WHERE ARE THE POLICE ?

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 823, 10 June 1871, Page 2

WHERE ARE THE POLICE ?

(To tlie Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus).

Sir, —Police constables are a very useful body of men in a town or country district where their services arc required. They are more especially useful if they be vigilant, and will not shrink from their duty in bringing the thief and disturber of the peaco to justice : for, by this means, that is to sa y. by being energetic in their duty, they enable a community to rest in security—in protection—as it were in the arms of the law. Unfortunately for us at Addison's Flat, we have not the remotest limb of the law to take us under its sheltering wing. Our parsimonious Government —a Government that will "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel " —will not allow a single policeman to be stationed in our midst, and the fact is the more to be deplored whou it is borne in mind that we have a mixed population of several hundreds of souls located on those flats. Several petty thefts have taken place here of late; and only a few nights ago a deed of great violence was committed. Without going too much into detail, I will only mention one or two offences, and then briefly draw my letter to a close. A short time ago a female, who was living on the wayside at Addison's Flat, removed into what was called the township, but what is now —nothing. Before she had time to remove all her things, the house was entered, and two gold rings were stolon therefrom. At a subsequent period to this t»me a portion of the side of the house was pulled down, an entrance effected thereto by some person, who tore down and carried off a quantity of calico that formed a partition. Again, last Saturday, when the night had advanced into the small hours, a violont assault was committed in Burkc-street. A man came out of a house (preceded by another who had gone out, and was quarrelling with a man in the street —having accused him of flinging a stono at the house at which he was a visitor) to prevent a row. He had no sooner spoken a few word;? than he was struck to the ground with a large stono by a blow on the skull. While he was prostrate and insensible, and blood

flowing copiously from the wound on" the head, a female came forward to in. terpose, in order to save the man from being murdered ; and she called upon a man who was not far off to assist ] her. But before any services could be rendered, the female and the unoffending man who had come forward to carry off the insensible victim were severely maltreated. I do not know who are the trans* gressors ot the offences I have stated* Let those come forward whose duty it is to ascertain and bring all the offenders to justice. Why the sufferers have not taken proceedings I am at a loss to know. As an impartial narrator, I have en* deavoured to give the nfost reliable information about the brawl that I could gather; and I would shrink from any attempt to stand in the defence of a wrongdoer. Again, I say, where are the police ? "Awake 1 arise! What! Ho! Brail antio ! Look to your house, your nappit, and your bags! Thieves! thieves !! thieves! \! '* I am, <fcc.) TENDEB-CONSCtENCfc. [This* no doubt, will be news to the majority of our readers, as it is to ourselves. The police have had no intimation, of any such aggravated offence.—Ed. W. T. and C. A.]