The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-04

The mssropolitan Police and the Gam
blsrs.
A few days ago man, whose character Is %
notorious that We hsys no occasion to discuss
it, was tried in the Court Of Oyer and Terminer,
sitting in this district, on an Indictment which
charged him with the high crime of resisting an
officer In the discharge of his duty. The evil
cepce pbow.d that the accused had frequented
. common gaming house, which was kept Dy
man well known to the police and the FANCY.
The accused made row In the house, aud the
police were called in. First came one police
man, whom the accused menaced with pistol;
but subsequently, when the posse arrived, ne
gave himself mp, and was carried off to the sta
ton. The obnoxious Individual having been dis
poeed Of the business of the house was resumed.
All these facts were proved on the trial of the
accused, who was sentenced to penal servitude
for the term Of four years and six months
Now We think that this case affords curious
insight into the way in which the police are
managed. 1t was the bounden duty OF the
police to have arrested oil the persons in the
gambling house, and to have broken up the
came The statute under which the Metropolitan
Police force was organized provides expressly
for such cases. In the matter at present under
review there was very little difference as to
persons. The keeper of the house and bis GUS
toner were both notorious as de6ers of the
law and breakers Of the public peace. Both
deserve punishment, but only one receives it
How is this? Do the police mark their men
Are they entrusted with discretionary powers
10 bind Peter while Paul il set free. Do we
psy them to protect gambling bells and houses
Of bad repu,e: 1t really appears that such is
the case. Not long ago Wall street broker
was accused Of deiIaudiDg banking house to
be tune Of eight thousand dollars, and was
arrested by the police. He declared that the
moiety Of bis money had been lost at faro, and
complained against three or four well known
professors They were held In merely MONT
nal bail and have never jet been brought to
trial. More than that they never will be.
The police are efficient else where, however
The police have caused the Sunday laws to be
executed, SO far as the German theatres and
concert rooms are concerned The police have
desceneed, like hungry tigers, upon the de-
voted head Of Lindenmuller, end have brought
Hoym and Hsmann to sudden grief. II is a
great pity for them that the above named per-
IONS are respectable people, engaged in q law
full calling. Were they outcasts, persons Who
follow oisreputable pursuits, who, not to put
TOO 6ne point upon it, kept gambling houses
or blo,hels, they might carry on their
business unmolested every day of the week,
and DO one would modest them or make them
afraid That may seem strange, but it is,
nevertheless, painfully true.
We DO not object to the verdict or the SEN
,ence in the Gaze above noted. We be-
iieve ia exemplary punithments. but we
bod also that they should be impair
TALLY distributed. The Legislature has
given the government Of the Society for the
Reform Of Juvenile Delinquents the power to
enforce compliance with the statutes relating
70 theatres, concert halle, &c, &c. Now, IL we
are to have an era Of moral reform, If the city
is really to be purified and the dangerous
classes are to be PIT down, let us begin at the
beginning The Legislature should at once
authorize the appointn ent Of Commissioners to
enter complaints sgainst all the disreputable
houses in the city, and bring up the keepers
without respect to persons II the thing Is to
be dore at all, II must be done thoroughly.
The police and the District Attorney must not
make fiji Of Mr. william Mnllgau and flesh of
Mr.. John Morrissey. Perhaps these distin
quished gentlemen have been belied; 1t may
be that they are imbued with all the moral and
manly virtues which 60 to make up the near
est approach 70 perfection that human nature
can afford. We do not say that this Is
or Is not the case but we do cay that
20 far az public opinion is concerned, they are
on the tame platform; and II Mulligan goes
into sackcloth and ashes, is 1t just to permit
MorTisHy TO parade in purple, patent leather,
peat that we have bad quite enough Of this NAL
administration Of the law, aud II the police and
the District Attorney refuse or neglect to do
their plain duty, II Is quite time that the Legis
laiure authorized come one to do 1t for them.
In the especial case to which we have referred
the police were guilty Of most fragrant breach
Of duty. That tie Commissioners approved Of
their conduct we are 10th to conclude. The
fact Is, however, that the officer In command Of
the force which went to Morrissey's house has
since been promoted, and holds very high
place 10 the department. These facts are preg-
nant with meaning, and no New Yorker can
afford TO shut his eyes to them.
TnE IRRrrIEsslpIE CONFLICT n Bosrox.-Al-