The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-15
OUR POLICE.
A Review Of the Corrupt Prac-
tees Of the Force.
HOW THE CAPTAINS LEVY BLACKMAlL.
High-Handcd Outrage Encouraged by the
Commissioners.

and corrupt as In New York Ofthe truth this every
citizen who has direct dealings with the force,
who has followed with lukcwarm attention their
deeds and dongs for any considerable time can bear
witness From the President OF the Board down to the
patrolmen with comparatively few exceptions all are
tainted with either lack Of discipline vein OF cor
ruption.
To anayze this deplorable condition OF affairs and
ascertain the which have led to it retrospective
view extending back several years and through many
different political is necessary. The start must BIO
made at the time when first men became patrolmen
solely because Of political craftsmanship when merit and
efficiency first gave place to tho potent sway
OF pot-house politicians and when promotion
was made, not for mertorous services genuine
WORTH but because the recipient controlled the Of
a clique of adherents. Bad this system 1t was
only the forerunner of another even danger
to the public welfare-the system purchasing ap
pontmens which has for long time been carried on.
To gain the snug berth of 800 month and the attend
ant privileges Of Shield buttons and club the
plain and easy. One hundred dollars cash down
was generally all that required in the
way Of qualification. True, some OF the
higher priced captains asked $3.50 for the use OF
their influence with their s'bosom friendsn
the Commissioners. Ordinarily, however the
sum first mentioned procured the appointment
The natural result OF all this has been the
inefficient men, who accepted their positions not for
the purpose OF doing their duty but for the purpose Of
illegally cnrching themselves under OF their uni
form.
EXISTING EVILS
To enumerate in detail the evils which exist in the
department would require volumes Let well dressed
citizen 90 into tho average station house business
and consult with the average bull dog sergeant in
mand, aud nothing but impertinence a rule will DO
with the awful importance OF their high station these
officials appear take particular delight in snubbng
inqniring citizens To tho poor pleading mendicant
nights shelter from the cold blasts of winter
the treatment by these brassbuttoned DULLES is sim
ply harbarous The writer not long since,
cold night listener In an uptown station house
20 colloquy between sergeant and ledger that
unqnalihcdy brutal Approaching the potcntate tho
shlvcring petitioner humby requested nights lodg
ms Get out o. hcrcl" tho unfecng answer OF
tho public servant Tho poor woman trembled rs sho
again lifted her scarcely audible voice and piteously
told him she had met with refusal at three other
tons She pushed for tho fourth into tho
cherries streets try the charity OF tho
pollco This too, when tho lodging but half
htcd u vas true, perhaps that she fallen and
abandoned creature; but, nevertheless, humanity
titled her 10 tho scanty accommodation she sought
PRoPESsiTrKs
Not many months have elapsed since the public
startled al . succession or outrages committed upon
citizens BY policemen ready with their clubs Tho
victims 1 each wcro poor, unfortunate people,
whose opportunities o. obtaining justice against their
brutal assailants moagro DO successful In
three instances charges preferred against
The officers BY the fearless OF the victims but
when tho farce Of trial came or before tho Commits
sionors the police had OF witnesses swear
called upon 900 oaths that the complainant standing
before them With mulilated face and cracked skull
had been mocstod BY the defendant other VIC
inns Of police inhumanity, tmid either bore in
patience the brutal assaults appealed a higher
court for mercy and Justice Tho case OF the
poor homeless Bella Jones striking instance OF the
latter clsss Taken from her bed night by police
man. and denied tho opportunity Of covering her al
naked FORM she dragged the house
between four burly ruAns who cared nothing her
hcartrending cries Bella Jones brought no action
against the policemen for their brutal treatment She
hanged herself the door Of her cell and preferred her
complaint IN . court where justice is certain
nErECrIyK SYSTEM
oi the New York police Is corrupt the cora Taking
lessons their captains the detectives look not
10 tho recovery Of stolen property the apprehen-
Of crminal but tho percentage OF illegal gain
that they acquire When the Captain Is corrupt
the ward detective, his right bower, Is almost
The tho designer and hnancer Of their Joint
efforts and tho latter the gobe,ween. Each Is es
santal 20 the others safety and prosperity and boz
tween thcm dovellke confidence exists The detoc
tive reishes nothing better than the opportunity OF
teatifying under oath his Captains ability and hon
eety aud she Captain answers all questions his
detcutiycis merits with equal warmth and 1audation
In tho cases Of Captains MoCnlloch and Killca,
Mull0ney The detective at the nrst, stands a living
witness 90 his chiefs ekcelencies What 4 half.
doaen witnesses dad identity him the who levied
a ~ much per week BY ordor Of his superior
upol no keepers u houses Of prost.uuonf Muloncy
says such NOS The TACT and McCuloeh 20 IT,
la the ~ kiliilca Ganncy, bus detective, was
lcss assuring. Dor hong time he boldly iaced the
music swearing hfs Captains Innocence aud his own
virtue. but when tie financial agent Of Mr. Koch pro-
dUccd the inasputale evidence that he had paid Gan
With tho understanding THAI tho b. handed
~ tlc Captain, the cautious detective threw up his
shield and smiingly lon no ioroe The arst question
burglar ~ How much - q worth get back the
stanf' rhc.s particular words may not perhaps, b
care that ha vetim = made understand that Qu,d
pro gWe N The euFnmr stone ~ detectives sue
eitlaon coneludes 70 uaasrlaes she search
ioF NJ stolen rfepery he agony begins
~ Z .ad a.. certain sum !. necessary with which
~ cew. each sseoosdas stsp being additional
run uah ~ purse unt a. 49, h. hnds that the prop
o. lhe sxpenses luouFrud TIE cleNef dstcctys ala
tbs time haa hke Ehfewd business fnan been making
both ends pay u 4 ~ss wprth 400 - me por.on
vUrth ~ ioast hail thai Num tbe thisf 90 escape
arrest hsuss mat htts s,olcn property
A. recovered "A - nuA ~ - ra0etin0s sup
posed becauss ~ thiayss 60 eyaao ths poHca
thia - mistake The apprehension - criminals
n scencr AMI aetectNa4 ef4eNtluF mcn They
knes the haunis ~ thiefes weA they Their
own homes Nhsn ehsy eater nie chase hons.ily
bent success thry rarely tsl
tevyinT xamsbla& huases j au0tbrr lnrrv source
q incunt not pAiy ~ detectives hat - pet
dusy. senbinN = laKufy ior Which thc kccpefs q
houses nu4t literally paH Net leuN slnct exceed.
ingly stunseai order trpm hssl4uaftsrs thsl
al rsinnlnE n0IMas xould lQrthasth a. rlUssI
iuaiAntr ~ - sset may ~ mfutipued lie Wel kNosn
tAst tnat tN ykiant lsce ~ ~ ftttrsnlh Irpfnet
Murray % kknth stfet ~ fu Dlsst Wiih nNt the
slightest nftelng Al csuoe4aant The oirr ssi
very much ahockea When tn4fectpf Aciiermot aent 4
posse ~ men 10 break ~ u bal sewer eccurrci 20
him That she ronsfant stresm of liHnlsr NuuunhNly
going up aud down tbs stairs ~ thai nuirfuGs estah