, 1873-02-01
They Pledge the Mayor Their
Moral and Physical
Support.
What Mr.. Medi1l Said to a
Committee.
Scenes and Incidents About Police
Headquarters.
The Cook County Legislative Del
egation on the Situation.

Yesterday mornings papers loft the Mayor and
police difficulty in state Of inaction. When
night fell, the Police Captains Hickey, Gund,
and French wero in receipt Of q letter from
Mayor Moaiil, summoning thom to appear be-
foro him at 1880 o'clock on tho following morn-
ing, and thcro the papers left them, each think
ing over his future course OF action. The
Mayors position had boon strengthened by tho
moral aupport ho had received throughout tho
day. He had everything In readiness for the
no1t decisive move. He had marelalod q
mighty host Of statutory supporters, had mado
of1lcial connections ut Springfield by means Of
tho wires, aud all TINT remained to be
dono was to move against tho mutt
nous Captains. Tho citizona had watched
the fight with increasing interest They realized
tho fact TINT the struggle WAS q bitter one, and
tho issues immensely important. They saw
that tho struggle waB ono Of petty politicians,
but square light between law, order, deconcy,
and official purity on one side, aud most deB-
perate clique Of of1coholdors, backed by the
worst portion Of tho community, gamblers, pot
house politicians, mud tho others who stand in
awe Of police efficiency, Oh the other. Thus the
progress Of tho struggle WIS watched with vivid
interest, which manifested itself by the crowda
OF respectable gentlemen who thronged the City
Hall at comparatively carly hour.
THE THREE CAPTAINS,
each looking unusually determined, arrived at
Police Headquarters, aud, failing to md either
DR.. Ward or Superintendent Washburn, reported
to tho general utility man, who combines in his
abbreviated person all tho conceivable functions
OF the Police Department, covering this maaa OF
responsibility with tho aspiring patronymio,
Prince. They walked round at Police Head
quarters for somo time, until tho hands OF tho
clock we're in tho vicinity Of tho hour namod by
tho Mayor. They then filed quietly away to tho
roar Of the police quarters, and reached tho
Mayors Office by tho baok staircase. BY
this means they oluded the oagor crowd Of oloan
and dirty quid nuncs who had been button-holng
them aud asking their intentions, and found
themselves outside the door Of tho Mayors of1ico
amid u crowd Of reporters. The Mayor being
notified OF their ARRIVAL gave orders to his police
to conduct tho Captains into tile office Of tho
Corporation Counsel, whittier no followed them,
Tho doors were locked and guarded by the
Mayors staff, In tho peraon Of
ONE SILVER,
who took tho opportunity to make himself very
offensiye-moro 30 than usual, oven. This indl-
vidual in order to display his excessive fidelity,
proceeded, with much pomp and Importance, to
give ordors to the enginoor OF the building to
allow no reporters admission to the basement Of
the building (whore no human being lad tho
slightest inclination to vonture), aud otherwise
onaeayoroa to improHs by-atandera with tho In
dispeneablo nature OF his being and oillco.
There ie no earthly reason to suppose that he
acted on authority from Asa superior, but the
display Of devotion was touching ut such criais.
However,, tho reporters obtained, from tho quar-
ter they relied upon, full account Of the inter-
view, the only reason for their exclusion being
that tho Captains noed have no hesitation in or
pressing themselves frankly to tho Mayor, With
out any fenr Of THO possible etrect upon their
subor1natea.
TUE 1TEny1Ew.
Tho Mayor Ind armed himself with tho Exacu-
two axo beforehand, in the form Of throo notices
Of romoya!, Addressed to tho throo Captains,
but he kept tllat fearful weapon In concealment.
Ho asked them several]yI It they intended to obay
tho ordorB he had issued as Mayor Of tho city,
requiring thom to recognize Superintendent
Washburu as Ohiof Of Police. Captain Trench
replied that 1o had pondered over tho subject
with cure, and hal taken aonnd legal advico.
The consequence WAS that he fully determined
to recognlao tho Superintendent, and support
tho Mayor to thc posk ot Ills ability IN the pres,
ont oriHis.
CAPTAIN HICKEY uEslTArEp.
Ho said that he received Ills appointment from
the Board, aud looked to tho Board for iustruc-
tioue Tie controversy WAS purely legal ono,
aud he felt himself incompetent to pass an opin-
ion. II tue Mayor would give him until Monday
ho would then giye IN anAwer. The Mayor was
not to bo triaed with In that way. 1Io would not
with promptltule. Thoro waB no loogeal question
for tho officers; they were the servants Of the
city ami mn1t 0tlnv tho nfEv TTa pou1I an
far accommodate the Captain as to give him
one hour to e1QhangQ QpinlQQa Filth hIH friapds