New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-16
THE POLICE BOARD CHARGES
ANSWERS OF COMMISSIONERS MATsEIL AND
DISBECkER.


DISBECkER.
REASONS FOR NOT observation-disclosures AGAINST
DgMoyA-THE ASSERTION OF INCOMPETENCE
AND UNFIrNFss DENIED CHARGES AN
swERrD IN DETAIL.
President Matsell of the Police Board yes
torday appeared before the Mayor accompanied by his
counsel Ebridgc Gerry. and submitted an answer to
the charges made by Mayor Wickham against the Police
Commissioners. Before reading the answer MFR. Gerry
wished to II the charges made against Prcsi
dent Matscll Individually of tho Board OF
Police The Mayor said that they were made against
him as member OF the Board At the conclusion OF the
reading the Mayor took the papers and said he would
give them fun consideration.
As soon as tho OF President Matscll WIS re-
ceiycd. Commissioner Disbccker accompanied by his
counsel John stIahan, also submitted an answer To
this Also the Mayor promised 10 give full consideration
Accompanying Mr. Masril's answer il a communication
In which he says Should tender my resignation, as
YOU desire and for the forth in your letter 1t
would be practical acknowledgement that was guilty
of the offenses horcu charged against individually
and that answerable for any inefieenoy Of the
Police force for you state that the charges are sworn TO
by one or more witnesses. My resignation could not,
therefore received without respect TO the truth or
fasty OF any OF these comFlants' must, therefore,
respectfully but decidedly decline to resign my position
"A Police Commissioner emphatcally denying the truth
OF my aud all charges against me-" There is also with
this protest and demand" in which Mr. MaSell pro-
evidence and charges not to- and makes the fol-
lowing demands:
demand that every charge made against me be made
specific and certain IN order that may know DEFINITELY
with either the original verified copies of any docr
that may be confronted with permitted to cross
examine each and witness who You assert VIII tes
us IN such charges Idcmand that then may have an
opportunity 10 be heard my defense and be allowed to
produce cvdcucc against sucn charges ana IN supporter
my defense thereto and that may be represented b'
counsel
In letter which Mr.. Dsbccker sends with his reply
he saws: have not the charges signed by Mr.
A. Oakley Hall. directed by you personally not to
do So If you require these charges answered shall at
once respond on hearing from you. 1 am advised that
your action this matter is Of quasi judicial character
The Governor Of the state has taken the same view as to
his duties under tlt charter l therefore ask hearing
before you on charges t. be confronted with the
witness againstcs and the opportunity to put in my
evidence"
Following ore abstracts of the answers the Com
missoners which are very long:
THE ANSWER OF COMMISSIONER MATsELL.
In Presidents Matselrs answer he states that
he should only be held responsible for improper action
and neglect Of duty by personal cooperation by vote or
otherwise. ~ individual commissioner He also in
that the right Of removal ia limited by law to ndi
vdual misconduct cause. He denies that any mis-
government of tho police force has been shown, and
saws that the City of New-YOrk has never been 80
free from crime within the past year In view Of
tho depressed condition Of business he regarded this as
remarkable After the general denial of the charges,
President Masel takes them up by one. In answer
the charges and specifications Of "gnoranee OF ne
discrepancies between the police and statute law OF the
requirements Of the force :; that he was devoid OF
the charge OF having been the editor Of zone of
the most immoral pgbc9o9sS he asSnT" sae
Ga7thc but it was never accused of being an immoral
publication lie denied that he had cOnspired with Hugh
Gardner then Commissioners of Police, to charge
Capt. Walsh with criminal conduct and entered INTO
full details Of the Teresa Clifton case when nave been
ed.
be removed from the police boat without cause except
whenever he had used the roce boat to inspect the
rivers he declined TO meet Capt Walsh because ne re-
gsrded HIM as remaining quot under grave lmpuiatlos
He stated further that while he had been COMMISSIONS
no member of the force had been denied trial and he
had not conducted any trial unfairly or lmprolorX ne
denies that any embellishments or arcenes III the DE-
TO charges of the shortcomings Of the Board rs
whole Commissioner Matsel claims that he should not
KascunG not beng on file he answers that the papers
against Capt Kialca in which Kascfung did testify
His have always be- impartial, but the chaac
iHposng penalty The papers in the Chef Clerks
have been referred the Committee on Rules and Dise
States that tho police have been required to do their
duty In se fs a aa Abaisw s no e Which the
Commissioner asserts relieves him from all blame IN
FOR ana4 w purposes the Commissioner says that the
daily reports merely tabular statements ana 90 not
good ground tor entering such premises
President MOtse. in conclusion claims to have been
the originator OF many reforms such "a the organization
of the River Police reelected lamps on wharVes for pro
tecting merchandise and division of the city into four
Inspectors Districts "To such services" he adds
system Municipal Police which has so often served as
pattern for other cities OF the Union
COMMISSIONER DIsBECKER's REPLY.
In answer to the communication marked Personal
and to the charges signed by John d. Townsend Com
missioner Disbcckcr submits that when Mayor Have
meyer requested him to resign, Mayor Wichham had
called upon him and urged him to retain his position
Now as in the summer OF 1874 he believed that his duty
20 himself aud the public demands that he should con
tnue to administer the duties Of his Office As to the IN
efficiency and decentralization OF the force. he states that
although lac does not that the force is all that can be
desired he does maintain that the great mass OF the force
IL not surpassed by any other in fidelity to duty
and success in the objects for which 1t ex-
ists. TO the wedding out of the exceptions the
Commissioner claims that be has done more than any
onfIontrd by mans obstacles and had been opposed 10y
Thomas Cooper Campbell, VINO ito the oppO9liiOn III
Albany Last Winter which defeated the Dll of vesung IN
the Board Of Police the power 70 conpe. Tue % t
OF witnesses nc hcir trials Reformation Is WORK Oh
time and there has been @ branch OF Its
administration site entered the Department Pnl
single pnhlic gaming establishment within the city
limits The beneficial resuitS OF his manage
@eDt on Ihe aenowrdgd For the year 1873
SiO45Si6 so was expended for streeteieaI
predecepsor Sl97. l5s 81 was expended For the iSt
half of 1874 during which MT DlsDeSKer dq nS
for 1870 will he unler - 100 I1ns; Ne aus,
100000 has been saved aud cleaner s'ree'S n"'o ''
To the charge Of having appointed strangers Of less
than sr months residence in this city upon the police
the Commissioner answered that the power OF appoint
Inent lies the Board alone lie further refers 10 VIC
Amendment 10 the charter passed 1873. which pro
ves that any male citizen who shall have resided III the
State OF New York for year next preceding s "!I
cation may be appointed upon the police force II he pos
ssses All The ,t1er manifestations required by law. The
charge that IN the knowledge that COMMISSIONS NJ
sell devoid moral capacity and character whSh oo
was elected Pr sident OF the Board lsrcgaiutoas lIsv