The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-19
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.


POLICE COMMIS SIONERS.
The Park Meeting of Policemen.
DIshIseAL or Pc LIcMN WILLIAM PETERSON, or
the ILRvnTn WAND; EZRA HBACH, EIGHTH
WARD; ISAAC .. sxAArs, ELEvENrH WARD; AND
DANIEL ?. STEELE, OF THE FIFTH WARD, PhoA
The POLICE DEPARrnKNT. FOE NsUBoRDIEArIoN
The Commissioners have severed in Judgment,
and have given separate written decisions.
DECISION OF THE MAYOR.
Policemen William Peterson, Of the Eleventh. dis
trict; Ezra Beach, Of the Eighth district; Isaac B.
6kasts, Of the Eleventh DISTRICT and Daniel p.
Steele Of the Fth district were brought before the
Commissioners Of Police, charged with conduct un-
becoming policemen.
The specification against Peterson charges him
with being engaged in making arrangements for .
meeting in the Park, to protest against the action
Of the Commissioners Of Police In imposing an ex-
peDsive and fantastical uniform, thereby melting
the members Of the department to insubordination,
and impairins the discipline Of the department.
: The specification against Beach charges him with
presiding over the meeting, and allowing notice
Of the meeting In the Park 70 be published over his
own name, for the same purpose.
. The specification against Steele il Of the same
import, for having acted - secretary Of the meet
ing; and the specification agains. Skaats is similar
TO that against Beach, with the exception Of charg
ing him with causing the advertisement to be in
serted in the public newspapers.
The charges against all these policemen are SINH
lar In character, I'll relating 70 the same transac
tons, only differing a. TO the capacity in which
they acted, and therefore may be considered to
gether, the same - II they had been jointly
charged. The evidence against these policemen Is
Of three-fold character, nAmsly:-The affidavit
made BY Mr.. Bowyer tssti6es that publication ap.
peared in the New YoRx HERALD giving the pro-
ceedings Of meeting Of policemen, held at Mill
tary Hall, on the 9th Of June, and also containing
notice, couched in the most Offensive language, Of
apublic meeting to be held in the Park, and that
the publication was attested by the names Of Ezra
Beach, - chairman, Isaac B. sksats and Daniel p.
Steele as secretaries, and that such proceedings
were calculated to create IL subordnaton In the do.
partment. Mr.. Gardiner testifes that he was en-
ployed by Mr.. Peterson to erect the stage In the
Park for the purpose Of holding the meeting, and
that he knew no other person in the premises, and
expected to receive his pay from him.
Mr.. Beach, when called upon to answer the charge,
admits that he did preside at the meeting but de-
MES that he authorized his name to be appended to
the published proceedings, or that there was any
committee appointed ct that meeting to call the
meeting in the Park. In this Beach is clearly mis-.
taken, a. there is no fact more clearly established
in the proceedings than that q committee was ap-
pointed for that purpose and that there is no evil
dence whatever to show that these defendants OBJ
jected in the shghtest manner to the proposed
meeting. Mr.. Peterson admits that he was one Of
the committee, and that he procured the erection
Of the STAGE but denies all knowledge OF the placard
that was ported around the streets.
Mr.. Steele ADMITS that he acted a. one of the
secretaries, and that committee was appointed TO
get up public meeting In she Park but denies au-
thoriziDg his name TO be appended to the published
proceedings Mr.. Skaats admits that he acted as
one Of the secretaries Of the meeting, that COM
meeting In the Park that he caused the proceedings
Of the meeting to be published, and appended to it
the names Of the officers Of the meeting, without
consulting them, and that the notice Of the meeting
In the Park was hano ed to him by q person whose
name he declined TO reveal, and that he appended
1t 10 the procee dDgs OF the meeting. In addition
to this, the counsel for the policemen introduced
copy Of the New York Sssn, which he alleged con
tanned correct report OF the meeting, and the same
was also averred by Mr.. Skaats and Mr Steele. The
following facts appear 70 me to be fully established
That meeting Of policemen was held, % alleged,
at Military Hall; that Messrs. Beach, skaats and
committee was appointed at that meeting 70 get up
public demonstration in the Park and that Peter
son was appointed ON that committee, and took an
active part in getting up tina. demonstration re-
calling that meeting was Of the most offensive, re-
prehtDsble and insnbordiDate character. The aver.
MI mis- Of al those defendants that they meant no
dtiespectto the Commissioners, ought not and does
that ! do not sit in judgment to defend my.
self, but to uphold the integrity of the de-
partment and to promote its efficiency and
discipline and had these defendants been
guilty Of no other offence than using opmobrious
language towards me personally. would pass it by
as unworthy Of consideration; but graver offence
has been committed. These defendants have en-.
desvored to subveSt the good order and discipline
OF we department and to coerce the Commissioners,
BY the farce Of public demonstration, TO pursue .
course that their Judgment condemned. These de-
fendaDtB were well known to the Commissioners
snd they could, If they had any real grievances to
'cempsin Of, have approached them With the ut
mtst FREEDOM, and by pc, sonal conference they
would have easily ascertaiDed whether they had any
real cause Of complaint or not and II they had
shown the Commissioners that the regulation they
had adopted was oppressive upon them, IL would
have been cleerfully amended. or this they were
net ignorant, - is clearly established by the testi
nCDy, for they appointed committee 70 wait upon
the Commissioners to confer with them, and at the
sane time appointed another committee to get up .
public demonstration 10 coerce the Commissioners
into q mplisnce with their demands, whether they
we're reasonable or not. This | consider an offence
of grave character. An efficient police Is de-
nanded by the citizens, for which they are willing
to pay literally, o. IL is 70 them Of the highest inn
pOrtance. A cheerful submission to discipline Ia
the Dirt requisite 70 the establishment Of such q
police, % without Il there could be no order or con-
cert Of action and II We are to allow the members
Of the department 10 call public me- :;sss TO con-
troll .he action Of the Commissioner then the Com.
missionsTs efe Of no further use to the com
mbDty, and had better resign their authority
into the bands Of their sppointees, to 40 az
they please. and to say ip wha.. manner and
when they win p:.ss1cfm 10 duties Of their Office.
FOR my par ! Am determined TO uphold the integri-
~ discipline Of the department. All the testi-
m6ny, AZ well as the submissions Of all the defend
ants except one anG the published proceedings Of
their meetings, establishes the fact that the respond
ents we've ens ed In getting public meeting to
coeice the Conmisst ners to rescild the regulations
they lad adopted. This consider INSTRUMENTATION
of the first magnitude, and conduct entirely ubbe
coming policemen. Il evinces . restessness under