The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-22
ARE CLUBS TRUMPS?
The Recent Police 0utrages
Reviewed.
MURDER AND BRUTALITY JUSTIFIED.
Commissioners Gardner and Duryee on
the Police Force.
DER AND BRUTALITY JUSTIFIED.
GIVE WANT NO GENTLEMEN''

The present extraordinary decentralization and
1ndisctpline OF our police have excited the Ire or
m indignant public. As matters a.. present stand
that public is unfortunately LEFT without means or
redress and its only consolation Is the thought
that the tenure OF once by official DULLES is lorlu
nately not eternal. Within the past year the ro-
lice force-the department above all others which
should be the guardian Of our property and llber-
tIes-has been disgraced by more outragcs than at
any time during It's history. And TINS tendency TO
Generalization derives It's existence directly from
the manner in which the officials have themselves
acted, regardless OF the dictates Of honesty, pru
dence or justice That this has been carried 10
an extraordinary degree is 30 patent to those who
have followed the history OF the department that
It needs no proof Police Commissioners 0stra-
cized from political assemblies for openly connlv-
ing at election frauds the penalty Of which Is State
Prison, and using their subordinates to carry out
A SYSTEM OF TERRORISM
to drive electors away from the polls. Accusations
OF fraud and mismanagement grave enough to
have necessitated the appointment OF legislative
committee TO investigate them. Secret meetings
held and extraordinary measures adopted by
portion Of the Board OF Police to the detriment
OF two Commissioners who were in o hopeless mi
norify. Charges against detectives OF stealing
from the persons OF condemned ielons, and OF
which ample proof was at hand, whltewashed and
dismissed by these same Commissioners Anony-
nous letters written and said to be traced to one
OF the Commissioners but the charges In which let
tiers have never been investigated. Rowdes and
rufIlans appointed to positions without any refer
ence TO character ability. but simply to political
opinion. Daily clubbings and beatings and even
shootings by police officers OF respectable and
in0nensive citizens. Police captains appearing
before an important official department and
grossly insulting the members thereof: And over
all this an attempt to throw
A MANTLE OF JUSTIFICATION,
too transparent not to be pierced but consistent
enough TO show the firm determination OF all con-
cerned to shield the guilty and backen the lnno-
cent. And when to all this Is added the accusa-
ton OF captains OF police being In open protection
OF houses of III lame and gambling dens, from which
they are alleged to be IN regular receipt OF sala-
ries, it is clear that the whole depari cannot
go much lower in degradation and shame. II is
therefore easy to account for the total democrat
ization of the general force, for the owly only
make themselves faithful copies Of their superors.
The captains only take their cue from the Commits
GIoners, and the captains In turn transmit their
characteristics, which they have learned from
higher sources to their men. Thus, from top to
bottom, the entire organization has become so rot.
ten that only time and careful training can bring
1t up to the standard it once attained to.
Bad, however, as the general tone OF the police
force has been for some time past the actions
which have illustrated some OF its members during
the past lew months have been beyond all bearing.
To the other faults which have characterized the
management OF the force comes that OF irrespon-
sibnity. The small satisfaction which was once
obtainable ut the hands OF Commissioners has
given way to q system Of withdrawing the police
In such y manner that citizen who complains Of
IN outrage generally only gets his trouble Tor his
palms, and
THE NATTER DIES OUT
This is easily accounted for by the fact that the
men on the police are In each case the appolntees
and favorite standard bearers OF some one of the
Commissioners, who are loath to do away with their
men unless the outrage is 80 Migrant and has sucn
publicity that white washing becomes Impossible,
and cases have been kno wn where men, alter being
condemned perforce have been put into snug
berths somewhere else. This 81 stem OF course,
breeds an responsibility and total disregard OF
circumstances in the police officer. In any case
he is 10 be shielded and protected therefore, what
rights has q citizen that policeman is bound to
respects Apparently none.
To some extent, then, this accounts for the late
complete disregard OF human life. liberty and
happiness which has made the police unpleas-
&OLy notorious; UuJ tue IduJ UIy also Uc iOuuu III
the placing of revolvers and clubs in the hands Of
men who are instructed by no discipline how to
use them, and who are rather taught to use them
" here they please. In the hands OF some people
weapons OF this kind are always dangerous; but
when these are further made to feel their impor-
lance by the possession of ofical position the
outrages which may be committed under the
cover OF law are lnnumerable.
THE MURDER OF M'EANARA
by the Detective Leahy Is yet fresh in the mind of
the public. How the horde OF detectives rushed
into the house where Dutch Harmon was sup
posed to live and, after beating on several doors
ior which there was no warrant of law or order,
ths particular detective. Leahy, because the poor
wretch wouldn't open quick enough the door OF a
room which, alter all, was his own. drew forth a
revolver and shot HIM dead. And the wonderful
callousness OF the authorities was never better
illustrated than in t.e TACT OIL their taxing bail Tor
the appearance of II, murderer when wanted. He
was actually allowed TO walk the streets Tor days
alter the MURDER and nobody thought Of troubling
him until the pubic press made such a hue and
cry that they were obliged to rearrest the mur-
derer in sheer desperation. And now, while the
his family are suffering the pangs of
want. every influence is being brought to
bear to improve the position OF Leahy and get him
on The trial. 1t Is publicly boosted by
persons in authority in the Police Department that
should be 1t would be hard to divine. Why such
a crime as this, committed IN q lit OF utter de-
nance OF ali rules Oh law SnOuu DC I0llateu, Wnen
IL Will be kno wA that this same man Leahy only a
few months before shot some insignificant prisoner
an Greene street Tor the great CRIME vi attempting
TO escape. Such incidents show
THE DESPERATE CHARACTER
OF the authorities wnO have our lives and property
In their care. For Just devoid oil all idea OF JUS
uce are they In shielding friends they are re-
vengeful in prosecuting enemies. Woe be to him
who lncurs the dspleasnre not merely oil COM
missioner or u captain, but oil a mere patroman.
The sudden clubbing. the trumped up charge, the |
night In the station house remain like terrorism
even over the mead OF the most in0ienslye cltiZen
and with no prospect OF any redress at Head
quarters.
Indeed, one OF the most amusing scenes 1t Is |
possible 10 conceive OF, and much better than any
play, rs Inc Iarce OF the police trials To watcn
Inc utterly c0ntemptuous manner In which |
Ar. commissioner Gardner dismisses complaints
MADE Dy citizens against policemen certainly |
make the Star Chamber trials OF famous memory
pale 10 lhsignlncance LOT the utter disregard Of
anything approaching common sense or Justice
which characterlzes them. lt would be almost
IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME
all the police OutraQes which t.lo