In 1872
William West was posted on the corner of 13th and M Street in
Washington D.C. West was one of only
two black policemen on the Washington Police Force. West had joined the force after serving in
the 13th U.S. Colored Infantry under the command of General Ulysses
S. Grant
Drivers often
sped down 13th Street, the three-mile straight stretch that ran
between the city and Brightwood Trotting Park. Earlier that morning a woman and her six-year-old
child had been injured by a hit-and-run carriage speeding toward the park.
West, seeing
a carriage speeding toward him, stood in the road with his hand up. When
the carriage stopped the driver was President Grant. West explained that an injury had occurred earlier
as the result of speeding and Grant assured West he would be more conscious of
his speed in the future. Grant complimented the officer for his diligence.
The next day
West stopped another carriage barreling down 13th Streed only to
discover it was again President Grant.
West
informed the President that he had to place him under arrest and the President
offered to drive them both to the police station.
General
Grant was arraigned and released on twenty dollars bail (the equivalent of $460)
which was the standard fine charged for speeding.
Grant did
not show up for trial the next day and his bail was forfeited which satisfied
the fine requirement.
This is not
making a comparison with Donald Trump, because Donald Trump is an ex-President
and the crimes he committed occurred, and are occurring while he is not in
office, and Trump is charged with sedition and espionage and multiple other
lesser charges.
If a sitting
President could be charged with a crime in 1872 there should be no question of precedence
for holding an ex-President accountable for his crimes in 2023.
I’m not a
lawyer
I’m
the Ol’Buzzard
You SHOULD be a lawyer, Ol'Buzzard!
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