National Republican., 1878-01-26
MAJoR RICHARDS REsIGNATIoN.
The Causes that Led to it-His Record as an
Officer.

Officer.
Major A. c. Richards, late last Thursday night,
rendered his resignation TO the Board Of Police
Commissioners as major and superintendent of the
Metropolitan police force which was accepted, and
the following action taken:
Resoired That the resignation Of Major Richards
be, and the same Is hereby, accepted to take effect
as rendered, on Monday, the 2Sth instant; aud
that In consideration of his long and faithful ser
vices, extending over period of nearly df,ccn
years, that All extra allowance Of two months pay
be, and the same Is hereby voted to him.
While the Major has been contemplating this
course fnr months past, being Interested in bui.
ness that will yield q far moro handsome income
than could be secured from the position he held,
still there Is no doubt that en- undcrcurrcnt, I'M.
favorable to him has existed In the board for some
time past, and has been working with the ultimate
object Of foisting him from the position to make
room far another individual, more closely idcnu.
fed with some Of the members and their interests.
Late last summer or early In the fall the Major
20 @ nuroef % o. ,F,enas ,,, ms lntenVnn @ .,
business enterprise, out OF which ne was confident
he could reap fruitful and rich results. lie was
dissuaded by his friends aud. yielding to their 90
lieitaion concluded to continue In Office and allow
the business to progress under those co-intercsted
an, smH g. me same time give what supervision y he
and others here not being blind TO a movement
QUIETLY PUT on FOOT
by one Of the Commissioners last autumn and
which II was 10 be hoped, at least by the creator
thereof would evcntiintc in his displacement
with what tact, skill. and adroihcss the scheme
has been pctted permitted to germ, bud and bios
som Is unnecessary now IT, SPEAK, but suhce II to
say, that Thursday night last after stormy
sion, lasting until midnight, during which there
was criminnti0n and re-crimnntion charged, hard
words banded about, and Il i' said even the lie
passed, between two at least, Of the Com.
niisSioneFs, the resignation was produced and
the subsequent resolutions of acceptance adopted.
The inct that Major Richards had resigned did
not get on the street in circulation until yesterday
morning. At iirst Il was disbclievcd and then the
truth accepted with regret.
10, .t..n aAf sl.a
respective precincts had assembled, as usual, at
Police Headquarters, yesterday morning the Major
came from his private once and Rfter extending a
cordial salutntion To all, announced his with.
drawal as their chief. The entire corps Of officers
| were 10 astounded at the announcement that ut
irst words failed them but subsequently, In tones
of sadness that could not be misfntcrprrtcd, they
expressed their decpelt regrets the approaching
dissolution. During the day y spread among the
could he found nought but expressions Of sorrow at
severing Official relations with a man they so
highly estecmeh, and one they felt proud to rccog.
nze their superior officer. Some said II was the
beginning Of the promised breaking up, and now
that the front had fallen the rear line would soon
give way Major A. G. Richards was appointed
CHIEF OF THE POLICE FORCE
December l. 1854 under the administration OF
Mayor Richard wallach, the Board Of Police Com.
missioners at that time being :. J. Bowen, George
$, Gideon. Joseph :. Brown, Henry Addison, and
Richard Butts making his term about fifteen years
Of faithful service. Principal among the scenes OF
| excitement In which the police force during that
| tine have taken an active part We're the demon
STATIONS IN this District and especially In George.
town over the suffrage act; the election riots Lin.
coins assassination, the safe burglary, labor riots
aud stirring scenes during the late war. In all OF
these the Major took an active part. lie was found
cool. firm, aud undauntcd when the time for firm
nCs and action requisite. II Necessary tO re-
?Ort u combat he did not let the men 90 where he
would not lead them and In the hottest Of the riots
| lie prOvsl a valiant and competent commander
The community will not he long In recognizing the
loss sustained by his resignation, and the Commits
siuners will find II exceedingly difficult 10 secure
man TO FIJI his place one may he rouEd 10 accept
| the position aud draw the salary, but 10 perform
duties Of the office satisfactorily requires a man
possessing certain qualifications that few enjoy.