New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-30
he APPOINTS A POLICE CHIEF
General Steedman Resigns.
HIS RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED
He REsD1SDs HIS RESI- eNAT1oN.


with General Rousseau, declined to accept
the appointment of Chief of Police rendered
him by Mayor Conway, the field was
searched for another candidate for these
honors. 1t happened that the name of
that agreeable gentleman. that worthy
Massachusetts, carpet-bagger, thar fr~mer
Chief of Police, whose Northern b me was
in the original abolition town of BIZ ok
field, with the prefix of "West" or "North, !"
both of which towns were always hot on
the slavery question, occurred to the Mayor
and he therefore commissioned Mr.. Thomas
E. Adams as Chief of Police.
This is the document with which he con-
sidered himself clothed with sufficient
authority ....
MAYoRALrY OF New ORLEANS
| October 2e L.6o J
Thomas f. Adams. Chief of Police:
You are hereby ordered to Immediately
resume the duties OF your office as Chief Of
Police in and for the city of New Orleans.
and report to me as soon as possible the
force under your command, and the dispo-
sition you have made to preserve the peace
and order OF the city.
JOHN R. CONWAY.
At halfpast FIVE O'Clock yesterday after
| noon Mr.. Adams made his appearance at
the office of the Superintendent of Po lice,
and not finding any one present, sent for
Acting Superintendent Cain, then absent in
| some portion of the station bu ilding
Upon the appearance of the latter Mr..
Adams demanded possession of the Office.
The Acting Superintendent inquired by
what authority. Thereupon the above
order was produced,
Upon the presentation of this, Captain
Cain stated that the communication was ad-
dressed to the bearer, Mr.. Adams himself,
but did not concern him CAIN He was
in possession of the Office for General
Steedman, whom he had net seen since one
o'clock, and who had not signlfed to him
what his wishes we're. As soon as the Gen
eral should intimate to his representative
what he was to do he would give up the
post. Mr.. Adams then stated that Gains
position was a reasonable one, and that
consequently he would allow him until
nine o'clock to obtain further light and to
see what was to be done.
A short time previous to this General
Steedman had placed in the hands of Mr.
MeDuh,, of the Board of Police Commits
sioners, letter addressed to Mr.. Dunn,
President of the Police Board. The Gen
eral stated that it was his letter of resigna-
ton. McDuff replied tAat the Board had
been in session from three to i've O'clock
but had then adjourned and that he had not
power though a member, to open the let
ter. Here the matter rested until half-past
seven o'clock.
At that hour General Steedman, with Mr.
Adams. reappeared upon the scene and
stated that in accordance with the request
of General Rousseau and the Board oi
Police Commissioners he had rescinded his
resignation. He consequently requested
Captain Cain to continue in the discharge
of his duties.
Some conversation took place between
General Steedman aud Mr.. Burbank, one Of
the Police Commissioners, which is thus
reported by the Times:
Mr.. Burbank stated that when General
Steedman next resigned he ought to give
notice of his resignation while the Board
was in session. Some allusion was made
| to trifing with the Board.
| General Steedman: Don't you talk to me
of trifling. l don't allow anybody, by
| George, to make that statement.
| Captain Cain said, that during his alb.
sence he had refused to give up the office
until he had received some Information
from him or the Board.
General Steedman replied that when he
dropped out be gave notice to nobody
He did not want to be accused Of trickery
But for the matter of notice, he told the
Mayor of his intention to resign, and he
told Mr.. Dunn.
FMr. Burbank, of the Board, stated tina
the thing would have to be acted upon
that his telling Governor Dunn did no
signify.
! General Steedman here took umbrage a
the tone of Mr.. Burbank, and wanted Il
know what he meant by talking to him il
that manner in his official capacity an(
concluded with the observation that the frs
thing he (Mr. Burbank knew, he Woul(
get up row.
During this interview Mr.. Adams wa
present, but took a contemplative view o
the situation-that is, he did not make an
remark during the time he was present
Messrs. Williamson, Fish, Campbell, Robin
son, and other visitors, and the principa al de
tectives were present, endeavOriug to fgur
out what the situation actually amounted to
and what would be the present result Q
things.
During the whole evening large crow
was constantly in attendance, as well i
the maia reception room as in the ante
chamber and passage ways discussing tn
police imbroglio in its thousand bearing
At eight o'clock General Rousseau mad
his appearance at the station, and inquire
, if everything was quiet,
3 Having made some inquiries into th
workings of the Office, and some suggestion
: as to the best method TO secure the quiet
a the city, General Rousseau soon after wit
, drew
S Considerable excitement was created
various parts of the city by the intelligent
L of the appointment of Mr.. Adams as Chi
OF Policei but no ill-temper was exhibite
f To-day everything is quiet around q
e office of Superintendent OF Police. Gen
= raj S.eedmaE is still in possession al
y the city generally is quiet.
o Ameeting of both Boards of the Ci