The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04
Wholesale DecapitatiOn Of Whiskey-
Spelling COnstableS.
Prohibitionists at the Hub Fighting
"SpirituaP' Elements.
CROOKED HEN In STRAIGHT PLACES.
Virtue Scars Above Bunker Hill and SIAM
pedes the Liquor Dealers.
Butler Sour to Supersede Soup" Santa
Cruz and leer.

| Va OA 0uV 4 COIs
Boston, August 8, 1873
| Last days Of the state eonstabulary The Chair
man blew the keynote, the second member echoed
the edlct and the third gentleman OF the tr!umvi
rate who control the 0ficial destnes OF the little
band OF brothers on Pcmberton square protested
In vain against the untimely notes and urged that
the constables "had done the state some service,
and he knew 1t; but the edict went forth notwith.
standing the objections and twelve valiant chairs
and desks are awaiting occupants at the headquar.
tiers OF the constabulary on Pemberton square,
Then farewell the tranquil mind farewell content
Farewell the gallant raids and seizures grand in
which they all delighted Oh, FAREWELL on. fare.
well, gambling dens the grand No more they'll
trouble you'll No more they'll trouble you'll No
| more they'll seizel 'Othelo's occupations
| g0nep'
This action OF The Police Commissioners in ON.
cially decapitating twelve members of the State
constabulary force located In Boston gave rise to
little conjecture and surmse on Saturday and the
subjects OF the guil!otine OF the Commission IRE.
quently submitted to interviews relative to the
cause OF the sweeping edct OF the Police Commits.
sioners. The ex-cOnstables take the matter very
cooly, but feel they have been treated unjustly in
being discharged without any stated cause being
gwen. The prevailing opinion Is that their com.
mission had been revoked because OF their
INABILITY TO CLOSE UP ALL THE BARS
and liquor saloons In the city. and In this opinion
they were partly correct but they declare that the
commissioners seldom or ever visited headquar-
ters to see the men and to instruct them in what
course to pursue, holding alOof from them as IL
they were unworthy to be instructed or talked to-
The Commissioners do not deny that their time has
been limited, and that In consequence OF private
business they cannot devote sufficient time to the
duties of their Of1cial positions. The recent action
OF the Commissioners had been brewing for quite
long time, however, and the facts in the matter as
Cleaned from conversations with the Commission
ers and others, demonstrate that harmony has not
existed in the clOister OF the triumvirate. At
the time Mr.. Martin Griffin became q member of
the Commission deep-rOoted feeling existed
against the Boston officers, and particularly
against four or five members OF the force, two of
whom Mr.. Griffin had known personally for years.
The matter was talked over In secret session,
and 1t appeared that the men against
whom objection was made by General
Bates were officers recommended by Hon.
A. II. Rice, Judge Russell and other prominent
citizens. Mr. Griffin objected to making scape-
goats OF these men, unless direct charge OF NAL
feasance in office or neglect OF duty was made
Colonel Kimball did not take sides with either OF
his brother commissioners and remained some
| what neutral. 1t was claimed by one member OF
the Commission that the county officers were doing
more execution than the Metropolitan consrables
and while the former were eulOgized as immacu-
late, as lar as bribery was concerned, the Boston
pici0n At one time IL was contemplated to
MAKE A GENERAL RAID UPON BOSTON
liquor dealers, and to accomplish this successfully
it was proposed to concentrate the entire con-
stabuary force in the capital. The members were
tas not o nj Boston but all the cites and fo%es
In the Commonwealth, should be subjected to the
same VICTORIOUS treatment. Why the programme
the members Of the Board are not residents of
Boston, and, perhaps, some construction might be
city was made by the COMMISSIONER
and they found a large number Of open
any idea o. rnls NATURALLY led to cou 9s l OF
war, and IL was the unanimous opinion that the
work OF prohibition was not being carried out as
was that circulars were sent to The constabes in.
forming them that they were laggard in their
Closing up and Keeping closed all the barrooms
their commissions would be revoked. This was
subsequent to the passage OF the act
PLACING LAGER BEER UNDER THE BAN,
and the commissioners expected considerable from
the constables. The deputies anticipated assist
ance from the county towns, force OF sixteen men
being deemed inadequate to prevent liquor and
beer selling in the city and they waited for further
word on the subject until the designations OF the
Metropolitan constables were called for. Mean
while the feeling against the constables alluded to
among the members OF the Commission,
the same argument being used on either side,
sweep be made OF all the Old officers To this
proposition General Bates the chairman, assented,
impoitic and would occasion great deal Of re.
mark and many wrong opinions and Impressions.
He thought that each mans course ana record
gent and remss In the discharge Of their duties
should be dropped, one By one, until healthy re-
sion would not agree with Mr.. Grimm, and the re-
suit was the wholesale discharge OF twelve Boston
officers.
The members OF the commission, or at least two
OF them do not pretend to say that the sale Of the
linpracticable for so small force as exists
close all the bars; but they favor the enforcement
it remains upon the statute books. Win re.
gard TO the Springfield cons.ablss recently
discharged, the Commissioners ,,.. say ro M,
complaints had been frequent that gambling sa-
Icons and houses OF prostitution were doing
thriving business in that city and that the consta.
bles closed their eyes to all this wickedncss. 1t
was therefore determined to begin the process OF
"weeding out'' in Springfield, and aram eo,uters
Captain Boynton was expected 10 take charge o. INC
Springfield business, and 1t was demonstrated that
the reports and complaints were correct III nearly
every particular. This led to cogltation on .he
part OF the members Of the Commission. The con-
looked alter az Springfield, and the action which
had been brewing Tor several months was there
upon precptated. j ne COMMISSIONERS rulcuie Tue
idea that politics either IN the
INTEREST or GOVERNOR wAsHBURN OR GENERAL
BUTLER
had anything to do with the discharges, out they
are in possession of Information to the erect that
good deal OF Butersm existed among the officers
decapitated. General Bates stated to q reporter
that an effort was made some time ago to revoke
the licenses Of COnstables Meade, Marsh. No0nan
and Foley, and that being friends OF Mr.: Grimm,
that gentleman objected, on the ground that they
were Intelligent and competent men and were well
recommended. This seems to have been one OF
the causes of the present onslaught upon the Bcs-
ton officers, ana 1t Is charged that the oppo-
sition to the officers named originated In
against some or the men by whom they
were recommended for appointment. General
Bates states that DrtTnd 6Icie evidence has been