Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-05
FUN IN THE POLICE WORLD.
The Police Force 20 be Turned Up
side Down Ia OGder 90 Produce
Harmony (WhAteVer thar nay
Mean) PersOnaIly or P%OlitIeaIlY.

NSNy W OAANACnAhI
For several days rumors of police
changes have been floating in the air.
1t was rumored that ell those patrolmen
and officers who were not in harmony
with the chief we're to be put of the
force, and men who would be harmonious
would be put in their places. 1t has
been the boast of many that our police
force was the best 10 the world, but now
it seems that it is the worst in the world,
from a harmony standpoint. Webster
defines harmony" to be the adapta-
ton Of parts to each other in any sys-
tenn or composition of things, intended
to form a connected whole" Milton
sings of
Ten thousand harPs that tuned
Angelic harmony"
This rumor getting out, "peelers' put
their hands hourly on their heads in
order to discover whether the heads still
rested on their shoulders. The guillo-
tine was being set up, however, and the
first execution took place yesterday.
Sergeant P. Haggarty unfortunately had
not been in harmony with Captain
Arrata or the chief of police for some
time. He and the chief had a fist and
skull fight not long since in the police
office, a regular Donybrook Fair
skirmish, which was participated in by
Captain Arrsts, who sided with the chief.
Since that day Sergeant Haggariy has
been doomed. Captain Arrata, who Is a
strong friend as we'll as q good hater,
seat in several charges at different times
against Haggarty, but none Of them
would stick. For severalweeks past Ser
geant Haggsrty had no horse on which
to plunge around town and show of. He
had not been paid aoy salary for months
and was unable to purchase a prancing
steed; but he walked regularly over his
beat and attended to his duties on foot
How often have we seen the ever.watch-
full patrolman listen for the footballs OF
his officers horse on the street, when he
lthe patrolnan) rushed ont Of some beer
saloon, wiping his mouth after be had
taken a drink Of water at the bar. 1t
was difficult to catch a sleeping peeler
or a drinking peeler when the officer was
on horseback; but the police regulations
said horse, and horse it must be. So
Captain Arrata sent in charges snce
again, and this time with better success.
Sergeant Hsggarty was oue of the very
best officers on TIE force; be drilled the
force, and at one time was the pet at
headquarters, but times change aud we
change with them. he was certainly
the best educated aud most intelligent
la on the police force, by long odds,
but his education and intelligence and
attention to duty could not make up for
" want of harmony" with bis captain
and chief; but probably they did not
want harmony. Ha!geriy's head rolled
in the basket while he was on foot, not
on horseback, and to day he is a private
citizen. He is 'inharmouially" inferred
and we know be can take some consola
ton from the line
THE post of honor is the private station"
We have no desire to takes sides in
this Irish row, because we have seen too
oft the deadliest feuds between Irish
politicians in Memphis settled in one
night and the enemies Of yesterday be-
come the semi-affectionate friends Of 10.
day, We regret to learn. however, that
the police commissioners had an angry
meeting over the affair, and that the old
result, 8 to 2, like IS to T." appeared in
the vote-Messrs. Lecth, Vaccaro and
Frank voting to dismiss Haegerty, while
Messrs. Mageyney and Moore voted
against it. We understand that hot and
angry words passed, and that the friendly
relations which should exist between the
commissioners we're not materially
strengthened. Should this thing con-
tinue it might be well for the general
council to appoint a committee to ex-
anime into the cause Of all the police
troubles and present a report thereon
for the benefit Of the public.
The inquiry among the "peelers" is,
Whose head falls next, in order to carry
out the theory of harmony2' No men,
except those who are harmonious, feel
safe from the guillotine, We hope that
all the "iuharmonial peelers" will, like
the poor French communists, be taken
out in a lot and decapits.ed altogether,
then harmony and peace will reign just
as it did at Wsrssw. There is fun in
police cIroles-at least 1t IS fun to out
siders, although it may not be advan.
tageous to the public who have to pay
for all the fun at last. We await the next
execution and we regret thai the execu-
tons do not take place in public and not
behind closed doors, 80 that the reporters
could attend the seances and give
graphic accounts as to the way harmo
ny" is accomplished. The "peelers,"
both officers and men, should attend the
meetings at Harmonial Hall" every
Sunday night, aud absorb that which is
most necessary in order to keep heads
on shoulders.