The New York herald., 1874-10-29
PIOUANF POLICE PECCADILLOES.
A Day in the Mulberry Street
Tribunal.
How the Metropolitan Blues Stand Firs-The
Agony Of Losing Weeks Pay-senti-
mental Swearing-How to Detect
Beer in the Esophagus.

The tribunal IN Mulberry street, before wnicn
MI Blue Coat and Brass Buttons Is arraigned, has
nothing pretentous about 1t, and the laws OF evil
deuce are not strictly adhered 10 in any case, yet
business Is transacted very rapidly, and a dozen
policemen viii find themselves disposed OF ike so
many batches OF bread. The hall in which police
rases are tried Is capable OF holding one hundred
and fifty people, aid has an elevated plat
lorm, rallied on, behind which the Commis-
noner or Commissioners are seated IN
front OF large desk, with seats for
tue press, and here IN the sanctuary are also to
be seen the police captains In all the splendor or
and blue cloth, reulgent as the sun at noon
day. This separation OF the captain from hls
patromen has the enect OF keeping discipline In
tact Each case is fully detailed In written spec-
fcations and with the specifications Is also the
record OF the of1cer, who may have been unfortu-
ate before or not The specifications are inciosed
An a large yellow envelope, and are prepared be-
iorehand with considerable neatness. Below the
tribunal so much dreaded by the gallant police
man. and in fact, the only tribunal for which the
average policeman has any reverence, sits the
Official stenograpner, who takes down the testi-
nony word for word, as 1t falls from the lips OF
the guardian OF the law, truthfully or otherwise.
DRAMATIC SWEARING.
Then the method OF swearing is unique, at least
when Commissioner Disbecker tries the case.
The o1lcer VINO makes the complaint Is compelled
TO take bold OF the Bioie at one end while the
accused takes hold OF the other end and occa-
sionally sergeant, roundsman or captain will
make complaint against two officers, ana the
third man will clutch the Book OF Books in the
middle. Some officers grab the Bible as II it was
bot stove lid Others take hold OF 1t In on hand
manner, as If 1t we're a slice OF Swiss cheese, and
ptners take the oath in as solemn q manner as
that OF the Three Men OF Grutli or Hami-
tar swearing his boy to eternal ven.
Eeance against hated Rome. The amount
pf lying done in this Court Is really
lwfnl to think OF, but OF course, 1t will be remem-
bered that many policemen have consctences Of
the consistency OF India rubber and to these
gentlemen an oath is q tribe light as air. And
II Is mournful TO behold what base passions are
displayed IN this police tribunal Here come
Hate Uncharitableness, Envy, Fasehood and all
The kindred vices. Here comes the captain TO
get rid Of q rising sergeant whose path is on
ward TO promotion. and here comes the Mephisto-
pheles OF a roundsman, who win swear you an oath
ElibIy as q circus performer does trick and who
have 1t out with his bete nOire the patrol
man. And occasionally the Commissioner
who hears the case has such positive
swearing 20 deal with, that he wonders
with David II all men are not liars. The
modes Of punishment have different grades.
There is dismissal by a concurrent Board; sus
pension and stoppage OF days pay, according to
the will Of the Board. Occasionally policeman
win appear for trial who thinks that ne is q law
yer, ana ne will hold forth quite elogaently until
he is shut on In the dover OF his rhetoric and
poesy, and then he goes Oh with a swagger that is
amusing. There are a few captains on the force
VINO devote all their energy and spare time to
Mnding cause Tor complaint against the men in
their command. and these people are always GER.
tain to have some phant sergeant or roundsman
20 40 their dirty work, and more dirty work can
not be well imagined that that performed By some
uf these oficials.
Yesterday Commissioner Disbecker was the only
Commissioner VINO sat TO hear the cases tried and
his method OF doing business Is quick decisive and
20 the point IN every cause that comes be ore him.
Alderman Cooper. VINO practices as lawyer, ana
who is distinguished by a large amethyst ring that
he wears on his hand, sat near 10 the Commits
noner being retained TO delend an accused on1cer.
In the body OF the hall there was sea Of brass
buttons and blue coats and closely cropped heads
and ssuboly mustacnes. And among them was the
The bread and 6uttf and household goods Of her
Francis Antonelli, 9 dark-browed and solid.
looking on1cer, but not oy any means relative OF
ering on mis- post by Frank G. Fisher, in the
ThITty-second precinct which is somewhere on
the road to Albany. Antonelt explained himself
~ well as he could, but not very plainly.
fHB SCENERY Is SO BEAUTIFUL.
Commissioner rDIsBEcKER-Antonelli. am afraid
that the scenery is so beautiful in your precinct
thar you lose time IN nts OF poetic admiration.
Matthew Hogan lost fifteen minutes, and could
not account for the lapse.
Commissioner DIsBEcK ER-Hogan, what have
you to say Don't you know the regulationsY
HoGANL have nothing TO say, sur, shure.
didn't think OF the regulations.
COMMISSIONER DIsBECKER- Well can't do any
thing but teach you and Antonelli the rules aud
ssch Of you. Hogan and Antonsni LEFT with
bitter hatred to all mankind.
accused Oncers Gallagher ana Genet OF absence
nom post these two young men stood up laugh
s a. escn ana nss seoA ooa iue
They were both nned two days. pay, and they left
the stand IKE song and dance performers, both
o them moving their legs In exact rhythm and
unison
Roundsman Curtin charged Onlcers Hughes and
lowly manner in a Wild place up town. although
the rules provide against any policeman taking
Commissioner DIsBEcKER-wen, Hughes and
Nacalgan, what have you to say to this accusa-
uon
WATCHING THE 'EYETALIASs.-
oficer HUGHES I'm q rich and beautiful brogue)-
Wen, sur, we were sent TO watch gang OF labor
ers and TO privint thlm from moiesting gang OF
CoMMIssIosER-A gang OF what'
warni one hundred feet from thin at ali and I
didn't mink & was violating any rule and what's
we were watching the Eyetaans.
Il il said that some officers never show them
selves but when they are compelled 10 attend at
headquarters. Roundsman Edward Brennan,
from the truly romantic Twelfth precinct came
MP smiling and well shaved and accused Onicer
James Duny OF being on his post and finding him
IN the pastoral occupation OF driving cattle TO
while away the hours OF an October night. Duny's
intellect seemed to be OF the cloudy kind, for he
involved himself terribly. Duffy found himself In
18th street, but, IKE General Boum, who did not
know what TO do With his army, ne could not tell
why or how he got there.
Commlssioner DIsBECKEB soto Uoce) Why
this o1icer In q perfect lunknead. He does
not know anything. He should not be on the
force an hour ne Is so stupid.
0fbcer John Henly was also on his post, and. as
nsual, he did not Know how ne got on II, and In
tact they never do know.
sHARPESIsg HIS INTELLECT.
toHmlssioner DiSBEcKkR--fou are queer man,
Tour legs carried you place that your head
did not know. ] Will give you hve days hne to
brighten up your Intellect
O11CePs Wealv Moran palrnar and Drfcco we're