New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-16
A CURIOUS CASE OF FRAUD.
One Of the Clerks mt Police Headquarters
Appealing Men on the Force I'm
known 70 che What
Number Have Been Thus Appointed
Arrest Of the Dciinquent-Can He Be
Punished

Within the past few DAYS starting anu
novel OF fraud has been developed ut Police Head
quarters the delinquent being no less person than
Jehal Swi, hitherto looked upon as IN, OF the most
trusty empoyes In the Chief Clerks Office.
The manner in which the fraud was discovered was
az follows On Wednesday last among the officers who
were up for trial for some delinquency. was one whom
President cton a the frat glance thought too short
TO come up 10 the requisite hight for policeman. lie
demanded Of the man who measured him. and was
somewhat as'onished when the officer replied no one
e was then asked who appointed him. and after some
Hesitation and little cro's.qnestoning. replied
that II was Swift. and that be lad PAID
him el,O in consideration OF such ap'
uoin.rcnt Bv some unexplained means Swift had re.
ceyed INFORMATION Of what was ,ranspring in the trial
chamber and hastily len the building. The bogus
paroman was locked up 10 the cnaIge OF per-
sounting member Of the Metropolitan Ponce force
but was subsequently, released.
THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE FRAUD.
~ frst thought II would seem almost impossible that
~ q fraud could DO perpetrated under tie very
eyes Of the Police Commissioners and literal,
with the knowledge Of the Chief Clerk Mr..
5. G. Hswoy. That II could easily be done by
person occurring the Position q s aengs sca5. 's
apuointrnent on the police force the candidate must
first procure the Endorsement OF five ctzenr eerting
as 10 his good character and recommending him Tor the
position. His name is taken and as sosn as vacancy
occurs he l. sept 10 the Beard 81 Surgeons VINO shDec
him 10 n cid examination. III sound IN every respect
and of the proper hight feet inches he Is then gwen
blank Containing certain number Of questions) By
the Chief Clerk. tD I'LL up In his own handwriting al
apponecs on the police force being requred 10 know
how 10 reni and write II he passes successfully through
This ordeal he 10 then sworn In, Furnished win 1p
shield n certain number and q cinb. and "a To oil IN
tss,. and purposes member Of the force. lie Is tLen
sent for to the School OF Instruction 80 ably
presided over BY Inspector Leonard after which be Is
acta led by the Board OF Police Commissioners TO some
on. Of the numerous precincts n this oily or Brooklyn
Tie shields. buttons &c. were furnished TO the ap
poiu,ces by swim who also had charge of the books
containing TIE names Of the entire force, when sp
tonte and 20 what precinct hay ere cetsied. IL IL
charged 10y forging the certificates OF the surgeons
certifying that certain men had been examined ny
them and passed be srcceel led In presenting them to
Mr. Havloy and had them sworn In. Inc iest was
cnsy They were fun lshed with the necessary articles
reni 70 the School Of destruction. aud anerward, by
means Of f0iged orders. sent 10 the 'alous precincts
for duty H. each case swift has received from sOO 10
slO ior his services It Is believed tAat the commence
meni of frauds viii date far back as the LIST
Of April s. and ,as .vnser Of e9guc spPoiI,ess
that four have bsen already discovered In tho Seventh
Precinct and dismissed the force While we have hoard
rumOred that several Others have been discovered IN
uptoa n precincts. The matter is undergoing CON-
pete examination by the Commissioners, and 10 save
trouble II wound he well for all VINO have been thus up
pointed ~ come forward and resign at once.
TIE DELINQUENT.
Tie perpotrator of these FRAUDS Is man about %
ysars OF age, ine appearance aud good address. lie
wa, formerly attached to the Fourteenth Precinct IN
,he capacty Of Pa,ro.man. and aferwsrd rs Rouads.
man In attempting 10 make an arrest over nix years
since be was set upon by party OF ruihin ana 50
terribly beaten That lie was cohi'n'u W III,
T. , Some months AZ soon ns hc was enabled TO get
around he was detailed clerk and until within short
time past has enjoyed the confidence Of bis supeross H.
The es, degree the position occupied by hi NJ VIII
BE- seen above being Of considerable importance
since the exposure however il has aBspred that his
of lie FOR soro time past has been any thing but
IA correct one.
HIS ARREST.
On SATURDAY last Detective McCar'y OF the T~enty.
ninth Precinct beer detailed by Superintendent
Kennedy to look up accused found him on the ess
eide of the town aud took hr into custody ne ~
nre.en, confined in one OF tho cells al Police Head.
quarters. ,
CAV Hg DE- PUNISHED!
District Attorney Oakley Hall was consulted inmc'
dlstey after the affair became known TO the Com
missioner. but, we believe has not yet rendered de-
cision in the case. We have heard grave doubts az
pressed by those who pretend to be postsd on sneh
matters "a TO whether the prisoner can be- punished,
relieving that the ofense IL only breach IT trust and
IS such 40, punishable under our laws. The matter is
atm undergoing an Investigation.