New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-02


Int that Judge Russel's majOrity will com
pletely bury c. IL. Truax.
CONFLICTING ORDERS TO THE POLICE.
s1-ptp1,rr>DF<T wALLING DIRECTS THE oFflCDKs
80, r,,t Pnp.E TO MAKE NO ARREsTS TO-DAY
ox WARRANTS HANDED TO THEM By
pr,vATr pruso<s-GENERAL SMITH ISSUES
Ax ORDER SAYING THE ARRESTS MUST
n v,n0-rHE FINAL ORDER OF THE sUPERiN-
TENDtNr. o,,
Several police captains visited the Central Once
last rlcht 20 obtain an explanation OF the Following
order which had been seat out 10y superintendent
Vane latc in the afternoon over the police wires
~ having been reported to NE that large
uuubcr Of warrants are issued and placed IN the
hands of individuals, you are positively forbidden
from receiving or serving warrants brought I" you
bv suca private persons, and are directed TO ho'ly
the members Of your command OF this order
"GFoIGE W. WALLNG, Superintendent"
President French was in his room at Police Head
ouarters at the time aud he told all VINO inquired
Of hm that the order was correct and must be
ob.yed. Before Nh French lett the Central Office
however Commissioner smith arrived III carri 'ge
au6 INQUIRED for the superintendent Re was told
that MIR. Walhug had gone home. General Smith
then went down STARS to the telegraph office aud
caused tie following message 10 be sent out 10 all
the police stations:
he attention of all members OF the police iorce
is called to the resolution of the Board OF Police
ealing upon INSPECTORS, Captains and Sergeants ana
all other members Of tie police force 10 make din
cent scare for all cases OF Illegal registration, that
warrants may be issued for the arrest OF such per-
SONS. Ii is the duty OF every pOhce Oilcer TO serve
all warrants which may he PLACED III his possession
and no power exists IN any one to suspend this
service Of proper warrant. The Judge ISSUING 1t
may recall It tut neither the Board of Polce nor
any officer OF the Department il justified IN order
inc a delay in serving. WM. +. SMITH,
commissioner OF Police"
While this order was being sent out MI French
left Police Headquarters without seeing General
Smith and without beng aware of the dlrec ions
which the General was issuing. General Smith
drove away from PoiIce Headquarters soon after
ward.
PlesiGent French and Superintendent Walline
did not learn of the action OF General Smith until
nearly midnight Shortly before l o'clock this
mormug hey drove 10 Police Headquarters IN COM
l,auv with ex-COmmissi0ner Wheeler. and held a
consultation III the Supeilntendents private room.
Al the close Of their conference the superintendent
sent to the police captains the following general
order:
.fhe order promulgated by me on November l.
and YOU will be held 10 a street accountability II 1t
is diso0eyed, the Superintendent OF Police beng
the only legal officer having the power TO issue
orders to the police force.
"GEoRGE " MAILING, Superintendent"
To tribune reporter Superintendent WAlug
said that II evidently the intention Of the
Democratic leaiers to suppress many Repu Jlican
voters by arresting men on charges which could not
be sgsaincd and be would not have the police force
used to such an end.
President French characterized the des gus of
the Democrats as those OF desperate men
who were ready to go to any extremity
TO avoid defeat. Their plan. he said. was
10 hand warrants to the police at the polllng-
places and thus take the officers away from
Their posts If such plan had succeeded
there would not have been policemen enough to
ruaTo the ballot-boxcs from the possible attacks of
Democratic rcpeaters.
General Smith. ii was said, was visiting police
captains not to obey the orders OF superintendent
Nalhng.
The action of General Smith occasioned much
phi TO both Republicans and Democrats last night.
All those conversant with the rules which govern
the Police Board were unanimous IN declaring that
10 one member Of the Board had any right
10 rescnd the order of the Superntend-
eDt. Only majority Of the members OF
the Board could do this Ex-Polce Com
III mssioners Acton and Wheeler agreed III this
opinion. Police Commissioners French and Mason,
II was asserted would not sit still and allow their
Democratic colleague to usurp The functions of the
Board.