The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-05
The Investigation Now Going on Before
the Commissioners,


Senator srSoL from the Special Committee Of the Sc
nate OF 1885, appointed to Investigate matters relating to
the management Of the Metropolitan Police, presented in
the Senate yesterday the following
REPORT.
On the 18th Of April 1885, the Senate adopted resou-
ton in the words following
Resolved That be referred to select committee Of hree.
Of the Metropolitan Police force and the manner
their affairs. and report TO The
wiervupon Senators spinola Nixon and O. B. Wheeler
were appointed suCn vUrnmlltcv.
Which committee met at tho capitol in the city
OF Aibaay April, 1858, and organized by the an
pontinent Of Z. o. Perrin, ESD, as Clerk, and John
Friend as sergeantat Arms The committee then al.
Journed TO meet again at the call of the chairman
In pursuance Of the call of the chairman the commit
Zee met on the 18th day OF August 1853 and continued
their sngs until the Sd Of January 1862 John Friend
resigned his position as Sergeant of the commit,
tee, and jesse Mitchell appointed his place. when
the committee proceeded the performance Of their duty
WIN Iul conscousness of its Importance, and with no
other continents than desire see the objects of the
law which created the Metropolitan police force fulfilled
That law had been the Of much public excitement
and the subject Of vital discussions in the legislature and
Of an earnest litigation in the courts.
It bad been decided to be constitutional, however, by
the bghesl Judicial tribunal in the State and nothing was
eit 10 the Legislature except 10 judge by its practical
workings, and modify or amend it's organization SO as TO
greatest
cheney.
1t had seemed to this committee not improbable that
the charges made against resulted from prejudice and
the party feelings that had not yet subsidized after the
bcs and collisions TO which the imposition of this or.
gan zaon upon reluctant and protesting community had
gwen rsc There was something, too In the nature of
police organization that tended provoke resentfu feel
ngs and TO invite the calumnes Of the INSCRIPTIONS and
the CRIMINAL, and your committee not unwilling TO
regard some of this camor of accusation as an evidence of
the vgor with which the officers had enforced the laws
against the disordorly and the criminal.
IL was with entire impartialitv and In.
deed with the hope that the charges vaguely circulated
against the Commissioners and their bordnates would
prove unounded that the committee entered upon the in
vestgaton they instructed make They expected
70 be received by the parties implicated with the aacry
with which men, conscience Of their innocence hasten To
excu)pate themselves from false mputatons They were
ready to call as witnesses the very parties implicated
sevos upon their oath, upon direct interrogatory No
course or procedure could have been moro favorable 10
realizing upon the part Of the ocers pc tied tbs
willingness 10 testify their readiness even to appear be-
fore inc committee we were surprised by difficulties and
evasons reusals to testify and equlvocatons and
tradicons such as themselves TO crimes and
which left the painful impression upon the minds Of tho
committee that they intended 10 conceal msdeeds Of
q gross and heinous character.
WITNESSES RELUCTANT REFUSING TO rEsrrFY.
conviction Of not less painful nature was impressed
upon the minds Of the committee by the reluctance Of
subornates to testify against their supervisors and by
The manifest apprehensons under which they gave their
evidence that they constrained by authority Of
those above them, and that they feared that fun and
frank disclosure Of facts duplicating their superiors
II
prosecutions and annoyances Of vndctive character
Every step in the investigation disclosed more clearly
the evidences Of such intimidation But while this ope.
rated to render the inquiry difficult, IL had the
elect to spur the committee Jealous inyest-
cation, by the suspicious II suggested that the official
defectons which these evasions and perjurics in.
tended TO conceal md their origin in the chiefs Of this or
ganzation, among the commissioners themselves. To
Msiratcthe character Of the evasons Of great num-
Der Of the witnesses who summoned we need only
quote the testimony Of a small portion of tbom;-
COAT FOR GEN. WYE SUBSCRIBED
Wo cknd
whether nc pad ever pad the captain OF the precinct any
pmted to the purchase Of coat, ovcrcoat, suit of
eiothes-he object being to ascertain the truth of an
allegation that members of the force had been assessed
10 pay FOR an expensive coat for Commissioner Nye
said, ~ refuse TO answer the question:
On being still further pressed the witness answered.
81 refuge TO answer the question:
The question was repeated FOR the third time when he
replied ~ refuse answering any question in regard TO
Sergeant Delamater also the same precinct on being
nteriogated IN respect to the same transactions and
%hchcr nc mad not contributed twenty dollars 70 pay
Tor coat TO be presented 10 General Nyc said refuse
70 answer this question: my bread and butter depend
upon the Police Department, and don't wish to bring
The following questions we're algo asked Delamater IN
connection with the subject
q Did Captain Dukes say to you that he would have to
pay inc money unless you paid it2 A. He sajd II did
not be would have to raise 1t himself
On tho occasion when lie asked you for tho money
oid you object TO paying III A. No, paid him.
o. IL you had not received the appointment of sergeant
would you have paid Captain bikes The money! A. dont
snow whether would or not.
Captain Hart, Of the Seventeenth precinct on being in
errogeted az TO the character Of tho organization an
swered os folows-Wc sir, think il is hardly far to
ask man in the position Of subordinate 10 pass iudp
ment on his superiors do not wish be brought into
crucblej speak ono way am Of their pets and
speak another way Why may look out for thumpcrs."
Michael Barry sadI hope this won't get me into any
difficulty, as my bread and butter stake may get
me at loggcrhcads with the Commissioners
UNnrE TO RELIEVE THE POLICE IN CRIMINAL CHARGES
Inc dcmeanor Of the Witnesses bore upon ts the
marks OF disregard OF truth difobodencc TO law OF
which these examples could not have but con vnced the
committee hat the police numbered among is force
upon wbose testimony would be unsafe 70 convict any
QUO charged With crime, Ild vixen Il IL rccollcctcd how
often these officers both Ia the detection OF crime and
ress 81 oleaaes, become Witnesses essential " the con