, 1875-07-11

Er. MARX SHERIDAN, the President and
ruling spirit Of the Board Of Police Com
missoners, is accredited with o very remark
able statement, which it is his duty to explain
more fully. It was made in conversation
with AID CoRcoRAN, the "Boss Of the
Twentieth Ward. and a person supposed to
have special knowledge and a peculiar ap-
probation of the inside workings Of local
politics. SHERIDAN, having been called to &C.
count by CoRcoRAN for some previous asser-
tons, replied in the following strong terms
will say, Mr. CoxooAAN, that 80 far In ne hes,
sha not stone unturned until have exposed
everything about how the present set Of officials
running the city. Ths public shall know MI will
not rest until they know Ill the iniqnity that Is being
transacted daily tn our midst They shall know why
tho bunko-ropezs, gamblers. ind can-can shows arc
allowed 10 have full sway. And tell You, gentleman
when they do know Ill there will be row, and II soe
Of the lniquious otcias sre not found hangiug to
lamp-poet, 1t will not be because tne expoae Il not
complete one.
This language can only refer to the in
famous condition Of things that has prevailed
in this city since the advent Of the Peoples
party in Office. Riot, indecency, crime, and
dissipation have run wild There has been no
serious effort to check or punish the career
of crime. Vice Of ali kinds has been unre-
strained md unhidden. The announcement
Of the success Of the "People's party" was
sufficient to bring to Chicago horde OF gam
blers, thieves, and con6dence-men from Ill
the cities in the country where the authorities
ware prosecuting them They found here
cordial reception, full scope, and fertile
field The doors Of gambling-houses were
thrown wide open Headquarters for thieves
and bunko-men were established and generally
known Houses Of prostitution were opened
on the principal thoroughfares with the thin
disguise of saloon or cigar shop in 'front.'
Burg1aries have increased at a frightful rate.
sneak-thieves and pickpockets followed in the
wake. The "fences, under the name Of pawn
brokers' and junk-shops, have done thriving
business. People who have been robbed have
generally been able to recover their property
by sacrifice of portion Of it, or the pay-
ment in money Of large part Of its value,
but not otherwise, and the thieves have rarely
been apprehended and brought to trial.
There has not been day when there was not
some glaring piece Of bunkoing " or other
device for swindling strangers out Of their
money. It is currently reported and gen.
eral1y believed that there is regular organ
ization of confdence-men and thieves under
the control Of notorious gambler, who takes
strong hand in all the elections. There
have been the most notorious frauds in the
local elections, at which repeating and ballot
box stuffng have been almost openly prac-
tioed- AL these things are matters Of CON-
mon notor;ety-
The police organization, which has been
increased 100 men, have not, during ColvM's
entire administration, made any marked or
persistent effort to stem the torrent Of vice
and crime to which We have referred. They
have been forced to occasional. epasmodio
outbreaks, but they have never beea followed
up. Public indignation having been lulled
for the time being, everything was allowed to
go on as before. Now, the Polics Board has
been held responsible for this infamous state Of
things by the public at large, AMI it has been
generally supposed and believed that MARX
SHERIDAN, himself the chief o. that Board,
and almost supreme in it's control, was more
responsible than anybody elst. Hence it is
that the Mayor and Common Council have
had more popular sympathy in their move
ment to abolish the Police hard than they
have ever had before, or are likely to
have again. It has been supposed that, in
getting nd OF this Board, va should be nd Of
the hindrances to the Discipline Of the police
men and to the proper prosecution Of the
criminal classes and the protection Of the
property interests Of cur citizens
Mr.. MAnK SHERIDAN, it would seem from
the statement VIC have quoted above, now
claims that it is not he aor the Police Board
that should be held accountable for the scan-
dals and outrages that hive disgraoed tha city
for nearly tYn HAAra. Ha knva that Il In