New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-12
THE RUMORED TRANSFER OF POLICE
CAPTAINS.

Some of our contemporaries, whose columns
are daily filed with sensational matter have circulated
report that number Of the most efficient Captains III
the Metropolitan Police Department are about TO Dc
transferred from the Precincts which they now have
command They even went so far as to give the names
of the officers and the Precincts to which they are 10 DC
transferred The information which the articles were
based was never received from Headquarters III was
obtained in scraps by ubiquitous and ingenious reporters
from some INSCRIPTIONS Ward politicians, VINO are
anxious for change The rumOrs for they are nothing
more deftly written up with the aid OF vivid magina
ton made a very plausible story, the publication OF
which has created considerable alarm and anxiety III the
minds of the lawabidng citizens and merchants located
in the Precincts containing greater proportion OF des
nerate and lawless characters. Petitions numerousy
Signed are daily arriving at Police Headquarters pray
ing that there shall be changes except those actuaiy
better discipline ana EMERGENCY OF te
Department It cannot be denied but that determined
efforts being made through the most corIuPI inu
ences TO induce portion OF the Police commissioners 70
make such transfers will help to swell inc Democratic
vote next FAIL but they VIII prove 1rre
Manerre and Smith assent TO 1.-THE NICE te jobs when
have been v 50 ST snccdSd The only
which gives the report the sembance Of truth is the fact
that there is some doubt abOut the parties named being
true disciples Of Tammany Rumor gives their names as
Capt De Camp OF the Second Capt Thorn o. te fonr9
Capt Petty Of the Fifth, Capt Mills OF the Eighth capt
Garland Of the Fourteenth cant spegnt o. the IwenE
the Precincts to which tue aDoTeDamed 3m9eIs
belong which would not be seriously affected should less
iieyed that majority Of the officers named would
! he delighted with n change Of Precinct were
70 II" their r malic4ers ana detracIors to See them
removed The Superintendent Of Polce supposed be
better acquainted with the character and capacity OF his
Captains than tile Commissioners but II is not always
that his recommendations are needed Inc retirement Of
who as vet has not thoroughly defined bis position, and
bos "ce So are suspected Of being over Jealous in
the discharge of their duties especially during the taI
elections There variety Of reasons where II might
be necessary transfer officer from one Precinct to
another He might be surrounded with corrupt and eyll
influences which he had not the frmness to resist lie
might have been presented with Testimonial from par
ties who have axes TO grind perhapshe might through
laxty of discipline have allowed MS 10
get the upper hand Of him. la either case u would PROD
ably come TO me RhoNieaee Oh tnG 80 ] s
who would take the necessary aCuon 10 Ioneuy t n
| evil. But it is seldom that an officer could be
and buffers" send in a written protest against
him for having Illegal voters too thoroughly scrutinHed
terror 10 the Pudding gang, Sailor boarding run
ners dOghgnters, river thieves aud John Aliens ana
Of him for being treated unuty He IA among them all
hours Of me night and although his e Tssds 70 " aa
there every night turbulent and noisy are the princ
oversts This candiie, of which the greater portion Of
the Fourth Ward composed receives his almost und
nightly be the scenes OF boodshed and disorder Dunng
the bloody riots Of 1863 this officer distinguished himself
meager command His Precinct Is one Of the strong
holds OF the unterrhed and unwashed aud he Is not one
removal
Capt. Petty OF the ftn irccluct u ne oHt ol
the most efficient reliable officers in tho Department
Always cool and dctermined he never hesates while
maintains order among the roughs aud bueS WIN which
his Precinct abOuuds But he is obnoxious TO the Hon
Mr. Murphy, ex.Member Of Assembly, who magues him
self the mighty political mngnate OF the Fifth Capt
Garland OF the Fourteenth Precinct is Of the young
est officers tho Department. He has one OF the worst
dsricts TO take care OF IN the whole Metropoia Dis
trict infested as II IS with the descendants OF the old
Rock aud White Ghost gangs In some OF the streets al
inmates which arc always ondcayoriug 20 cvado
the laws aud nightly resist the officers while attempting
arrest them. 10 requires officer possessing nrmUess.
courage and excellent judgment 10 maintain any sort
OF order snch hardened graduates IN crime such
an officer CIpL GaIlands supcrOrs certify he is.
! But he IS another whose politics, the hanchise
| OF which be only exercises at the pous are
| not agreeable 60 The Big Iniins" Of Gammany,
/ The most furious onslaught has been made on Capt
! Nathaniel T. Mills Of the Eighth Precinct lie seems
have brought down his head the wrath Of the entire
Democratic camp, horse foot and dragons. The hauuts
OF the syerhngered gentry, who dress IN the hight OF
fashion, with their cut nails aud poiusey oiled hair
sOked behind their close hitting pants velvet coats
ciuct lie aud his officers hound them from post 10 pillar
and from street TO street until there IS no rest Tor her
wicked souls The neanes most disgusting ana souiess
class OF thieves 10 be found here beside any quantity
of fOurh.rate gamblers, stOOlpgeOns cappcrs" and
always the look out for victims Every Of them
generally performs the lions share OF the service.
/ Most every street contains moro notorious
! Of hquOr or drugs. nightly decoyed
and robbed None OF their victims ever be found
II they are they cannot be induced By any means 10 APP
pear against them. There Is hardly patroman IN tho
Eighth Precinct but thinks that he Is nightly In danger
OF being murdered by Of the that niest
The various cnbs on his beat. Capt Mills has been
threatened time and again prosecuted every OPP
pOrtuuy that offered. But few years ago, while visit
ing Philadelphia, he was consigned 20 Moyamensng JAN
by Democratic bully whose l-will he had gained while
the party visit 10 this city. Not long since he
arrested several Deputy shSs concerned m the murder
the Broadway Theater For this ne has been threat
enod with arrest Again, few weeks since, while
four days leave OF absence recruiting his health hc hap
pened at circus where n friend OF his, engaged selling
tickets was somewhat pressed, and he volunteered 10
assist him take the money, for which charges pre-
missioner Manireres being the only dissenting vote
Tie gentlemen most prominent IN their persecution Of
Capt als Is the hon Michael Norton, the classical
State Senator from that District 10 IL reported that Com
missioner brennan Police Justice bowling ana The en-
tire Hhens posse are also on me same sac OF TIE house
Mcssrs. Downing and Brennan have both commanded the
Sixth Precinct la their time and know something Of the
Trials ana riDulatioLs OF Ponce captain me worst
characters tboy had 10 deal with were the Dead Rabbit
or their clef Fatty welsh, could control them wtha
shake Of their finger. They were not thieves such
little harmless fight and then, In which there
few heads broken. As evidence Of Capt Mss pOpu-
his removal contemplated asking for his retention,
the interests of the Ward demanded it, signed by 2O)
Co.. Lord Taylor, j. j. Aston D. Frederick, WIN. Hall
& Sons, Wheeler Il Wilson, w. J. +. Daily Il
tor Of 81 Nicholas Hotel, Gen. Rufus Ingalls,.
Mabie, Todd Coz Peter LOriard aud MealiO d Co.
Strange as II may seem tho notorious IheO Allen wants
Capt Mills retained Tor the reason that Mike Norton does
from his path Of duty and hence ne believes he stands
of rival factions the fend ia bitter between Them
Capt. Frank speght, who commands the Twenty ninth
| sccondst and is bounded by Third and seyenthaves
has larger field OF operation than any other Captain.
HIS Precinct embraces all classes Of people great deal
OF the fashionable wee Of the city Is conferred there IL
probably one OF the best regulated districts in the city,
taking into consideration that the principal streets during
the night are Travelled by streetwakers who have 10 be
continually watched by the ParOmen. Another Captain
would probably be very acceptable 10 few pothouse
prominent citizens Of tue Twenty ninth Precinct. Capt.
sed from e the e es 1 ~ rne sat place We arc
LA ~ any Ileelnct except only where the Interests Of