The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-24
INNOCENT MEN PUNISHED.
A Wrong Method Adopted
by the Board.
WHAT WAS NEEDED.
How the Detective Scandal
Could Be Cured.


The corridors halls and ofices in the Central
once OF Police presented somewhat the appear
ance yesterday OF a small battle field alter CON-
bat-vlctors vanquished dead, dying, wounded,
gasplng and reserves were intermlngled in the
pic ure here and there about the surface. During
the afternoon there was general scurrying OF the
defeated barking and gnashing OF teeth and
tones OF deep despair from the innocent mi ured.
Tue lucky ones who escaped the chance OF official
war kept close under cover, showing themselves
but rarely. As 1t had been ordered that the trans
lers should take effect at once, those who
meant TO obey the directions removed
their effects quickly from the detective ONCE
TO set them up on land and as fate and the
Board OF Police called them. The action OF the
Board on Friday, not only IN regard TO the detec-
tives, but other matters created profound sem
sation In tue city People had begun 10 regard
the Board OF Police like many OF It's predeces-
sors, either partner in the doings OF Its subord
mates body OF men Incapable OF dealing win
the emergencies OF criminal and police Official life.
The Board al n late hour discovered this, and de.
termined by last bold stroke to make bid
Tor re urn TO public favor.
Al the detectives and men transferred went
promptly to their duty yesterday except Phil
Farley, who resigned from the department. Detec.
owes Niven aud Bennett have appealed TO the
Board and it is likely they VIII be reinstated.
To those who In any way familiar with the
inside history oil the Police Department the
cent action of the Commissioners IN ''disbandingn
the detective squad must be very amusing. With
the general public II VIII PROBABLY be considered
decided reform, simply because the wires that
have been pulled are unseen to those outside. The
puppets always move ana kick in very hfellke
manner when seen In front OF the curtain, while
the performance is py no means effective to eyes
tky-,,< "a.
quite natural when heard in the auditorium OF
theatre, but when the spectator sees the prompter
rattle the sheet OF copper that produces the
sound the ear Is not deceived by the simple de-
vice. The commissioners profess TO be IN favor OF
reformation, yet they suffer themselves TO be led
by personal preference or governed By political in
nuence. and the result is that lew regues who
cannot save themselves are cast out. together
with several honest and valuable men, VINO are
sacrificed ply to make show This is what has
been done by the Commissioners.
THE HERALD EXPOSE.
The readers OF the HERALD have already been
Eiven partial insight the abuses and evils
that have so long rendered tue secret branch OF
Dur police force a scandal and made II compare
bively useless in the field 1t was intended to &C.
cupy. In the series oil articles on our New ork
detectives that have appeared in these columns
ew iacts were presented 10 show exactly how the
rings came TO be organized and why they were
main tanned during so many years The necessity
for reform was thereby clearly shown and the way
pointed out oy which 1t could be secured. Yet the
Commissioners, though they ought TO be more
tnorougy acquainted with the facts OF the case
than any other citizens go bndly to WORK, and
b. sashing right and left do actually more harm
slan good.
EFFECTS OF PUBLIC OPINION.
For several months past the present Board have
been urged by public opinion TO reform the de-
tectiye system, and, 1ndlng that the public was
oeing aroused they at length declared themselves
as only too ANXIOUS to do what was so urgently
needed. No sooner had the members OF the
Board decided upon reform than tney jumped to
extremes, and we're reckless enough to declare
tnst there were no honest men in the depart.
ment. To be sure the Commissioners old not say
this IN so MANY words, but they treated their
suuordinates If they believed such 10 be the
TIE President one day said, when glaring
piece OF misdemeanor was discovered under his
very nose, that lie always SAID those ielo VS.
would be ound OUT" meaning the detectives. II
be had thought why Odd he not investigate
and punish II .ound necessary? The other Com
missoners were also quite ignorant OF the class Of
men they had to govern, being more intent on
nghtlng ne Mayor, VINO mad appointed tnem than
lookIng into and performing their own duty. One
OF the Commissioners became convinced that ns
Dao mastered the entire scheme OF police opera
ton. He came TO this CONCLUSION only a few da y:
alter taking his seat, having accepted as his men
TOR aud teacher one oil the INSPECTORS, VINO ma.
swaYs played snr ewd hand at the deep game
yeii-preierment. This man one day, suddenly ano
unexpectedly, rose rom me rank Of sergeant C
mat ol captain. carrying CT the prize rom nall d
1oZen beber men VINO mad long been promised
promotion. scarcely had ne reached the new rank
through political influence than secured con
troll o. ward which ne knew thoroughly how 10
work ana maze himself notorious by he an
IN which he conducted the bu mess OF his pre-
clnct. 50 .canoalous were the reports circulated
aD0ut This man by ctlZeHs OF the ward, and by the
unfoi tuuate women ne was betieved 70 be levy
ing tribute upon, that the Board then IN power
were compelled 10 transfer him 70 another pre-
ciDct SUI he played his cards so well that
responsible ana important position he now occu-
pies. Even then ne was not a good Ollcer, Tor
charges were subsequently made against him. and
II strict justice had been done he wonId not he
where pc - Political influence, however served
TO save tue inspector. where, ne had DeeD ser
geant or patTO.mau the axe would nave fallen
checked. Igranncal ia his position, he mas made
himself hated by every honest Policemen WINE the
discipline OF the iuTce mas hot been improved.
often aud often mas ne been checked by hts supe-
rlors WHO were not slow 10 Characterize his con-
uuct as sheer persecution. Wan TINS man con-
ttantly al MS elbow the yerdant Commissioner
laid out most magnificent scheme Ior me i'm.
provement OF the department. 1nis was to de.
the force was unit TO ~. trusted and 'hc
BOARD, following ms lead, actually issued order
translerrihg ail OF the commandants vi precincts
from their Old posts 10 others, sending them
heter-Ske ter over tue cts IKE 30 any sheep,
and Bolding them no 10 the ridicule Of the men
they are supposed TO discipline and govern. Cap
tains who mad spent years ia perectlng the IN.
selves IN the details Of duties appertanng TO GER
tam SPECIAL huTcaus Ia the department. suddenly
iound themselves IN command ~ Insignificant
precincts. where they mac go unlcarn an Their old
business ana taEe mp mat they had almost forgot
ten. Not only tns. bat "a every captain on the
force, with the solitary ana remarkable exception
OF Irving, had been transferred, all Oi them were
deeply wounded ~ their honor by Inc implied
want OF confidence. Men VINO had made them
serves ALMOST necessary 10 the residents OF I'M
portntt precincts and who nad given a
sense % security and confidence TO The property
owners ~ lnelr sections OF the city, were sent TO
distant parts where thev were not Oniy Unknown,
but where the line oi duty was entirely Inherent.
Tue pea OF the Commissioners Tor these changes
was that the captains were overlooking certain
abuses and not attending 10 the strict line o
their duties. Tbs was. no doubt true, IN some In
stances, bus not IN ali. The records OF several oil
the captains were such that they might well be
proud OF ~, and ~ ~ a fact IA eacn OF these IN