The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-20
A SURPRISING OUTRAGE.
MAYOR COOPER DENIES THE CONS7I-
TUTIONdL RTGHT JO APPEAR
BY COUNSEL.

Wall ana seated nimsell ut MS uesN IN the out'E
room. ready to proceed with tho trial OF tho
Police Commissioners. Tho large apartment
was already crowded. Commissioner Smith
was present with his counsel Mr.. willard
Bartlett and Senator Ecclcsine. Commissioner
Nichols was accompanied 10y Mcssrs. Wander
noel and ]. D. Townsend his attorneys. Cor
poration Counsel W. c. Whitney lowered about
the Mayor. holding whispered consultations
with and apparently prompting him. In the
attendant throng were many well-known Tam
many and ant-Tammany politicians-John d.
Newman Wiskinskie Of the Tammany Society
sachem Henry D. Purroy; ex-Fire Commits
sioner Roswell d. Hatch Coroner Flanagan:
John Tyler Kelly. Mayors Marshal: Thos. Cos
tigan. Superintendent OF CUv Record; VIM. 7.
Mitchell. Park Commissioner Conover. and
several Aldermen. All the available space
was filed to the doors. The Mayor.
having taken his seat. looked about him
for some moments in an undecided way
Then he said: co. have addressed letter to
the Police Commissioners. which / will read.
Is Mr.. Erhardt here?" Upon inquiry 1t was
discovered that Mr.. Erhardt had not yet ar
rived and the Mayor deemed it best to suspend
proceedings until he came. After a little while
Mr. Erhardt entered accompanied by his coun-
sell Mr.. Elihu Root Superintendent Walling
appeared moment later. Mayor Cooper
asked Commissioner Erhardt II he had re-
ceived n letter from him dated March IA. and
receiving n reply in the affirmative. said he
rresumed il would not be necessary to read 1t.
He continued: Mr.. Ernardt. you are ac-
ouainted with the provision Of the charter
under which this letter was sent. and you will
now have an opportunity to be heard"
Commissioner Erhardt read the following
reply:
TaFi 'a l,, pocs comm, s.,one- ., the civ Of MN
place desgnatd Tor u hearing regarding the alekei
daici March i is7e and r,speeuullv represents TO the
sail Mayor. that tie term Of office oi inc SAID joel
Nrw YORK Tor which he wa. appointed expired on the
,mi Erhirdi htuna uc,n appointed and luaiacd
he continue. 20 nga te s, ucs "masr We ,,1.' % , m
.ad ioth DAY Apri is77 continued 20 d.,eharge ihe
successor shall be- duly luancd and he submits Mat he
cannot De relieved 90 the duties imposed upon MN IA
and such by 'hs boar % AdeI
hcreon g..
w orc % ne s9ys 'na snS Nyor r M hs rc
.ee without the concafrence o tic board Of Aldermen
JoEL b. ERHARnT, Police Commissioner.
Tho Novor-I will now take up these matters
seratm. In regard to the first paragraph-
co,r,,isstorar Frhardt-Your Honor will
please note that an exception is taken. He then
read the following additional reply TO the
Mayors letter:
In the matter Of the charges preferred bv the Hon
Fiwsrd Cooper MaVor NJ the ctt New York gaiust
J,el Erhardt Police Commissioner Of the city OF New
York The SAID joel Lrardt appears At Tie nue ana
place desisnated Tor he.rn- Igsaflhs thS A,,es,l @
s,i Nj M ' 4, fl7o snd h,i, Injected 10 the uti
Seran Srd @ he .sd M,Vor To- reo,e him rom olce In
anv other mannrr thau BY the appointment aad con
nrmauon Of successor 10 his Office and such ouscuon
bens over eirued ~ lutiher lits'uis, - a., .., .,.
hTs-Lns&i & ts a,essuh, & @ M us az spues aps.
M pAiar,.nt m cau.es varrantns h. removal nom
one are so general inienniie vaeue and uncertain
that is Impossible 20 know from The said puper what
peche acts or omission. are n'e9ael inerees to be- a.
Legged a. eause ioI ~ frmo'al r, .is,e, N, ~ q,
seIS Is not Iicra W dge @ w ss.e ior his remo,a or
sny knowledsc o ne cues which IN the opinion OF the
said Mayor may warrant hi, removal from of.e or any
knowledge Of ihe causes upon which an an opnor,nmV T.
be heard l. nnoidel nm nt a,E e M & ,lro,,u 10
o. ~ nTar" "s'. y, M ,ti ,p rb .e made and proyided
sscod-rhe said joel hrharlt respectfully requests
that The Mayor snail specify with regard TO
The ;sid eharss, ge'. eeusely ..,., -,
e sd Ernsrai he 'd Mayor es5r5ss 70 sT 4ASe W
Ssrca 10 col .ti,;e xy ~ incapsbht, in the govern.
mont md dis,iine IN lie police force 6r the deterora-
don or dcmora.zauon 70 Witch he refers in the hrst
ehargr contained in the said paper ,., -, a., ,,,
ha. st !ne ,sa hrne nIs % V,sn ens 70 20 90 M ar
he or any l' i' n. i'w ~, ~ ,t sit, :, hc ~, 70 p tent
NOE eroSsy Clean. Or ,he ashes dirt rubbish and
garaso Ia Pc more frequently completely removed