The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-16
HAVE WE ANY DETECTIVES
How tho Police are Appointed and Premo-
tiouy Made.

How tho Police arc Appointed and Promo
tons Made.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The murderer OF Nathan Is yet at large. "The
detectives directed by the energetic Jourdan
and sly Kelso. are working up the case, but
as yet have found no clue" What visions OF
housebreaklng, midnight murder, blllies, muried
sledges, budgeons and dark lanterns the foregoing
suggests. With what vividness the illustrations
OF Poe, the exploits OF Jonathan Wild and the
adventures Of Vidocq recalled. vidocq with
his wonderful talent for disguise, his woish though
intelligent pursuit. his love for his profession,
his courage and prolific display OF expedients
in time Of need, naturally suggests the
question Have we any detectives Past and
recent unpunished crimes answer mol Our
city government 10 las perfect as the mind Of
can make it, bat 1t is Tree, and therefore liable
TO abuse than 'strong" governments. The dema-
gogue who by reason OF his loud talk and nurderous
propensities "bosses" q crowd OF our dangerous
classes, receiving as the qua pro quo Office the
duties Of which he Is unable to perform. is not
least Of our abuses. The means that places
an ignorant and corrupt demagogue in post
ton that ought TO he filed by able
and respectable man Ia used 10 procure an ap-
pontment the police. 1t Is the same with regard
to promotion. The Police Commissioners do
not select the best men from the numerous
applicants. but appoint those who are recon-
mended by the said commissioners most useful or
most powerful constituents. The commissioners know
nothing about their appolntees' moral Character;
but the captain OF the precinct IN which the ap-
pointee resides hunts him up, and by THIS means
prevents thieves or rowdies from slipping IN; but
the captain has nothing TO do with his intellectual
fitness; consequently n great many VINO are only tit
Tor the plainest manual labor are appoiatel The
educational standard Is to be able TO read and write
English.
Now sir, we viii suppose six new appo.nee s, just
out OF the school OF police instruction, assigned to
the Twenty ninth precinct. Paddy O'fairandcasy
thinks patr0lling too hard. and about
thing IN the ward with nothing TO do and every
night OFF. lie has relative, DR.. Spaadlum poll
tcal bull; said bull losses out the poor Fellow who
is disabled SINCE che 1863 riot, and Paddy walks
| Hans Blgbelybum wouid like to be car detective;
'tnere Is something 10 be made tnere--never
COPIED" Uriah RoGndshouiders wants 10 be ward
detective, so That he may buy house ana loi. Tim
Waters csmart New n9rS boy would 20 Tor
can't write well enough to Keep the better; viii
soon go tor headquarers detective; then he will be
| hunkidorl. William Howard has no friends had
enough to do 10 get on; glad TO get IL; had to write
twelve hours day for twelve dollars per week. Bill
trade BAD thought twenty-five dollars week
steady was better than five dollars a day
| Paddy Fairandeasy worked ali his lie quarrying
stone. Hans sold cabbages. Ulian was 4 tilIer Of
the SOIL Jim liyed on his laher-iid nothing par
men are now tairiy years old, and are
| gong to learn trade. In which they viii
thievery improved by lifelong practice The
police rules say that PROMOTIONS shall be made for
merit only. Every policeman Will tell you this Is a
farce, and will prove II is For example:-James
Nee, at the Iisk OF his fe captured Real they made
MIN detective but, suspecting him Of 'yol2g demo-
cracy'' sentiments, ne was reduced to the ranks
and forced TO resign TO make for one more or
thOdoX.
Hans "Push, had five breaking charges in one
month; was, AS last resort transferred To Captain
Petty; Petty gave him up; transferred TO an up
town precinct had q charge every week; his
| political friends always saved MIN. He then
| applied for ward detective was opposed by
his captain and superintendent Kennedy
on Thea grounds that he lacked intelligence and IN
dustry, and was unit TO be a common police
| man. Notwithstanding all this he was appointed
detective. This system the cause " the democrat
izaton which Jourdan and his fifty }aouc,taris will
never remedy This Is why any crime recurring
| ingenuity, and In which murder prevents compro-
| mise and compromising. always remains mystery.
JOSEPH O'CARROIL.
late Twenty first ward police.