New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-02
THE POLICE or NETWORK.
Trou TIE Police G1.eff>

than our equals certainly they are not our supsrDr.
The name :" Shadows" for Detectives" was fl ct
employed by the present Chief Of Police who thought
If Was more expressive Of their real character than the
name applied 10 them in England.
In setting out TO write this article il might seem to
some that are either bound to hatter or % de-
Dounce Chief Ms'sell. Wen, shall do neither
but we shall speak the truth. In the first place, we
are under 10 obligations 10 the Chief for our ntor-
nation ana secondly he would be opposed, probably
to our publishing much Of the information Of which
we are IN possession.
A. we said in setting out the organic alton OF the
department is complete, and what Is mJre important
il has got head notwithstanding whatever 10 the
contrary has been said relative TO Mr. Matssl, the
Chief OF Police. He has been connected with GRIM
ina matters upward Of fifteen years, and il CONVEX
can't with every thirg in the criminal business. Not
only is be acquainted from hearsay with the Of
the prominent criminals Of this country but he has
seen them ana knows them personally, and Is posted
up in all teT movements. Let noted crmin1 from
EDgland lard on our shores, even without informi-
ton Of the fact, which il seldom the case, and the
felon will be two days in the City till he ia
" piped and " shown up TO the department. II
has been asked by some, why not take Daguerreo
types Of elops, and it would cave all this useless pa
rade Of showing up man. 1t is an old adage, " one
man may lead horse 10 the water, but 1t Will take
" fifty TO make him drink" So it lie with Diguerreo-
type taking; you may bring the apparatus to the
prison, place the criminal 10 proper position, but
unless be sits still you cannot take his likeness He
can elevate bis brow, twist his mouth turn his eyes
ip an unnatural direction make thousand gTimaces,
and after ALL when the likeness is taken, II Is little
better than caricature. Not one out OF hundred
are willing that their likeness should be taken.
Some few are grat6ed at the idea of such distin-
gusb ed honor they suppose, but in all such lses
self. concet predomiDates over caution The d.
puerreotype taking of felons has been tried both in
Fpolapd and France but without success, for the
very reasons which we have stated. We should
think it must be very attering TO the American mind
10 know that their Police system is equal to that of
Paris, where passport and system Of espionage
extts TO the present day.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
Many curou, anecdotes are told Of this gentleman
not few Of which are highly amusing. Fancy a
short thick-set man, about five feet nine, nearly a.
broad as he Is long, Dutch-bult OF powerful frame
neck rather short; broad, round face, and body
which, if il stretched out 10 the proper point of
eentity would double his length, and you have the
Chief Of Police. Ofsuch man, you would cay, il was
impossible to Disguise himself so as not TO be known
by his most intimate friends. Yet such ls the case
He has sat beside his wife, aud talked to her many
times wondering when the Chief would come in, and
she did not recognize him.
But it is not difficult to disguise ones self, after
all, if the physiogDomy and voice ere altered. A
tube under the tongue will alter the latter and the
former can be transformed by an imitation goatee,
noustache or whiskers. Mr.. Matse can do what
very few men can do, Whist very few men can do
either on or of the stage He can give the brogue of
an Irshman with all its richness the broken English
Of a Scotchman, perfect that native of either OF
these countries could not but be deceived He can
give the "top O the morning to Pat, arrah, how
sre We 7" and to Sawney, Hoo are ye, mon eh,
mon, i'm glad tse see ye;" and to DutcRy, "Yaw,
yaw," seems TO come naturally. lie Is also an
adept at initiating the Frenchman and Italian. II the
Chief could not not disguised him, there would be
little use for him on the Police Department of New
York. There are men in every sphere of life whose
sole study is how to shirk work and DUTY.
Did you ever see ali old Dutchman. roughly clad,
early on summers morning, just before the break
Of day going lazhy along in his milk cart looking
the numbers and his customers He pulls up sud
denly, and alghts just beside policeman who is TAX
ing a comfortable nap on doorstep. He goes up to
him al gives bin shake.
Policeman Who the - are you, you ID Dutch
monl What do you want!
Milkman-Ah / catch you asleep. i tell the
Chief. Help mine can of
Policemsn-No; 60 along and don't trouble me.
The milk man goes along, but the policeman finds
ont before night that he had been talking that morn
ing to the Chief of Police. Sometimes, rather than
face the music, the policeman resigns, and nobody
knows why.
Another illustration 1t is cold, bitter night, and
drizzy sleet gives evidence of approaching snow
storm. The paw ements slippery aud the streets
are rather slushy. 1t is hour when streets are
generally deserted. A stranger is seen staggering
through Broadst he is very respectfully dressed but
his tongue betokens his country; he stops and looks
at corner but the darkness and seet render Il lm-
possible to discover where he is. No lamp IN
dictate the locality. Thunder an GUNS, New York is
an infernal place. wonder WHARF the Police are.
On he goes and at last he finds one. 49,
"Can ye tell me where the Youth Ferry IL, Sir = 90.
Polcemsn-Yes Zir; follow your nose and you IL
come TO it,"
"Och, but yere funny" q.
On he goes till he meets with another, and the same
question is asked and civil answer is gwen and ne
is directed how to go.
Now, cir, IN a rae Irish gintleman and think
f,po AnnQY ikau OIL
now won't you come and take glass Of Whisky =
"No, sir, don't need it, and you have got enough.
Come along will show you the South Ferry
On the two go till they reach Pearl.st. where
GROCERY stands BY hook or by crook the Irish gen.
tlernsn would not pass till they had had drink. He
was even 80 accommodating that he would 60 in aud
drink himself and would bring glass to the police
man outside. The policeman was proof. The sirsn-
ger persists in having drink, and puts his hand in
bis pocket for the purpose Of pulling money out and
while doing so, number of fve-dolar pieces fa on
the pavement. The policeman curses his stupidity,
lifts the money up, puts il in his friend pocket takes
a pin and fastens il SO that il may not fall out again.
The policeman, while gathering up the money, Is
blunt enough to tell him that there were men on the
police who we're more deserving OF such money than
a fool like him but at the same time refuses any
thing 10 drink or money for his trouble The lrshmsn
Is conducted 10 the ferry and here ends THIS matter
Next day two policemen are sent for TO the Cnet $
Office and they discover for the first time that they
had been talking to their Chief the night previous
The one reprimaDded and the other 1t Is needless
to say, is duly promoted at the proper time
THE oRDERLIEs OF THE CHIEF.
There are three observation-disclosures Brown, Bowyer,
and Devoe These officers in their turn take charge
of the office and have command, under the Chief: OF
all matters coming before that dgnitary The Order
lies have also charge of some particular department
Brown has the supervision of pawnbrokers. Devoe OF
sn matters pertaining to hacks, and Bowyer Of
second. hand dealers and junk-shops.
There are also several aids. Joseph keefe is gen
ersl detective. These men hsve no regular hour:
like other policemen they are to be at ali times
and az sorts of places, on business on the lay.