The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-14


the mysterious disappearance OF a lady under
circumstances which render II all but certain
that che has met foul play. The lady 10 ques-
ton is the wife Of an officer Of the United States
army, stationed at Key West, Florida. Nearly
four weeks since-on Tuesday, the 10th ofJuly-
she came into the city from Staten Island, for
the purpose Of shopping, and was accompanied
10y her mother and brother. She intended to
have returned to the island by the half past
three o'clock boat having promised to meet her
mother and brother on board. She accidentally
missed that boat, but was afterwards seen walk
ing down Broadway, as II TO get on board the half
past five o'clock boat plying to Port Richmond
There all trace of her ends. She has never been
seen since by any of her relatives; and her for
mer life and connections, and the fact Of her
only child being left on the island, preclude the
Imposition that her disappearance Is due to any
mpropriety on her part, or to any step that q
irtuous woman would not take.
This is one of the mysterious events that
ccur from day to day in the metropolis.
Hardly week passes that the community is
not startled by the intelligence of the sudden
and inexplicable disappearance Of pcrsons-men
and women. In many instances the mystery Is
cleared by the finding Of the body Of the missing
person in the East or the North river, with evil
dences Of their having been murdered. In others
the body is never found-the mystery never
cleared up. Ifmurder has been committed the
murderer is never known-the circumstances
never traced. Some Coroner starts of on
a wrong scent, perpetrstes the most alb
surd blunders, and winds up by leaving the
matter greater puzzle than be found it. The
police never do anything but help the Coroner
in his blunderings and the event is soon for.
gotten In the whrl Of city life.
In the case to which We now refer, some Of
our detective officers have been engaged for
weeks past endeavoring to get some clue to it;
but, with the exception Of the facts we have
rtattd. nothing has been discovered. How IL
ibai! There musi be ignorance. careIessness or
inoaiciency somewhere. Whore were the police
Sben the lady was kidnapped ADD murdered az
Circumstances Indicate that she wass-kidnap-
pfd and murdered, too, In the most populous
part Of tho city. How is il that they have not
been able to gain the slightest clue to her die
appearance! What can we conclude FROM it,
what can we conclude from similar occurrences
equally unexpiaiDcd.-what can We conclude
from murders and burglAries and highway rob.
b,rits perpetrsted in cur midst, day after day.
with impunity, but that our police force l.
to'slly disorganized and inefficient, Ia London
or Paris, or any other great city with a pro-
p,rly organized police, such case as this
would be impossible. II violence had been
used H. perpetrators would have been long ago
In the hands Of the law; II II hsd been volun.
tsry disappearance. all the Circumstances would
have been, one by one, followed up and the
mystery made clear But with us violence is
allowed 10 20 unrestrained and unpunishcd,
and The capacity Of our police officers goes no
further than clubbing some poor drunken
wretch over the head.
The fact is that our Metropolitan Police or
ganizAtion is az much an asylum for political
outlaws and shoulder biiters now ~ II has been
at any time since the establishment of q police
here. Men are selected. not for their fitness
hut for their services at primary elections, or for
the political Influence OF themselves or friends.
The ranks Of our detective police are filed up
BY the Police Commissioners-favor not
fitness, being the motive Of the selection
Out of twenty so called detectives, there are
not Eve Who are really qualified for the posi-
tion. Their iDcompetenoy is 80 well known
that foreign governments, when they wan, TO
trace out in this country fugitive from Justice.
have recourse, not TO tie regular police, but to
an independent police, composed Of some Of the
most experienced officers Of the old force. Our
own merchants do the same. The favors Of the
Police Commissioners are secured by presents
Of houses and lots the favors Of superintend.
en's ard captains are purchased with expensive
portraits and gold shields; ner Offices are
crteitd TO reward favorites ard tosdies; and
the Wtols department Is a great know nothing
and d. Loihing eoncepg.