The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-05

SINGULAR BLACK MAIL CHARGE AND INvKsrr-
aATIoN.-A curious black mail charge was re-
Gently made in Sunday paper, which, we under
stand, will be made the basis of an extended in.
vestgation before some Competent legal authority
either police Justice, or some otherudge with
the least possible delay-an investigation that may
throw great deal of light on certain class of
reporters attached to the Police Office in the
Tombs, and similar establishments IN this city.
We shall give a few of the facts which will be the
basis OF this threatened investigation.
On Sunday last one of those papers which live
mostly on the filth of criminal and low society
charged one of the police reporters attached to
this journal with having received the sum of forty
live dollars for performing some services in sup.
pressing the publication of an lnfraction of the
anti-lettey law of this State, which had been
committed by broker who keeps an office up
stairs, at the corner of Broadway and Fulton
street. The brokers' name Is H. f. Cooley; the
reporter who performed the services, as they are
called, is Alfred E. Baker. On seeing a statement
of this charge in the Sunday paper in question, an
application was made to that quarter for particu-
lars, and in few minutes thereafter, another re-
porter, who luxuriates In the name of Marcus
Tulllus Cicero Stanly, attached to the Police
at the office of the Hera Id, and stated the particu
lars of this of black m all. According to the
statement of Mr.. Marcus Tullius Cicero Stanly,
Mr.. II. F. Cooley of the corner of Broadway and
Fulton street, had been engaged In vending lottery
tickets here under scheme issued in Providence,
which vending is in New York contrary to law,
and made lndictable and fneabe by statute. 1t
seems that the case, in its lncipient stages came
ha{n J,et Il e
court is Sydney H. Stewart, and through the me-
dunn of William H. Stephens, police officer.
Mr.. Stanley further stated that Mr.. Baker had
agreed to pay Mr.. Stewart, the clerk, ten dollars,
which, however, he refused to receive; and also
ter dollars for the officer, Mr.. H. Stevens, which
hi likewise refused. Thus much of the statement
ofMarcus Tu!lius Cicero Stany
In calling on Mr.. Baker, the other side of the
stor, for his statement he alleged that the affair
had,othing at all to do with any newspaper-that
it hid no connection with his office as reporter
ut vas merely ga fair bu sness transaction be-
twea Cooley, who had got himself into scrape
ly SLING lottery tickets contrary to law, and who
vasto be got out of the scrape in legal way by
Ike, who was to be paid for his services In the
ltttr and furthermore, that Marcus Tulllus
Zero Stanly had claimed one half of the pro.
eds, and had become informer in consequence
4 the claim being considered invalid and un.
hded.
'hese are the facts, as far as we can understand
m, IN this case of back.mail, from both parties.
Gems not to be connected with any newspaper
particular, but to be special business confined
certain police reporters, and participated in by
GERS and other inferior agents about the Tombs.
that as 1t may, we shall make the original state
mt in the Sunday paper in question, the basis of
4 extended legal investigation, which shall en-
Ice a complete development of all practices
'the kind INDUCED in by police reporters, police
Sks, and police officers, of every description,
aggregated around the Tombs. This, we think
shall be able to accomplish, either by com.
Incng action of libel against the Sunday
per which made the charge, or having it taken
fore one of the police magistrates, before whom
shall subpoena, to give evidence, all the police
icers about the Tombs, and all the police re.
tters attached to the Sunday and daily press. If
1ctices ofthis kind exist, let them be developed.
1t the guilty be discovered and punished as far
ID as vigorously as justice and public opinion de-
and. We recommend every one who has suf-
fed in this way by reporters or any one con-
hcted with the police the press of this city, and
pecially by persons connected with the daily
prnals, IT any there are, to give US information
4 the subject for we are determined to prob this
natter to the bottom.
The CHoLKRA.-A report was current here, yes
friday, that the cholera had visited us but we
happy to say that it is wholly without founda-
TN. short time ago, rumor to the same ei- |
fct was got up by young physician, who was IN
fenced, no doubt, by morbid desire for noto-
r,fv mr. soyne other u,otive eouo1Iv ohio