The Price of Restraint

Officer J. F. Cummings, who on February 7 faced an armed burglar at the Chapin block on Pike Street and only let him escape after several shots were fired, received his reward for courageous conduct at the meeting of the board of police commissioners. Chief Jackson charged him with neglect of duty in not bringing the man in dead or alive. The officer demanded an investigation, at the close of which he was exonerated, the evidence showing that he acted the part of a brave and faithful officer and not that of a neglectful one. Nevertheless, he was docked one week's pay. The testimony of witnesses who were in the house indicated that the officer was left in the street with the man. As he started to investigate, the man pulled a gun from his pocket and said, 'Stand back.' Cummings reached for his revolver and as he got his hand on the handle, the burglar fired in his face from a distance of seven feet. Cummings returned the fire until his cartridges were used up. Commissioner Holmes thought the officer ought to have brought in the man or killed him, remarking he could not see how an officer could have missed a human body at seven feet. Commissioner Cheasty responded that there was some difference between shooting at a target and a man, especially when the man has the drop in the beginning.