The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-11
MR. EanAnDr 10 MAJOR COOPER
TIL. Comui.sIoner 4. wiring 80 be n WItses-
but not Prosecutor.

Mayor Cooper, yesterday, received the
following;
POLICE DEPARTMENT. CITY OF .Nsw YoRK
800 MULBERRY STREIT. Feb. 3. 1879.
The hon. Ebc0rd Cooper Mayor Chy ~ Nelr
York:
SIN: | have received your letter Of the 4h
instant. in which you repeat your demand for
detailed statement Of facts. Your first letter
upon this subject was considered and treated by
ma ia in Eject n request Tor u formal complaint
against my assorintrs. You now suggest that
your request is for information. Permit mo to
recall to your attention tho history ot nv efforts
to inform you of the doings Of tho pnlr" De-
partmcnt There were three interviews be-
tween us upon this subject in tho early part Of
January, 1879. ono ut your Office on Innu-
AIRY 1. n second ut your Once few days later
and the third at this oillco ON January -. At
tho first Interview. which was v'ry brief re-
quoste1 you to come and look Into ia" Police
Department, and telling YOU that the depart
ment needed II and had not been looked into by
At tho second interview. which was also brief,
! carried to your office n copy ~ tho proposed
street cleaning contract which | told you RI
gardcd as "a wicked and inquitnus scheme"
aud mt the same time explained my reasons
for my opinion and requested your influence to
prevent the contract.
On tho third occasion you passcd most Of n
forenoon ut the Police Department and oar in
tcrvirw WAS quite extended. At this mtcrvicw
Informed you of all tho principal facts which
you now ask me TO state lcnving only matters
OF detail and evidence resting chiefly In the
records OF tho department. You will remember
that for nearly an hour. with all thcearnestncss
and force in my power. | recuunted to you
these facts. with specifications aud particulars;
that my statements were confirmed by another
Commissiunrr Of Police. who was present. and
that | wns proceeding to point to you tho owl
dence Of the facts stated in detail upon the roc
orls 81 the department. whom You requested
that il in deferred to some future occnsion. ow-
the invest igation my further.
waited moro than Il weos after these occur
rences before tnking amy action IN the Police
Board. md these were the attempts 20 accom-
plish reforms quietly to which | reierrcd in
action had been taken by. mo and Ind
come to your. knowledge. I ngain called
upon you. and finding you on that occa-
sion too busy 10 converse with mo regarding
the Police Department / SAID to you that /
would como 10 YOU Whenever you chose t. send
for me. and LEFT YOU with that understanding.
II appeared 10 mo that had faithfully pcr-
formed my duty aud had placed the means in
tne hlnds OF Inc Mayor OF the city who alone
to me grave abuses. Ii the facts which stated
to you are not, IN your judgment. such that any
action. or to examine the record evidence which
have offered TO exhibit to you. can see no al
xan,age IN ,detallln. them again g.on payer in
the form OF charge and specifications. / cun aee
no effect whatever Of such u cOurss. except totake
mo outside tn" scope Of my Official powers into
the role OF prva,e personal prosecutor before
you. who are yourself Officially charged by law
with that duty II you deem that the case war
rants it, That position am not willing 10 rs
sumo l nave no private or personal contest
with any mcnber OF the Board OF Police. In
short. am officay your witness. | cannot be-
cutpr.
There Is one matter not referred to in your
last letter To- me, but covered by thu terms u
your lrst request t9r q statement Of facts con-
corning which | think | lid no. inform YOU.
and 70 which. therefore. a urrt ~ tho foregoing
remarks would not Apply | refcr TO the ineb--
ETY. az on" OF tb' members Of the Board and It's
damaging cife't upon the force. | am ready to
furnish you with IN pIril 'uars m tho n1mcs
course. not b. done in n communication likely
To- be- made public before you have determined
to take any action thereon.
Worry respectfully. JOEL Il. Err AEDr.
Police Commissioner.