The New York herald., 1874-12-30
Roman Patriotism in tho Police
Board.


The honorable Board Of Police Commits
sioners have covered themselves with glory
AS Lucius Junius Brutus passed sentence OF
decapitation on his offending son, even so
has George Washington Matsell condemned to
the guilotine his transgressing children OF the
detective squad. As Ishmael was banished
from the house of Abraham by its head, even
so has Heidelberg for illegitimate acts been
expelled from tho Mulberry street house by
the seed of Abraham. called Disbecker
Sternly, grandly. unainchingly have the
military Duryee and the oratorical Voorhis
performed their parts in the stirring drama,
and Tilley and his side partner are no more
The offence of these obliterated stars OF the
detective armament was of grave and
weighty character A number of stolen
horse blankets had been recovered from
thieves and lodged at Headquarters.
Two Of the lot had been found by
detectives of detectives, nicely folded up
'1ockers' used by Heidelberg and Tilley.
The presumption was that they were intended
to keep the limbs of those enterprising off,
GERS from the frost and cold during the yet-to-
come winter months. To be sure the defence
claimed that the affair was trivial and the
proof inconclusive; that the blankets might
have come where they were found by accident
or by the design of jealous rivals. But the
Roman frmness of the conscientious Commits
sioners was unshaksn; the things they are
pleased to call their minds were unconvinced.
Heidelberg and Tlley were found guilty Of
the heinous offence of having blankets in
their lockers. They were even denied the
right to attempt to prove that they
were army contract blankets, and as
such Of no value. The infexible Presi-
dent, having been assisted to his feet,
moved that the offenders be dismissed from
the department Three sepulchral "ayes" fol-
lowed the motion, and as George Washington
Lucius Junus Brutus Matsell fell heavily back
in his easy chair the heads of the decapitated
detectives rolled in the departmental dust.
And now we are to have a reorganization of
the detective department. The dismissal of
the officers who were troubled with blanket in
the locker is to be the initial movement in
Mulberry street purification. We shall now
probably discover by what mysterious means
ex-Speaker Alvord recovered his watch and
Police Commissioner won his bottle of wine.
The name of the detective who is on
such familiar terms with the New York
thieves as to get back stolen property
whenever it may suit his purpose and allow
the criminals to go scot free will no doubt be
given to the public. The numerous jobs that
have been hushed up and squared for o
consideration may be expected to be brought
to light. We may even hope for On explana-
ton of the police captains ''rings' and of the
policy recently adopted OF shifting around into
new precincts the uniformed ''pals" of panel
house keepers, gamblers and policy dealers.
Under the new dispensation who can tell
where the reform will stop? May we not
soon even hope to find murderers, kidnap-
pers burglars, highwaymen and other thieves
actually discovered and brought to justice by
the police? What is not possible, now that
Tilley and Heidelberg, who have borne the
reputation of being excellent officers, have
been thus summarily disposed Of?