The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
MIR. ERHARDTS CHARGES.

MAYOR COOPER INTERMEDIATES THE COMMITS
sIoNER IN RELATION TO HIS ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST THE POLICE BOARD-THE DOORS
GUARDED AND PROMINENT POLITICIANS RE-
FUSED ADMITTANCE.
The City Hall presented an animated appearance
yesterday afternoon. The fact that Police Commits
sioner Joel b. Erhardt to appear before Mayor
Cooper to substantiate his charges against
tain members of the Police Board served to
bring together such crowd of politicians
as has not been seen since ex-Mayor Ely in
vestigated the affairs Of the department Among
those who visited the hall were ex-Police Commits
sioner Hugh Gardner. Deputy Commissioner Of Pub
lie Works Hubert o. Thompson, Maurice j. Powers.
Sidney z. Nichols. Thomas Costgan. L. q. Eccesne.
Jacob M. Patterson, Jr.; ex-Mdermen Joyce and
Pinckney. and Aldermen Mott. Keenan,. shiels, Eos.
ter Phillips. Haughton, Burns. Finck and
Strack All these gentlemen. and many others.
were. however. refused admittance to tho
Mayors office, His Honor having decided
to hold a secret investigation On Friday
evening Mr.. Cooper said that the whole proceeding
Ss @ rse ms to the
Mayors Office were carefully guarded by squads Of
patrolmen and no one was allowed to go within
radius of ten feet OF the room in which the examine
ton conducted.
OPENING THE PROCEEDINGS
At precisely two O'Clock Commissioner Erhardt
entered Mr. Coopers business Office and began to
move his overcoat and gloves. The Mayor. however.
waving hns hand in the direction Of his private
sanctum. whispered
Come In here. Mr.. Commissioner
''Oh, think this room is good enough" responded
Mr.. Erhardt. at is nice and airy, and will think,
suit your purpose admirably
You had better come into this ROOM" was the
Mayors reply, as he caught the Commissioner by the
shoulder and bore him triumphanty away.
After the performance of this feat His Honor re-
turned and sent for Corporation Counsel William
9. Whitney. That gentleman soon arrived and with
Mr.. 4. I. Davis. stenographer employed by Mayor
Cooper to take down anything that might DO uttered
by the accusing Commissioner proceeded to the
MAYOR
ination of Mr.. Erhardt begun. At the head OF o
long table sat the Mayor. On his right hand was tho
stenographer and on his left the Corporation Coun-
sci. Commissioners Erhardt walked nervously up
and down the room and endeavored to answer the
put to him. Suggestions were from time to
time made by MIR. Whitney. and the latter
gentleman Intercepted Mr.. Erhardt at some length.
At three o'clock the Mayor sent for Mr.. William Pitt
Shearman, one of the newly appointed Commission
ers of Accounts and requested him to bring with
him copy of the report in relation to the Street
Cleaning Bureau made to Mayor Ely by Messrs. Lind
say l. Howe and John H. Mooney. the former Com
missoners The document when furnished WAS
Mr. ERHARDrs WITNESSES
When the hour of four arrived Mr.. Erhardt said
that he had a number of witnesses who. I'm his
opinion, could give very important testimony. Tho
Mayor said that he thought they might be called at
any time but he would sec u few OF them then Six
pairolmen and one sergeant then stepped forward.
On the hats of the patrolmen were the numbers SD.
42}, 3S2, 1,5Oi, 1,323 and 5lG The name of tho
sergeant, who has been attached to the Sanitary
squad. is John Thompson The witnesses all
old men ana veterans IN the police service.
They were called, IL is said. in order to
prove that General William +. Smith refused to
retire them, although the law. Mr.. Erhardt
atrues IL, provides that under certain conditions they
must be retired. The reason assigned for the action
of the President OF the Board In reference to this
matter is that General Smith afraid that COM
missioner Erhardt would obtain u portion of tho
patronage that would fail to the lot of the members
of the Board.
The examination of these witnesses occupied the
attention of the Mayor until half past y. NJ.
when II was decided not take any further testi-
mony at present. No further information In rela-
ton to what transpircd could be obtained either
from the Mayor or from Commissioner Erhardt.