The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-12

foice, "hre 20 "murder!n ssrobbery!n In q feU
minutes an Assistant Captain rushed out of the Pc.
ice Court, and after Q few minutes more succeeded
In finding from what quarter the voice came.
"Whas are you doing up there ? /" said he. " Come
down instantly or I will arrest you,p he added in a
threatening tone; but instead OF coming down he
only screamed the louder, and showed MS disregard
Of the worthy official by calling him names very OBJ.
sctionsble to Charles and all other men. the
rec was covered with ice, and as the Assistant Cap
AIN was not a remarkably active MAJ, instead Of
attempting its ascent to carry his threat into
'~xecution, he called the Captain OF the watch
his assistance. By this time 8 large
Icwd ned collected under the tree, among
whom were the actors and about half the
police force. Nov, as the Captain was a Ouch
man, and like the majority OF his countrymen, was
q man Of considerable weight, he could Do Of little
assistance to bis subordinate in climbing the tree;
but the superior dignity of his Office wss considered
sufficient TO bring the individual down. When tne
whole matter was explained to him he became quite
furious, and repeated the threat of his assistant,
but with as little effect.
vot," said he, "ish you do? Got for tam NIT
to top Of de tree dis pat night ven all goot citizens
want zum sleep in the pets.'
What is tina. your business?' replied the voice,
NAoA ND PbAoCa - SaS hOW oAnpot
from the darkress,) " you old lea.hsr-hsaded blum
derbuss."
This reflection on his personal appearance he
could hardly endure; but he suppressed his rage as
well ss he could, and satisfied himself with threaten.
ing what he would DO.
"Shtop de ~lsetles," he said, al geet you
and puts You in tie Pritevells.''
The whole force had now arrived, and as they were
unable to make the actor descend, they arrested
those about the tree for laughing at their failure.
About an hour after the comedian came down
made his escape from the man who was appointed to
await his coming, and that evening invited q mum.
Der OF his friends TO sup with him at the expense Of
the unfortunate prisoners.
The police court was removed about twenty years
ago from the City Hall to the building known a. the
new City Hall, since destroyed by fire, and finally
to the Tomhs, where it has remained. After its
removal the apartments underwent a sight change,
to fit it for its new occupant, the Chief Of Police.
We have given our readers a tolerably clear idea Of
the manner in which the police department was
formerly conducted, and we win now introduce
them to the Office Of the Chief, that they may the
better be enabled to contrast the old system with
the new. Net oe-
IL is now nine O'Clock in the morning, and the
long desk In the first apartment you enter, has
just been taken possession Of by some half dozen
clerks for the day. The books are taken down, and
every preparation Is made for the recording of thu
criminal statistics Of the day previous as well as the
other business of the Office. Mr.. Mcclellan, the
chief clerk, next makes his appearance, and shuta
himself up in his little box at the head of the apart.
meDt. The door again opens, and in comes Mr..
Mstseil himself, better known as " the Chief" AZ
ter a rapid glance round the clerks office, he
aau. - Lso 80 o-I xaIro 1t, 600 - a.. l.y~
esdy to discharge the multifarious business which
ZONES before him in the course Of the day. Now,
as the chief is a remarkable looking man. those who
have seen him once can never forget his personal
appearance. II placed upon the deck of q man Of
war, he might readily be mistaken for an old com.
modore, end even to mistake him fer one on land
might be considered psrdonable. In height he is
about the medium size, add in breadth-but we can
only say of shat in the words of the old ballad, he
looks
Like two single gentlemen rolled into one.
His face has an open, ingenious expression, which
8 az times mingled with great shrewdness. This
latter quality has doubtless been developed to the
fullest extent by his association-and we say IT with
the greatest respect--with thieves and the worst OF
cbaracters-of course we mean in his official cspaci-
~. His wonderful powers Of imitation would render
him almost unequalled as an actor, fer he can SO
completely alter his personal appearance and the
tone of his voice that even the members Of his own
family could mot recognise him. As he has found
this tslent almost indispensable in the performance
Of his duties, he has cultivated it when opportunity
presented. Il In not generally known that be has q
perfect wardrobe Of costumes and DISCUSSES for his
own use and that Of his " shadows" which are put
on when any I" game is sfoot." When not engaged
in any work of this kind, however, the Chief is
dressed in the new uniform Of the police.
The Chief is almost constantly attended by three
ordsrlies, Msssrs. Brown, De Voc and Bowyer, who
salute him a Ia miiitaie as he enters the office.
The clerks, and ali engaged about him, are
dressed in the uniform prescribed by the last regu-
lations of the department. Between the hours Of
nibs and eleven the twenty-five Captains Of police
present written reports In person to the Chief OF
the Occurrences in each OF their wards during the
previous day. These returns were originated by the
Chief himself, and are admirably calculated as q
record for the various details OF police business.
they contain reports of the number Of arrests made
during the preceding twenty-four hours, the chsrac-
TER Of the offences, the lanes of the officers by whom
the arrests are made, and the disposition made of the
,risoners by thu magistrate before whom they were
aiken the policemen absent ct the different
roll calls, the number sick, and the particular du.
ties performed by all who answered to their names
In ADDITION 10 this, they contain reports Of fires, sui.
cides. murders, accidents, and Q hundred other
things, which formerly did not come under the cog
nizance Of the police.
Besides the reports presented BY the captains,
there are others made by the sergeants Of the re-
served corps. Of whom there are twenty altogether,
each having four men under his command. The
reserved corps may be distinguished from the other
policemen by he initials "R. Co. on the front Of
their caps, end sissge spread eagle upon the upper
part Of their star. Their duty "a principally in at.