duty and If it is necessary to en-
force the law by the use of firearms,
then firearms are to be used. Let is be
clearly and distinctly understood that
the District of Columbia must be made
safe from the dangers of those engaged
in illegal traf1icking in liquor within our
borders and this grand jury proposes
to stand squarely behind the law-en-
forcing officers in freeing our commu-
nifty from this type of criminal.
I'VE would not appear before your
honor to make this statement except
that this case has caused much comment
for and against the use of firearms in
law enforcement. The use Of smoke
screens. filled with ammonia, mustard,
red pepper, ether and poisonous gases,
| may be equally as dangerous as bullets
and those who endanger the lives Of
citizens and law-enforcing officers by
the use Of smoke screens are not en-
| titled to consideration as to how
courteously and tenderly they should
be arrested for such law breaking. The
| very possession of a smoke screen Is
! notice that the owner or user Of such q
device is defer of the law Of the worst
type.
| "Violators of the prohibition law do
not respect the law, and If such viola
! tors are to be undisturbed in carrying
on their illegal operations. it Is to be
presumed that they will soon respect
| no other law"