The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-26

NKw YORK POLICE SYSTEM AND ITS ADVOCATE
The annihilation of THE present policessystem in
this city, and the substitution in its stead of an eff.
clent and properly organized one are subjects which
have occupied much Of the public attention of late
We have been anxlouslv looking to the present Com.
mon Council, for thorough and searching reform
OF this important department of the city government
and considerable degree Of hope that this would
really take place, has been excited. But we have
now given upthat idea. Circumstances have occur
red which throw quite new light on our police sys-
TEN. The community have been quite mistaken res
pecting its alledged ineclency and corruption The
person to whom the public is indebted for this new
information, and the police for the vindication of
their innocence and utility, is whose opinion is
entitled TO very great respect. He has had long
and intimate acquaintance with the working OF the
system. and has been on very familiar terms with
many of the magistrates and officers. The gentle.
man to whom we refer is Mr. William D. Gray,
better known to some as the notorious "B Gray"
the friend and associate of Richard p Robinson,
who murdered Helen Jewett. In a speech delivered
~ him at the Court of Sessions the other day when
he was sentenced for years to the State Prison,
he thus expressed HIMSELF
In justice to the following gentlemen, have few
words TO say which shall consist OF simple truths and
hope may be received as such by all They officers
Joseph stanton, John Low, think is his name) and
Gilbert F. Hays Since my apprehension, have learnt
that complaints have been preferred to the Mayor and
Common Council the design OF which was to inure
the above named gentlemen the purport of which Qf
am rightly normed was that they and some others who
were Immediately concerned in my business the
cpents Of considerable amount Of money by OF
which was allowed last spring to be admitted ball.
and consequently defeat the ends Of justice Now for the
satisfaction of all whom may concern land certainly
the above facts all honest should be concerned
do publicly and truly declare that such statements and
fabricatioRs were originally got up by some other than
myself who never witnessed any thing else I these
in their official capacity, than the strict adherence
to honesty coupled at the time with all the kindness
that could be consistently shown any arrested
was, on charge Of felony Another worthy and inva
liable member OF the police corps have learnt stood in
some degree implicated This is Mr.. Barnabas w. Os
borne the clerk Of the police whose shrewdness salts
factory known to but whose devations from strict
ton. The magistrate that committed the charges Of
which am now convicted, am sure conducted through
out with strict to justice and with motives per-
fecty pure and unbameable This Magistrate Ste.
phens before whom was admitted to bail There
te" that hare had better opportunities sn myself late
10 Judge Of the efficiency Of the police of New York, and
in so far my observations hare gonether propitde
and vigilance IS only equaed by the present gensmany
keepers u the City Prison every member of the first and
an concerned wih the latter being pieped BY
that know peH how discharge their duties and as faith
fully perform the same"
This is quite decisive. When it is recollected
that Mr.. Gray commenced his practical examina-
ton of the merits of the police system, as the asso-
ciate of Richard P. Robinson, and after serving
out his time and pursuing his investigations at Sing
Sing, MIR. Gray returned To this city, and mmed-
ately resumed his experiments respecting the char
acler OF our police authorities, to what extent and
with what success the public are pretty generally
aware. The result of all MIR. Gray's experience
goes most decidedly, it will be seen, to refue the
calumnous statements which have, from time to
time, been circulated against the vigilance, ZEAL
and fidelity of the New York police officers He
must be very suspicious, indeed, who can doubt the
worth and usefulness of these public servants, after
such practical investigator as Mr.. Gray has given
his certificate of their good character, and is now in
the state prison for ten or twelve years. forhs exper
ments in that business
There will, of course, now be no change in the
system. Its value and excellence are proved be-
yond doubt The present Common Council will
pass out of Office and leave this admirable system of
police in statue quo.
Seriously, however, the Endorsement of the pre-
sent police system by this notorious thief and night
robber. will cause honest people to open their eyes
as wide as the doors of the Astor House, when the
thermometer stands at 80 in the shade The career
of this thief for the last nine months has been very
curious. We are promised in day or two, a full
account of his robberies-of "his hair breadth
'scapes'-ot his bailings out-of his plumber aud
spoils-of the division of "them spoils'-of the
participators thereof-of his acquaintance with GER
tain jewelry-of his interviews with the poice-of
his sayings and doings' in various quarters all OF
which will be full of instruction in the mysteries of
the police system of New York. Verify, verify,
Bill Grey q Co. want no police reform None
Why should we?