The New York herald., 1879-03-07
MR.. ERHARDTS ACCUSATIONS.

THE STARTLING STORY HE TOLD MAYOR
COMMISSIONERS ENJOYED THEMSELVES Al THE
PUBLIC EXPENSE.
Mayor Coopers investigation of the charges pre-
ferred by Commissioner Erhardt against
of his colleagues in the Police Board has
occupied some weeks. The Mayor preferred
to call the investigation conversation between Mr.
Erhardt and himself. and in accordance with his
wish the official minutes always headed by
the favorite expression OF His Honor The Mayor
in order to conduct his conversations" with
Commissioner Erhardt. engaged the services Of two
stenographers one Of whom took down verbatim all
that said by the two officials while the other
made faithful transcript of his stenographic
brothers notes with the aid OF typewriting ma
chine. Several copies Of the conversations were
made. Ono was used by the Mayor himself.
another given to Commissioner Erhardt.
and still, another intended to be intrusted
to of the accused Commissioners. General WILL
lam L. Smith. Although many copies were made.
not word to the nature OF the proof adduced by
Mr.. Erhardt prove his allegations leaked out
until late yesterday afternoon. when HERALp re-
porter was afforded an opportunity to examine the
official report of what transpred between Mr.. Cooper
and Nr. Erhardt
SECRET EXAMINATIONS
1t will be remembered that when tho examination
Of the Commissioner begun the latter asked to
have it public. Mayor Cooper refused. Mr. Erhardt
then requested that the other Commissioners be
given opportunity OF hearing the charges made
against them. but this not acceded
to. The Commissioner again urged upon
His Honor tho necessity Of having
public investigation Of the Police Department but
Andrew H. Green the request was again refused At
this point the Mayor told Mr.. Erhardt that he would
answer no more Questions. aud the two gentlemen
the first day proceedings were opened Mr. Cooper.
Mr. Erhardtand astenographer were the only persons
In the room, although every now aud then Secretary
Morrison would look in to see how things were pro-
yressing. aud cach occasion occupied some time
In whispering with His Honor The Mayor occupied
. scat ut the head Of table, with the stenographer
his Jeff. and lanked the right by Mr..
Erhardt. The questions put by the Mayor
and answered promptly by the Commissioner. who
called witnesses to corroborate what he said 1t
became necessary The testimony of a number OF
Old men, veterans in tho police service. the first
taken. All these men sworc that they applied to the
Board OF Police to bo retired on pension. as provided
by law. but that through the vote OF General Smith,
their applications not favorably acted upon.
| Certified copies OF the applications were put in
Some Of tho men sixty nine years of aye. Ser
gcant John Thompson testified that he
retired under the new law. but that General Smith
voted against his application aud those Of his
ciates who had served similar terms.
ERHARDrs TESTIMONY
1t appears by the document that Mr.. Erhardt
several times under examination At one time no
got into wrangle with Mayor Cooper in regard to
SHE'D light on the result of the investisa-
| ton. Tho Mayor admitted. according to the
| evidence that he had seen and consulted
with General Smith several occasions before no
requested Mr. Erhardt to substaltiate his charges
agunst the General. An effort made to expunse
facts relating to this matter from the minutes
that the street Cleaning Bureau. Of which
| smith, Nichols and Wheeler were members.
held forty meetings and that Smith only
,.1,At nf fha oh
to pass $4,000 in bills that were incurred during
| this period; that the Police Committee Repairs
| of which were attended by Smith; that Smith
| passed $4,000 of bills incurred during this
| should have held seventy-two meetings during the
past eight months, but that only ten'wcrc held be-
| Smith hardly attended the meetings OF the
Board OF Health, which he required to do by law
| The next statement made by Mr.. Erhardt is that
| General Smith WAS intoxicated on last election day
and on various other occasions; that his conduct
had dcmorshzing effect on the police; that ninety
hyo per cent of the Of atrolmen charged with
4 Drunkenness in 1876 werc found guilty aud dis
missed the force while in 1875 only thirty per cent
Of that class OF cases were dismissed
| The next subject taken up WAS tho alleged gross
extravagance displayed by the department. i'll fitting
| dence OF Captain Schultz who commanded the boat
! WAS taken. and number of officers who were de-
| tailed board the craft were examined. The
tho Seneca were produced and marKei for
identifcation. Tho bills show that the costly
1
rugs every description the finest breakfast dinner
and tea sets. In short no expense appears to have
| been spared in hitting up tho boat Mr.. Erhardt
sought to prove that his fellow Commissioners
| in the habit of taking excursions the
Seneca and also that General Smith in the habit
Of getting intoxicated, while cruising Mt the public
expense The table cloths FUSED in the boat cost $50
| each and about half Of them remain unused When
the matter brought before the Board the
dismissed even while it understood the examina
| tion pending.
TAo6MANY INFLUENCE.
Captain lyman testified that he was transferred
from his precinct through the influence of the Tam
many Committee OF his district; that the committee
threatened that he would have to leave 1t in two
days. and they made their word good.
The cases OF Captains Mcdonald aud Kennedy
subsequently put in evidence in order to show how
politicians ruled the police. Both OF these officials
were before the Police Board some time since on
charges relative to election matters.
Commissioner Erhardt also presented min
ues OF the Police Board relating to trials OF officers
whose testimony showed that political influence
being used the force. He also alleged that GEN
eral Smith wanted to transfer number OF officers
because they declared they opposed to Michael
Tuomcy. the cx-Aderman. when he for Coroner.
1t Is said that Mayor Cooper intends to take no
action in the matter of the charges. and will consc-
qucntly hold public investigation.