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# OFFICERS WOULD # LOSE NERVE If Judge W. L. McNamara Had His Way Keokuk's Bluecoats Would Not Carry Any Weapons But Billies. # REVOLVER WOULD GO Judge of Superior Court Takes Extreme View of Matter of Carrying Concealed Weapons. Apropos to the latest crusade instituted by police that against the carrying of concealed weapons-W. L. McNamara, judge, clerk and bailiff of the superior court, comes out with a statement in which he indorses the drastic measure of placing the ban on policemen carrying guns or any other death-carrying weapons which the innocent public now do not see. He says that most of the "bad men" are harmless and that a well-balanced billy in the hands of an artist cop is as effectual as a 32-Colt and at the same time is very often a preventative of manslaughter. The judge is a versatile man and his opinions always count for something, but it is very seldom that he takes the extreme view as in the present case. "I think there are too many persons carrying concealed weapons in Keokuk," quoth the judge at an informal sitting in the superior court room yesterday afternoon while waiting for the police to effect the arrest of "Red" Jackson, who might have let daylight through one or more negroes and an officer in Walker's barber shop between Ninth and Tenth on Main, earlier in the day. "The police, I understand are to double their efforts in preventing the practice and I expect that many will be hailed into court to answer to this single charge. "I would favor enforcing an order in the police department prohibiting even officers from carrying guns. The order would be one that might get the "goat" of some of our bluecoats, but there is hardly a time that an officer is not able to meet the demands upon him without the aid of that dangerous weapon. Very often we see men injured or killed by officers who are too ready with their guns. "I recall an illustration of hasty action on the part of an officer which occurred several years ago. It was the night of the day on which a run had been made on the State Central Savings Bank. Officer George Hamilton, then night captain, arrested six negroes on Sixth street between Johnson and Main for disturbing the peace, and was taking them to the police station. Of the number five were "locals" and the sixth was a stranger. The stranger had on him a gun and knew he would suffer when searched at the station. This negro, awaiting a good opportunity, broke from the ranks after the group had crossed Main street. Running with his back to the officer a broad target was presented and Hamilton blazed away with his gun. The bullet pierced the fleeing man's back not an inch from the spinal column, but rather high up so that the wound was not a serious one and did not drop him. The negro escaped and afterwards learned that he was nursed for several days in "rag alley" and finally recovered and left the city without being arrested. "Numerous other instances have come to my attention in which the officer used undue haste in trying to bring down a man under arrest with a bullet. In many cases the officer could have been convicted of manslaughter."