The New York herald., 1877-07-11
Ex-SUPEkINTENDENT MATsELL.

EX-SUPEklNTENDENT MATSELL.
THE FATHER OF THE NEW YORK POLICE FORCE
BELIEVED TO BE DyING-NTEREsTING REM
ISIscENcEs OF THE OLD FORCE AND ITS
| EXPERIENCES.
| Mr. George w. Matsel, ex-ch,sf Of the old time
municipal police. and subsequently, superintendent
and President Of the Metropolitan Police force, is now
lying his homo East Fifty eighth street danger
ously III from an injury winch he received several
years ago. II appears that while standing the plat
form OF . heavily built man suddenly jumped on
board and landed with hls full weight upon Mr.. Nat
sells foot On examination II found that sew
eral Of the small bones were broken and the
igaments ruptured Time and rest given 10 she
disabled member, but apparently without avail In
fam In the foot swelled, festercd ana at
the injury attained such proportions that tho sur
geons In charge deemed It advisable to open the bot
tom OF the foot. from which was taken quantity of
bono considerable amount Of purulent matter.
Temporary relief was thus obtained, on the strength
OF which Mr.. Matse engaged to greater or loss
extent in his usually active Official employment II Is
said that during this period he SO unfortunate as
to further abrase the but partially healed surface by
stepping broken glass, which at once repro
duced the former alarming symptoms. For two
months the venerable ex-chici has beon suf-
| tueso
grcnous development has taken place which necossi
taled the amputaton OF three OF his toes The
operation took place Monday. but the growth Of
gungrcne beng an unknown quantity in the sum OF
life, aud lis rapldity being sometimes such rs
to DEFY the calculations OF the best physi-
CLANS, grave fears have since been entertained
that the is beyond human treatment II was
thought yesterday morning that dcier resort 1t
would bo necessary to amputate the entire limb
albeit the operation might offer only few chances OF
recovcry--but after u consultation OF prominent
physicians in the afternoon 1t was decided to post
pone this event, least for tho present. and TO trust
10 tue naturally robust physique OF the rather
than 10 the knife. Inquiry at his residence elected
the fact that he was tric easter and not believed 10
| be In immediate danger OF dissolution.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
Tho story OF sir. Matsclls lie replete with inter.
est especially those who belong the old school OF
fun when they were boys. He was born in England
in 1906, aud was brought to this country whom Six
years of age Consequently he is about seventy
one years old His father was tailor on Broadway.
| in little establishment that stood on the site OF
Garden. Tho boy was a clerk in book
store, until, acquiring knowledge OF the bust
s NJ Ss ns o cSa and Pearl
He remained hero about ten years. Joining political
club. was not difficult ttng In those days TO obtain
party strength, and he quickly made power clt
| which for the time being eliminated in his election.
in 1874 police justice under tho mayoralty Of tho
late Mr. James w. Harpcr Just previous to this time
| the city police was rude, ununormed
ganized and consisted OF only three four hundred
| men, VINO did pretty much as they pleased. The sys-
tenn was neither harmonious nor effective. In the
of lS45 however, the Legislature took the matter
aad wnas and o ayos
Havcmeyer having been chosen Chief Magistrate OF
the city, promptly appointed as oh,sf Of Police Mr.
onco instituted, ana effort begun to discipline ana
uniform the force Od cltizens will doubtless recall
| the antagonsms that followed. II was at this
early period the hobby OF the Chief the creation
Of corps OF trained detectives and down to tho pres
the various dsguiscs that assumed Tor Inc cap
of rosucs havc been the favorte topics OF his
REVIEW OF POLICE GROWTH.
Mr.. Matsell continued In this Office until 1857
twelve years-when tho metropolitan Police act
which consolidated the police departments OF
the counties OF New YORK. Kings, Richmond
and Westcheser As the ruors OF the department the
Governor and State Senate elected Messrs. simeon
Draper James Bowen J. s. T. Stranahan, James Nyo
and jacob S. CholweI. The old Chief, following tue
| example of Mr.. Fernando Wood. thon the Mayor, re-
fused recognize tho constitutionay Of tho law,
aud a conflict ensued with the State authorities.
Mayor Wood was charged with melting riot. aud a
warrant was issued for his arrest by Recorder SMITH
similar r. WAS ssued BY Judge I Holt @
terror OF tho City Hall promptly filled with 500
policemen, under the command ol Chief MatselL Cap
lain (now Supernicndent) Walling gwen tho Re.
corders warrant to serve, and he passed through the
ranks, but the Mayor refused to recognize his au-
given to Coroner Perry in another effort o
| arrest the Mayor, Dut on their attempting TO
|
| Chambers street desperate fight ensued in which
the smaller plumber compelled TO succumb 10 tho
greater ana bloody heads and broken limbs told the
| story OF resistance. AT this juncturo Mayor Wood
called on Major General Sanford, OF the National
Guard, call the several regiments for the pro-
lection OF the city. Opportunely the Seventh regi-
ment It's way down Broadway, en- route to Bos-
ton. and being called into tho PARK dispersed the as
sembluge and resumed its march.
PRIVATE
Coroner Perry seized the opportunity to serve his
warrant on the Mayor. Sheriff Willelt followed his
example, and the next day tho Metropolitan Police
Com issioners aud dismissed Mr. Matsel aud ap
pointed in his place Frederick W. Talinadgo. The
Chef wont 10 Iowa and bought farm, which he still
owns, and meanwhile Joined Sir. William Mackellar in
purchasing the Police Gazette. On the accession OF
| Hon. William Havomeyer to the Mayoralty he was
called from retirement, and on the 23d oi
May was appointed Superin tendent OF Police, sue
ceeding Mr. James Kelso. He continued in this
oicc until the 7th ofJuy, 1874 when he was appointed
Police Commissioner by Mr. Havemeyer. On tho 9th
OF July he elected president of the board, posi-
| ton which he retained until the last OF December
1885, when Mr.. pisbecker and himself were both re-
| moved by Mayor Wickhan. This terminated the OF
fetal lfc of Mr. Matsell since which tme, until re-
Gently he has been engaged IN the practice OF tho law
His many old friends will regret 10 hear OF the mslor
tune that has confined him to bed after life OF sc
| much hardy adventure ana anxiousy await the an
nounccmsnt OF q favorable cnange in his condition