The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-10
OBITUARY.. .
CaptaIu John Jourdan, Superintendent Of the
New York METROPOLITAN Police.

CaDlaIu John JOurdan, SuDertutend6ut of the
New York Metropolitan Police.
A private despatch from New York announces
that Captain John Jourdan, the Superintendent OF
the Metropolitan Police of New York city, died there
this morning.
Captain Jourdan was born in New York on Janu
airy 6, 1881. After receiviug good common school
education, he entered the mailing department OF
the New York Herald office at the age OF eleven
Subsequently he held similar position on the New
York Sun, and at the age OF seventeen transferred
himself to the folding-room OF the New York TTi-
btne of which he became foreman In due
time. In 1855 he was appointed a patrol.
man of the Municipal Police, and
served It'll the Metropolitan Police was organized
He followed the fortupes OF Mayor Wood, refusing
to join the new force. On october IL, 1858, he was
appointed patrolman OF the Metropolitan Police,
and on April "a, 1860, was made Sergeant and on
January 81, 1858, was promoted Captain, succeeding
Joseph Dowling, who had been appointed Police
Justice. All of this time he had served In the Sixth
precinct. On the 11th of April last Captain Jourdan
was appointed Superintendent, to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation OF John A. Kennedy.
His promotion to the superntendency was In ac-
cordance with the arrangement by which the Police
Commission was to consist OF two Republicans and
two Ss we e tS no as
his appointment the Tribune Of this morning says:-
When Superintendent Jourdan was appointed in
April last he Introduced a number OF changes into
the force, and In seeing them carried into effect
OVertaXed his strength. For several weeks after
his appointment ne worked from sixteen to eigh-
teen hours daily, often remaining out until or
O'Clock A. M, calling at station-houses at uneX-
pected times and ascertainng how police duty was
performed in the various precincts The Irish faction
fight on July IL was source Of great anxiety TO
him, as he believed that it should have been pre-
vented by the police up town before 1t had become
so terrible an affray.
Following this came the Nation murder and the
extra exertioDs put forth by the Superintendent
completed the wreck OF his system. He was finally
compelled to succumb, and was for several days con-
fined to his bed by illness. BY advice OF his ply
scians he went to Saratoga, in order to try the
benefit OF rest and recreation, and after an absence
OF two weeks, came back, feeling somewhat better
Since then he has had short Intervals OF better
health, and has occasionally visited Police Head
quarters. On Thursday last he was again confined
TO his bed and since then he has been steadily de-
clinng.
Superintendent Jourdan bore the reputation of
being OF the best detective officers In the coun-
try, he having worked up some OF the most dficult
robbery cases that ever taxed the ingenuity OF an
officer. Prominent among these are the BOwdoin-
ham (N H. Bank robbery. where he secured the
thieves and recovered over $500, ,OO0 nearly all the
amount stolen; the Lord bond robbery, where, al
though the thieves were arrested the proOf was not
sufficient to hold them and large number of cases
Of minor importance.
In the present state OF political affairs in New
York. it will be dificut to supply Superintendent
JouIdans place With one who was as honest, ZEAL
Gus, and industrious as he was.