The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-24
rs Chief NATHAN In p
That Was What Made Colo
mel Robinson Swear at
the Telephone.

There were two nervous men in the
town yesterday.
One was at Police Headquarters, in
special charge during the day of the tele-
phone. That was Colonel Gilbert P. Rob-
inson, the Clark, if you please, sir, of the
Police Board.
The other was not at Police Headquar-
ters, but willing, though not probably
anxious, to be in Police Headquarters.
That was Michael Nathan. once Chief OF
Police, and now hanging to the dignity OF
eActing Chief"
Colonel Gilbert p Robinson's nervous
ness was due to his inability to produce
Chief of Police Nathan for the benefit of
those who seemed anxious to interview
him-over the telephone.
GREAT INTEREST IN THE ACTING CHIEF.
1t was surprising how sudden an inter-
est had been aroused all over the city in
Mr.. Nathan by his appointment to the
Acting Chiefship. The number of those
who expected to find him at Police Head
quarters was even more surprising.
Fifty times during the day did the
valiant Colonel turn away from the box,
with wrath in his eyes and
D the telephone!"
on his lips. And truth compels the ad-
mission that he met the anxious inquir-
les over the wires with something less
than his usual good nature.
Hello, Colonelp' would be the first
greeting he would hear
Good morning." would be his reply.
rs Chief Nathan IMP" would be the
next inquiry.
"Chief Nathanl' he would next ex-
claim.
.."Ayel ayep' would be the answer
ridden on an electric flash to his ear.
shout back, half dozen times, each sue
ceeding repetition of the question with
increasing vehemence till OF a sudden he
would switch his phone off the circuit
and switch himself back angrily to his
seat.
Suspicion is current that one practical
joker may have yelled him to the tele-
phone with the wicked design of trying
his patience; but then who would dare
SO to toy with the ColonePs tenderest
feelingsS
CHIEF NATHAN is DELICATE.
Chief Nathan's nervousness arose en-
tirely from the countless anxious en-
quiries put to him by congratulating
friends as to his age. Handsome and en-
gaging everybody knows he still but 1t
is good many years now since he ceased
boasting of his youth. But he was as
tender and reticent as q woman in res
pect to his years yesterday. He was not
disposed to deny that he is twenty-one,
but he would not admit that he is over
forty-fve, and perhaps he is not.
Then, again, perhaps he is.
If he is not, the Tenure of Office act
does not disqualify him from serving the
people as Acting Chief of the Police De-
partment.
If he is, the Tenure of Office act might
work just that disqualification
If the old Charter Board is permitted to
remain in Office, as the old Charter Board
expects to be, a special term of the Su-
preme Court may be called to determine
just how old Mr.. Nathan is.
WHAT CHIEF MURPHY SAYS.
Chief Murphy did not await the Acting
Chiefs descent upon the Headquarters
yesterday.
Nathan knows better than to come
here for any such purpose" said the Chief
to me last evening.
"Why," l asked, sis it a crime for
man who thinks he has a right to your
position to ask you to give it up to him?"
mot at ALL" was the Chiefs response;
''if he went no further than to make the
demand"
Commissioner Smith, of the old Board,
called on Chief Murphy last evening and
served upon him notice of his suspen-
sion, copy of the charges against him
and notification to be ready for trial
May 81. The charges were disobedience
of orders and insubordination.
The Chief said this morning that he had
turned the papers over to his counsel,
Messrs. Vreedenberg & Garretson, and
would be entirely guided in the matter by
their advice