The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-25

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD -


In your Issue OF the 10th inst. have noticed the
able and succinct letter Of yonr correspondent,
Charles Catchem; but although your correspondent
has. with evident ability portrayed the workings of
the establishment as to beat duty he has, notwith-
standing overlooked some very impOrtan. points in
his subject Such, however has not occurred from
any unwiingness on his part to DO the subject JUS
thee, but simply from the fact that ne is fortunate
enough to be able TO subsist outside the
pale OF police jurisdiction and, therefore,
cannot be cOnversant with its manifold little
msgivngs But, before closing this brief
reference to his name, permit me to state that the
police force is not unmindful OF the interest he man.
ifests in their behalf, as well as IN the public in
whose service they engaged.
Your correspondent is fully aware OF the impulses
OF poor, weary officer, drudging along his beat on
six hours tour. with no other ambition than that
OF successfully evad,ng the pmpings and pryngs of
those veried sycopnants In disguise, the "grand
rounds" whose object 1t would seem to be to prefer
charges against them, and whether well founded or
otherwise to swear them into obedience to their
will. Just imagine for a moment the ridiculous alb.
surdity Of compelling an officer to traverse his post
on time regardless OF what may be transpiring; and
ponder well the still more gigantic absurdity and
gross injustice OF furnishing policeman for not
travelling MS post IN the prescribed time. no
ne was otherwise legally employed IN the discharge
OF his OnerOus duty. ......
and chrome aw-breakers, and am not astOnished
that the public Is becoming alarmed at the war of
Testimony that Is bi-weekly waged before the Com
lance no faith in the men who are organized to
watch their lives ana property, since wholesale
swearing ls the prevailing meritor0us idea at Police
Headquarters. But the public, trust, know how to
discriminate between the innocent and the criminal
in this matter. When an officer nowadays seats
q no ri
days duty he cOngratulates his wife, children and
himself not that he has achieved any prasewOrthy
act IN capturing the enemies or household security
or In any other meritOrtOus public service which
might rebound TO his credit as good and efficient
executed stratagem, evaded the designs OF the
grand rounds and thereby saved 10 his little ones
the wherewithal to subsist.
Now, as an illustration Of the class OF men that
compose the chosen hty Il will not dare to say that
there are not good. honest men among theml will
furnish instance out Of many of their ability in
the trade Of taking an OATH On the morning OF the
9th instant the writer hereof, with another officer
and respecta6le citizen, observed a roundsman
before six A. NJ. and noticed that he re-
after six watching the relieving points OF the sur
r0unolng patrOInen. few days afterwards was
charges against an officer OF the Twenty ninth pre-
cnct for not relieving at the proper point and when
the case came up for trial few days subsequently
what was my CONSERVATION to ind that the SAID
rOundsman testified before the Commissioners that he
was between FOrty-first and Forty second Streets
on Madison avenue, IRON five minutes before Blk
O'Clock A. M until twenty after. While this can be
refuted by at least five respectable Witnesses don't
see why such grave violation Of the obligation Of an
oath should not be brought before the criminal
court since the Commissioners turn deaf ear to
the most pathetic appeal coming from patrOlman.
The patr0man In this case asked Tor postpone
ment until he could produce witnesses, but his ap-
plication was refused. Have the Police Commits.
sohers studied the lines Of the immortal Burns
that
Rank is but the guinea stamp,
mans a man for a. that,
and not shield the terrible crime OF perjury under
the mantle OF rank? No man but he who had TO
endure this UNJUST innict,On after many years OF
faithful and devoted service to the public can con-
ceve any Idea OF its painful effect. Will such bane-
mitted 10 be perpetrated with 1mpunity?
military education ever heard OF anything having
parallel to the late General Order Of the Snperinen
dent, wherein 1t ia distinctly stated that the men,
bers of the department shall salute or pay homage
TO the Commissioners, the superintendent and cap.
tains, without receiving any nOUice or acknowledge
ment in return from those Ofcials2 II such rule Is
in vogue in any organization in the civilized world
having the slightest prctensions to military, am
unaware Of the fact Probably the Superintendent
has discovered some improved method OF treating
subordinates and that would seem to be to pass q
man by who offers the usual token OF respect to his
superior In rank II he were one OF the inferior
creatures of creation, unworthy OF the common act
OF courtesy extended by the highest officer in the
army to the meanest private soldier.
PETER PATROLMAN