New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-24

ST., which had earned the name OF the ponce court
| martial, But the three young men, as IL happeheo
were not out on spree. They were CLERKS IN UaiiN
near Charing Cross, not five minutes walk from inc
Haymarket They had been kept late at the bank
/ that night 10 make up the half-yearly accounts
They had had modest supper at the bank with the
cashier had left the building perfectly sober gone
straight to the Haymarket for cab, and IN the act
of calling one from the rank, had been rudely as
sailed on the most frivolous pretext by the ponce
and subsequently carried off to the station. All this
was proved on the trial by testimony so unimpeach-
| able that Mr. Knox declared himself obliged to be-
leve il against the united evidence of the policemen
although to believe the defense required him to be-
eye also that the police for the sake of swearing
| their case through had committed wilful perjury
With his mind wholly in sympathy with the force
and all organized to convict, he acquitted the prs
| oners on the express ground of false swearing by
! their accusers
Now, one would suppose that in a case like this 1t
was somebody's business to do something about IT,
For the credit of the force, the authorities were
bound to inquire into the conduct of three officers
whom magistrate had pronounced guilty of wan
ton assault and arrest and of attempting to cover
their Offense afterward by perjury. The facts at
tracted attention being fully reported IN the papers
and the demand was general that an example should
be made of the guilty officers. But first the Chle1
of Police Col Henderson, refused to order an inquiry
OF take any steps in the matter Next 1t was brought
to the notice of Mr. Bruce who as Home Secretary,
is the final authority in police questions. He at trst
believe, declined to interfere the ground that
| Col Henderson had declined. At any rate he de-
clined Then the matter was brought up in Parlla-
ment-where sooner or later everything is brought
by a question to the Home Secretary. He there re-
teraed his refusal to interfere remarking that the
young men, if they felt themselves aggrieved might
| privately prosecute the officers. That, like the
| Overend Quincy proceedings which described IN
recent letter is q curious illustration of the ideas
prevailing in England to the duty Cf the State in
pursuing criminals. Still, the public would not let
the matter rest. The newspapers persisted in dis
cussng it, and finally, somewhat against the custom
which regards question as disposed of in Parliament
by one answer from the Treasury Bench, fresh IN
quiry was addressed Tuesday night to Mr. Bruce.
His answer has provoked great outburst of indig-
nation One can scarcely account for 1T except on
the not very complimentary theory that the Secre-
tary's mind had become muddled by the sub-ofcial
ingenuities so commonly brought TO bear in such
cases. What the public asked of the Home Secre-
tary was that he should direct investigation into
the conduct of certain police officers whom magis-
trate had already pronounced guilty, and against
whom, therefore, strong presumption existed Inc
Home Secretary refused to accede TO this moderate
request the ground that he doubted whether they
were guilty, leading one to suppose that If he had
been sure they were-or were nOt-the inquiry would
have been granted He went on TO say that there
had been some sort of private investigation, which
led him to doubt whether the young men whom the
magistrate had acquitted had not been wrongly
quitted-evidence which he declined to produce.
The gross injustice of this needs comment but it
4. 20. from a Oft TOR h
lished this morning written by the father of one of
the clerks. +" should like to know" he says, by
what process Mr.. Bruce could inflict more cruel
wrong on these young men than by publicly declar-
ing in his place in Parliament that he Withheld
certain secret documents because they were calcu-
lated most seriously to affect their characters And
journal of great influence adds For our own part
we have no hesitation in pronouncing it cruel and
unjustifabe in the last degree The question, IN
short has now become one of confidence IN the
Minister even more than in the police" Both OF
them have been good deal damaged in public estl-
nation. and both will suffer still more if the Secre-
tary persists much longer in refusing the nyestl-
cation demanded It looks unpleasantly like the
way they manage these things in France, where the
nolice is supreme and where its worst offenses are
invariably covered up by high officials who are
themselves protected from prosecution, unless
their victim gets permission of the Council OF state
which is almost never granted. The English could
borrow much with advantage from their neighbors
across the channel but they are taking the worst IN
stead of the best. Mr. Bruce has planted himself on
a principle odious beyond conception to the English
man. and only tolerated in France because the
France which men used to respect persisted in 1851
and 1852 by the bayonet by Cayenne and by Mazas,
OF lives only in exile, waiting its day.
There has long been complaint In Lon
don that the police growing too military
Sir Richard Mayne, the former Chief, was an
old soldier and martinez Col Henderson, lately
appointed is also a soldier, and of high character.
He has put good deal of life into the force, but
naturally has preserved its military tendencies.
People bore it pretty well, though the force has
steadily lost popularity during the last year. But
this last case has been little too strong for 1t would
seem that the police are drilled in swearing as well
as in marching; and if the perjury of single officer
il dangerous TO innocent citizens what chance have
they against perjury by platoonsf Mr. Bruce can do
nothing as the champion or apoogist OF such sys-
fem. AS matters now stand, tho police arc taught
that no excess of zeal will subject them to penalty or
even to inquiry Their chiefs stand by them through
thick and thin They are, doubtless, very grateful
To Mr. Bruce for his projections but 1T seems likely
that Mr. Bruce will have 10 choose between the graf
itude of a few INSCRIPTIONS officers and the good
o,irior of the public 6. VS..
FRANCE.
PARIS. Monday, Aug. %, 1869.
The Empress departs on her Eastern tour to-day.
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