New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-04
PUBIC WEkIINGS
TILE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

The Special Committee on the Report Of the Chief
Of Police, made in answer to resoiuticn Of the
Board OF Aldermen adopted in February he'd another
meeting yesterday. Present, Aid. Bnsgs, Chairman,
apd AID Hofmire.
The CHEF OF POLICE appeared and brought the
sturns, or reports which he received from the Cap
tAns Ct Police of the various Wards, in yer TO
the resolution of the Board adopted Feb 1855, as to
toe Dativity &c of the policemen.
AID BRGCs-Mr Chief will you give the Com
ntiee ibese re'urns2
CBIKF-I must decline doing They NAV con.
min lbelous matter aud might get ms into difficulty
Ithey published.
Aid. BRIGGS then proceeded To swe,r the Chief,
When AID. HOFFMIRE protested against it, sayiRg to 1t
he Committee had 70 power. TIE law was then
rad Oh this point which owed thai the Char N an
BED full pow to .sk any such questions as he might
eboose relating to the subject.
AID BRlsGs-In what way were these appointments
rGde generally
CHIEF-By the Commissioners. No appointments
ure MADE in my Office. have not recO nmended
ever two or three policemen TO he appointed.
AID BRIGGs-Are you not satisfied tn At the returns
% they relate the number of Americans that
h1ye been in prison, are not correcti
CmEF-I don't know, sir. only know by the re-
.uDL
AID BRIGGs-Wbere were YOU bornl
CHEF-I was )rn in ;he United States TO tbs best
| oil my belief and knowledge; my mo her tod me So
| ny father was tailor at one time; nv mother has
| teen dead two or three years; / have yo1ager
lriher; my father came here when he nineteen
years OF ePe he died a. "a my brother living bat
| LOT in the city.
AID. BRIGGs-Has It not been a custom for Mr.
Ma,se and bis clerks to recommend persons for Po-
| kemeD
CHEF-No, Sir. / hsve recommended some po-
| heemen TO office.
AID BRIGGs-I have Understood Mr.. Chisf, on
good auth ofty that the broadclOtn tba. used to
| decorate the coffin Of Henry Clay Vas stolen from
| the Goyprp0Te ROOf1 futPp1UentlY o
make costs of by those connected with the Police
Department.
| CHIEF- Never, Sir; knos nothing of IT,
AID. BRIGGs-ln 1852, had you coat presented to
| you Of black cloth
1 CHIEF-Never Sir; ] never had coat presented
ne, except by my father ard mother. know of no
one in ihe Police Department who has esc sped from
Blhckwels Leland. This 10 tue first time have ever
been in.ulted by such questions. But | have an
s"ered these questions 20 that my opponents may
be answered
AID. BRIeGs-Now, Mr. Chief must ask you in
the name of the Committee to deliver TO them these
returns that You ceved from the Captains of the
Police in regard to tbs subject. Tne Co nmitee have
sfipht 10 bem and l will be responsible for them.
CHIEF-If he Committee viii show me the author
iy | will give them up. not until thea.
NICHOLAS RooME, swOrn-I refused TO answer one
9TH questions because 1 considered j, insulting;
an an American; have never been locked mp IN
r,isor and that il the question refused to answer;
psver beard eny mention Of this cloth reside in the
Sixteenth Ward.
WILLIAM II BEDEIL. sTOrn-l was atached 10
the Chiefs Office about three wears; AN not now
pOliceran there SOME talk around ne 0uIdng
inreRard TO the loss of cloth at the Henry Clay
funeral; Mr.. Muncsy said that he bad haa nara "ork
10 eei the old mau a coat; Mr. Ma'sell Was called
the "old man" there WISE a rumor thai oloth was
taken Int don't know who had a coat of It.
Aid HoFFMIRE-Did you ever know who mad
coat OF this cloth
Wituess-I understood that Aid Tiemsnn had a
coat taken from this cloth; don't know that ever
saw the Chief wear black coat; think Mr.. Bow
YER made the Chief present of cost.
Aid BRIGGs then said that he vas satisfied there
were great many men in the Police Department OF
bad character, aud he intended to probe The whole
subject thoroughly TIE refusal OF the Cn'et 70 give
fhefe papers to the Committee evidently elbows de-
sue on his pat 10 annoy them, from the fast that
has been customary heretofore for the various heais
Of Departments to furnish Committees of the Com
mon Council with any papers necessary to inyestgs-
tors upon the order Of the Chairman
AID HoFFMIRE was generally opposed TO Aid
Briggs course and BRIGGs charged HOh nire with
being the desdesi foe 10 the Amerc ana, although he
Wa elected by them. The Committee adjourned
until this kfternooD.