The New York herald., 1876-01-01
STATE OF NEW YORK,
ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW BOARD.


The determination OF the Mayor to remove Commits
vionors Disbecker and Matsell approved by Gov
ernor TAden early yesterday anernoon yet those
officials did not know that they no longer Com.
mssioners Of Police before o'clock. Their col
leagues, Messrs. Smith and Voorhs we're wiser than
they. AS soon Mayor Wickham signed the notices
OF the removal which to be sent to Messrs Mat
sell and Disbecker he notified the other Commissioners
OF his action and asked them TO met him and the new
members of the Board OF Police Commissioners Messrs
wheeler and Erhardt at Police Headquarters at
O'Clock.
AZ that hour Messrs Disbccker and Matsel were in.
formed of their dismissal Neither Of them the
Central once during the eyenus, the notices hayrg
been sent to their residences.
Soon after seven O'Clock Mayor wickham, Mr. De
Witt Clinton Wheeler, Mr. Joel B. Erhardt and hr
Richard Morrison Supervisor OF the city Record
rived together az Ponce Headquarters There
they met by General William F. Smith
and Nr. John Il. Noorhs Mayor Wickham
formally introduced the old and new Commissioners
and then the whole party went Up TO Commissioner
Noorhis' room Their session there was short and
secret-that IS no reporters were present al IT, stu
the gentlemen were not retoent as to their dongs while
in conclavc They announced when they ali emerged
IN an apparent Jolly mood. from Mr. Voorhisi room
that they bad organized the new Board Of Police Com
missoners.
1t appears that when the session was begun Mr.
Wheeler acted as Chairman Of the Board and Mr..
Voorhis as Secretary. Immediately after the tempo
rary organization Mr.. Erhardt moved that General
william Smith be elected President Of the Board.
miSsioners felt that they had done enough and SO
adjourned
rison came out Of the meeting room in a hilarious
mood They cnattcd and laughed visited the Inspector
charge, jolly Frank Speigh whereby they increased
their jovialness and finally went away to allow their
mrth TO crervesce with something companonable.
ASSUMING CONTROL
Immediately after the adjournment OF the Board,
General smith, the newly elected President called
upon Inspector Sreirht in his Office on the FIRST floor
OF The Central Departmcnt and gave bis maiden order
Trne ff4uf tgre N tlo fDrf mai rqra aFal
order be Immediately tccgaphcd TO all the precincts
notifying them Of the chang In the Board Of Commis-
loving telegram, which was at once tcographod TO
every station house ~ the city
CXSTRAL oricr, Dec 3i-7 3oP.M
A meeting Of the Board Of Police Commissioners held
49,, sr,ib Inei Frbardt AVID ID. VICE A. Nh,.i.' GO,
missioner smith was elected President r, ., he Roqri
The four Commissioners. accompanied by Mayor
Wickham. then lett the building Mcssrs. Erhardi aud
Wheeler rst calling on Inspector speyh aud leaving
with him their home addresses 80 eHpcdluously was
the organization completed that the entire party had
lett the building before the change had become known
In the neghborhooj Of Police Headquartors
SKETCH OF APPoNrgES
Joel 3. Erhardt Is man Of hne physique and per.
sonal appearance and Is about ihrtysx years % age
He was born In Vermont, and graduated at the Middle.
bury College. Beng nephew OF senator krastus @.
Benedict, he Is cousin Of Judge Benedict Of the
United States Court In politics Mr. Erbardt is pro.
pounced republican, and, although not an active par
tsan Is well known among the leaders Of that party N
this city. he Is prominent member OF The Union
League Club year ago last tai he ran ior Alderman
on Tire republican tickx IN the Eighth Congressional
district but was defeated
At the breaking out Of the war Mr. Erhardt obtained
n commission IN one OF the Vermont regiments o
cavalry ana served with marked distinction, making
for himself most excellent record for gallantry Al
tbe time the draft was made in 1858 he detailed a.
provost marshal Of Of the lower districts Of th.
civ position he filed with credit TO both himself anc
the general government Al the close Of the war h'
held tho rank Of lieutenant colonel on beng mustered
ont of The United States service he came 90 New YORK
and began the practice Of the law having
his oace at No. 241 Broadway. Ananl