THE DUTY OF CONSTABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7542, 20 April 1886, Page 4

THE DUTY OF CONSTABLES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice by your issue of Saturday that a charge of shooting with intent, &c. was brought before the City Police Court the previous day. It was shown in evidence that a few of the pellets took effect by lodging in the hand and shoulder of the person shot at; also, accused was subsequently seen reloading the gun: There is one matter in connection with the case worthy of notice, and which causes me to take up my pen in comment—viz., the arresting constable deposed that on finding the gun it was loaded, and that he (witness) fired it off: an act, indeed, that showed bad generalship, and one without precedent in the annals of police procedure. Now, the duty of the constable, on taking possession of "the gun and finding it loaded, wns to have drawn the charge, and if it consisted of other than blank cartridge, he should without delay, if extracted, compare the pellets with those that caused the wounds, so as to ascertain if they corresponded in number and size; also produce said.pellets before the court of inquiry. Not having drawn the charge, the constable is no doubt unable to state that the cartridge he fired off was other than blank; whereas if it was found to contain pellets of the same number and size as the pellets that caused the wounds, such would tend to bear out the statement of the prosecutor as to the shooting and subsequent reloading of the gun. Had the constable fired at a mark and struck the object, he would then be able to state what the charge was composed of, although so doing would not be the proper course, if such a practice has never been resorted to. In cases of murder, attempted murder, or wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, the weapons so used, if possible, should be procured for production at courts of inquiry; and when guns or revolvers are used, as above stated, if found loaded, the charge should be drawn, &c. The above letter being written without prejudice for or against the prosecution, I trust, Sir, you will give it space in your columns.—l am, So., John Cassels. Dunedin, January 12. [This letter was held over while the case was sub judice. —Ed. O. D. T.]

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