Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-04
CITY POLICE.


The Alden PatfersOn-AlexaudeT Cor
respondence-The Metropoaitans Han
minent.
The following correspondence followed
the non-appearance of Robert s. Patter-
son, Captain Of the night police, in answer
to the summons of Mayor Alden:
MAYORS OFFICE, NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Oct. 2, 1867-Cdpt. r.. s. Patterson, Oity
Police, Nashville, IeHn.-CAPTAIN Your
services in the Police Department of the
city are required no longer. You will
please transfer to your successor any books,
blanks or property of other nature that
may be in your possession, without I'M
necessary delay.
Very respectfully,
A. L. alden, Mayor.
MAYORS OFFICE, NASHVILLE, Tenn,
Oct. ., l867-Liem j. n. Alexander, City
Police Department, Nashville, Tenn.-SIR:
You are hereby directed 10 assume charge
of the Police Department, rice Patterson,
discharged, until further instructions.
Very respectfully, etc,
A. Z. ALDEN, Mayor.
NASHVILLE, Oct %, 1867 NAL. A. f.
ALDEN: am in receipt of a note from
you Of this date, in which you assume the
authority TO dismiss me from Office / am
advised by the first City Attorney 10 recog-
nize as Mayor and officers of the corpora
ton, whomsoever may be in possession,
whether lawfully indicted or otherwise !;
but such recognition of yourself as Mayor
does not lead to the recognition of any
power vested in you by law to dismiss me
from Office. Ny FERN of Office expires in
January next. BY reference to the city
law, digest of 1865, chapter Is, section /,
you will find that your power is only to
suspend such officers as myself, and that
only for certain offenses therein enume-
rated, and such suspension ia required by
the law TO be reported to the Police Com
mittee, and from their action an appeal
lies to a convention of both houses Of the
City Council not until such actioa can l
be removed from office. | am not aware
Of any offense committed by me. am
ready to answer any charges which may be
laid against me. l am ready to discharge
my duties as Captain of the Night Police
and though tho laws may be disregarded
by others, am disposed still TO assert and
contend for my rights. Under them / am
now actually In the discharge of my off
cial duties, and do not regard your note of
removal as a suspension, the less 40 az |
have been guilty Of none of the ofienses for
which the Mayor is authorized to suspend
an officer.
r. S. PATTERSON,
Captain Night Police
On the receipt of Capt. Patterson'5 re-
ply, Alden Immediately ordered his arrest,
and sent Joe Blackburn with some militia
in search of him. He has not yet been ar
rested, though he has in no way avoided
arrest, and still wears his star
Alden and the City Council are strongly
in favor of the metropolitan police system,
but oppose the allowance of the $l20, 600
demanded for the one years claimed SER
vice of that hitherto somewhat myth
cal organization. A private meeting
was held last night, at which the Police
Commissioners were present, and which
was expected to determine the fate of the
police department, Alden proposing that il
the metropolitans would renounce their
ridiculous claim, they should be placed on
duty Immediately Only thirty Of the
seventy-fve first appointed are now in the
city.
Marshal Brantly and Deputy Marshal
Tignor yesterday resigned, not desiring tc
serve the present administration.