New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-21
THE CHARGES.


THE CHARGES.
10 ne Hon. WILLIAM H. WkCKHAM. Mayor OF tie CITY Of
Eew- York
Sir: The people of this city are entitled to a
police competent and willing to protect their
interests While be conceded that as class tho
rank Ale of the paromen and inferior officers Of the
Police Department OF this city equal character and
competency any police force In this country, yet re-
cent developments have fully shown that 1t is so gov
crned ~ to render utterly inefficient for the protection
Of peons and property and useless for the prevention
CT crime. 1t has appeared beyond peradventure
that utterly neglectfui of the lawful demands
made to them for the protection of cit-
sens. blind to the giaring misdecds OF many
embers Of the police force careless OF the reputation
of the officers placed under their charge partial and I'M
lust administering the rules for the guidance OF the
force ign Grant disobedcn 10 the law in making and
controlling such rules and regulations, pickering and
ouayreling among themselves. and apparently without
respect themselves each other the present Co-
Inissioners OF the Municipal Police OF the City OF New
York have given to the inhabitants OF tls city lust ana
full cause for apprehension Of their personal safety and
the security Of property. and have brought contempt
and ridicuie upon the Police Department both at home
and elsewhere. To one member OF the Com
mission Gen. W. r. Smith. 1T would
be unfair to apply these charges His
distinguished character soldier and citizen, the com
paratiyely short lac has been member Of the Po-
and their acts but recently illustrated justly
relieves him from the imputatOns. To the end that
action may be taken toward the removal OF the present
Board of Police Commissioners 1 make the following
charges:
CHARGE 1t is the duty of the Police Commissioners
20 make rules and regulations fo the guidance and gov
ernmcni of police and conformity
with the existing laws Of the State and ordinances OF
the City of The present rules and regulations
as puaished and announced by said Police Beard.
no, In conformity and in certain important instances,
contrary 20 the State laws of 1873
Specification l. That in examination and public dis
cusson had on the 10th day of june 1878 before the
Assembly Committee for investigation OF causes OF crime
I'm the CITY of York George w. Matsel the tresi
dent said Board. elected by majority thereof. has
shown ignorance both OF the State laws directly bearing
upon the Municipal Police force and OF the existing rules
and regulations of the Police Board, and unable 10
explain certain gross discrepancies between the said
State laws and said police rules and regulations, and
by of for such discrepancies said that his
Board cannot do everything in such short time, meaning
a period OF two years since the passage OF the
charter of 1873 period of about year since SAID
Matsn had occupied the position of President of said
Municipal Police Board.
Specification That said Matsell. such President
could give any idea opinion as to the requirements
othe police force either Ms regards Its quality or its mum
Der beyond "A in experiments OF
kind or another by way Of trial.
Specification 8 Contrary the provisions Of Section
"a Of Article VII of Chapter 335 Of the Laws Of 1873,
said Board have allowed forms Of aldsvs to remain in
practice whereby the requirements Of the law not
enforced
Specification A. Eules TO prevent the undue detention
OF prisoners been passed by tie Board contrary
20 Section 80 Of the same act.
charge H. The Police Commissioners intrusted by
law With the appointment direction and control OF the
members If the Municipal Police force In order TO dis
charge this high trust, the Police Commissioners should
possess such moral character as would elevate them
above crime and enable them TO create respect
in the force under their command said Masel is de-
void OF such moral capacity aud with knowledge of
his character. said Police Board have elected him their
President
SPECIFICATION l. During period of years he has been
ishcd ia lie country sheet catering 10 the taste for
spec se0ioa 2. THAT the said Matsel while superin
The Police, with utter disregard of law and
morals cl, ,pred with Hugh Gardner then Com
isonor OF the ice force OF this city and oher mem
bs the Department at present Ia the Department. for
the purpose Of niurins aud de-Iadng ponce captain
then the police force ~ this city, and IN puI
suancc II such conspiracy, induced ana caused one
Tegesa tOn. then child Of about II years age t.
make affidavit IN his presence md in his priyats loom
captain % wit Edward Walsh, with having seducod her
SfeoJ,eeton 3. While Capt Edward Walsh was ia CON
soner caused him to he renewed from his said post o1
oonusnd several occasions between the nontns oi
April a.d November 1873 contrary 10 Jaw, without the
cosca Tie Police Board any formal order OF said
Board AMI without any cause Whatsoever except that
said ascn dlsiised said captain and did not Wish TO
meet iiln when taking a sali on s,d police poat; 49,
enlrioye o. the firm of Lord Tay lor delivered
goods 10 commissioner DisDeoker at the metropolitan
Hotel IL Eew-Yolk City said DisDecker receiN Ell tho
goods when ho was ino med by SAID Mcmahon mat he
wa instructed moi said goods except paid
delivery I'D Disbe,Ae thereupOn violently assaulted
said Nc ahon, abused him VITA nifty guagc,
and be Al ana struck brutal MANNER, without
plovoeation the part sand Mch iOi and from mere
wantOn malice and relying upon Inc pdhlty siln Dir
bee cr enjoyed through Office Police COMMISSIONS.
CHARGE III The discipline OF tine force, ana tic CON
duei OF ats members De regulated 10y OF 1ias
had before said Police Board These trials have been
denied ana neglected ~h,n ilghlnliy demanded ana
have conducted unfairly unJusy ANA improperly
ana .e ,p Eiin u ''' VIA" ""'' anu
S,reincst.on l. The imputation OF having seduced
said hfton sii rests upon SAID Ed"ard walsh,
and yet lac has been tried ON TINS charge ana Is re-
tanned a. . captain of the municipal police
Spee.Jsraeon 2 There Ii abundant evidence in exist
ence, which has been aid now entirely accessible to
eenes committed upon the Police department by present
past officials therein, ana yet SAID Board nave made
effort to recover lie properly VI pIAg sne dcpie-
Spe.fegt.on J. Said Board have exhibited either utter
discovering, exposing, and bringing 10 tlal at au earlier
the gross outIagcs ana isdeeds con ed ~ many
menlers OF the Police force which commencing before
the advent 10 Office OF the present Board snl Continue
With no such power at Their command as nave hc ouee
by the Assembly have aihed suc an amount OF VII
I.uies commltt.d by members of the Police Department
now holding Office created IN the minds OF the
public feeling VI utter dsrust IN the eicohcy o. the
Speeiieaf;on L. Upon the trial Of Capt. Kiea before
the Ponce Board. Fritz kassefang testified wit
the o.ice OF the clerk OF said Ponce Board APP
pear said Ksssefang was examined as witness Oh
said trial.
SPECIFICATION s. The instances too numerous for
specification where the same fault has been punished
with different penalties in different cases.
SpeeiGeatiOa o. 30, Also slight nelects have In many
instances visited with heavier lines tAan were ILL
Disqualification T. Hawley. the clerk OF said Police
boarG. ls been accused il Pnohc exa9indcn before
July asi past by number OF Wines :; w,,1 na,iS
s and sn synss pluyed The ocrs and en-
poyos OF the Department Tor his private benefit and he