New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
Mr.. MATSELLS RECORD.


George William Matsell was born in England
in 1906 and Is at present Ct years old His parents
10 this country when he was years OF age. Upon at
tanning 70 manhood he became clerk in booksellers
store Acquiring knowledge OF the business, be In
vested his savings In bookstore Of his own at
Chatham and Pearl-sts There he renamed for
over ten years. Joining q political club in the
interval, be gradually acquired party strength,
and was at last elected a police justice sitting
In the Tombs Police Court. In 1874 the Municipal
Police act passed. law enabling the Mayor 70 or
ganze strong police force in place Of the poorly dis
cpined and loOseyorganized force hitherto guarding
the city Mayor Havemeyer nominated Justus Taylor
for the office OF Chief OF Police OF the force The
Board Of, Aldermen confirmed Mr.. Taylor. but the
Board OF Assistant Aldermen refused their
sent on the ground that the candidate
Wing. Mayor Havemeyer then nominated Mr..
Matsen who was at confirmed by both Boards OF
Aldermen. Chief Of Police Matsel served for Is years
period embracing the terms Of office Of Mayors Have
meyer, Brady, woodruff Miekie Kngsland, westervet
and part OF that OF Fernando Wood. The chief police
events with which he had deal the AstOr-place
riot and the turbulence of election days The patrolmen
of police from S45 to 1883 appointed by the
Board OF Aldermen. Sharing the general decadence OF
bodies controlled by the politicians of the city, the force
became inefficient under this system of appointment In
1883 the State Legislature interered and appointed the
Mayor Recorder, and City Judge commission 10 ex-
anime candidates Tor patrolmen.
The Metropolitan Police act was passed by the State
Legislature of 1857 which consolidated the police
departments of the Counties Of NewYork Kings, Rich
mond and Westchester. The Governor aud State Sen
ate selected rulers of the department the following
persons: Simeon Draper James Bowen, j. s. T. Strana-
han James Nye, aud Jacob s. ChOlwell. Immediately
after the act was passed Mayor Wood announced that
be believed that the law that established Metropolitan
Police District was unconstitutional. and that he
would obey it, Chief Matsel held the same opinion
in regard the law and considered it TO be his duty TO
obey the commands Of the Mayor until lts validity
should he established The new Police Commissioners
soon met and issued orders to the force. portion Of
the force recognized the authority of the Com
missioners; greater proportion did not Mayor Wood
applied permanent injunction to prevent the new
Commissioners from acting. The courts refused to
grant the injunction. test case was then carried
70 the Supreme Court, which affirmed that the
law was constitutional. Mayor Wood then ap-
piled TO the Court Of Appeals While the
case was being considered hy the last named Court
Mayor Wood came in conflict with the State authorities
10 matter which was irrelevant to the police complca
ton but which, from the bloody circumstances attend
ing its decision materially influenced the opinion OF the
people TO the wisdom of his resistance The Street
Commissioner, Mr. Taylor died, and Gov. King ap-
pointed Daniel D. COnover 20 the vacant office. Mayor
Wood thought that the appointment belonged 70 his
Office and ordered Deputy Commissioner Turner to hold
the Department Mr.. ConOver upon attempting 20
enter the Street Commissioners office the morning OF
June le 1857, was elected by the policemen, who
recognized Mayor Wood still having authority over
the force.
Mr. Conover at once appeared before Judge Hoffman
OF the Superior Court and obtained warrant for the
arrest OF Mayor Wood charge OF assault and bat
terv During the same Recorder Smith also issued
a warrant for the arrest OF Mayor Wood charging him
with inejfipe riot The warrant IN the civil
given 70 Coroner Perry 20 he being the only officer
OF the city who could legally arrest the Mayor
on a civil process. Capt. Waling OF the metropolitan
Police Was gwen the Recorders warrant AT the moment
when the warrants issued the interior Of the City
Hall was 6ued with Municipal Police fully 800 in num-
ber under the command OF Chief Matsell Capt Wal
ling. Inspector Walng, upon receiving the Re-
corders warrant at once entered the City Hail. passed
through the ranks Of the police and entered Mayor
Woods Office Mayor Wood refused to recognize the au-
GhOrity OF Capt waling TO make arrest Capt. Wal
ling then left the building and gave the warrant to
Sheriff Wlett. Meanwhile Coroner Perry had endeay-
ored TO the warrant in the civil but although
ne reAched Mayor hOoos room. ne was there toIuseu
admittAnce and elected from the building by the
police.
policemen, under command of Lieut.. SebnUg Of the
Ninth Precinct, was given guard 10 Coroner Perry
So another effort 70 arrest the Mayor The attempt was
considered hopeless by the Metropolitan Police, mas
much the Municipal Police occupying the City Hall
were known 70 have no scruples about making stout
ps ssed the former. Heyertleess the Metropolitan PO
ioo felt that IL was their duty TO obey even the
CITY Hall by one OF the doors facing upon Cham
bers-st He aud the small band OF Metro
Dolitan Police had scarcely reached the topmOst
Zen of The stoOp before Municipal Police
rushed masses out OF the building and attacked
with their clubs the foremost OF the Metr0pOltans
Aifaeked ia a position whore they could not defend
fbemsrI,es the MetropOtans were compelled 10 give
~ ~" ',r.,'g thtt brief interval dozen OF the
D. ,iO,.,L.e"s were struck SehSoioSS ny ING ''oOS