New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-14
A BROIL IN JERSEY CITY.
OFFICIALS TAKE OFFICE BY FORCE.
THE NEW BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS AT:
TEMPTS TO GUST THE OLD BoARp.


TEMPTs TO GUST THE OLD BoAKD.
Contrary to expectation the new Board Of Police
Commissioners Of Jersey City appointed by Mayor
Cleveland, under the new charter, made an attempt
last night take forcible possession of the Police
Department and partly succeeded. The proceed
ings would have been amusing were IL not for the
grave issues involved and the danger that the
! discipline OF the force will be destroyed or at
least greatly lessened. The old Board met first
President Davis was in the chair, and CommiS-
sioners Nugent O'Donncl, Smith and Roberts
were in their seats, with Clerk Robinson at his
desk. 1t meeting called for the special
| purpose Of taking steps to prevent the new Com
| missioncrs from getting possession. Counsellor
Seymour, one of the contesting Corporation At
torneys, present and had prepared a series Of
resolutions President Kern, OF the Board OF
Works, bitter oppone ent of the charter, and Com
missioner Jordan, Of the old Board Of Works, were
also present
Business moved along smoothly for a time, and
| Corporation Attorney Seymour's resolutions were
| adopted. One directed that no detail OF officers
| should be made by the chief or
| captains until further orders from the Board, and
| that the executive control of the department
| be placed in the hands OF Presidcat Davis until
| fCfrther instructions given. Another resolu
| ton conferred power the president TO instruct
any officer or member Of the department in his
duties and declaring that the instructions given
shall be considered the instructions OF the Board
| A third resolution directed Clerk Robinson not to
act as clerk for any body Of citizens claiming TO
be police commissioners and not TO deliver hooks
! or papers Of the department 70 anybody without
| orders from the Board. At this point the Board
decided to take a recess Of twenty minutes and
await developments They had not long to wait
moment or two after the recess was ordered
| President John p. Feeney, OF the new Board.
walked into the meeting room, followed by his
| fellow commissioners Kelly and Benson Without
any ceremony Feeucy walked up behind the pres-
dents desk, seized the gnve which President Davis
had laid down, and gave several vigorous raps on
| the marble shb lie then announced in stentOr!an
tones, Tho Board Of Police Commissioners OF
Jersey City will please come 10 order" Com
mssioncrs Kelly ard Benson took seats, and Mr.
! Fecncy directed Clerk Robinson 20 call the roll
| The clerk, under tho order he had just received
| from the old Board, refused and Commissioner
Benson was elected clerk pro tenn. He called the
roll, but when he was asked 10 read the minutes
OF the previous meeting be said he did not have
them. Clerk Robinson had acted at the previous
meetings 1t was decided then 10 dispense with
the minutes.
At this juncturc both BoGrds began TO hold
their meetings simultaneously, and Chief of
Police Murphy was sent for. Commissioner
Nugcnt OF the old Board moved that lac be ordered
to eject all uhjcctouAb" persons from the room
President DayiS put the motion an 1t was adopted
but the Chief remained III stAtu quo, - IL
were President Kern OF the Board OF Works,
g., X 4 hand in the sIuabblc, a,iI said he would
like TO know which Board he should look to
Tor protection for MS property. President feenry
ordered him 20 krcp quiet under pam oI 2;lh8
removed from the room, but President Davis
i'm fhe O
about 10 coHtiun~ his reuarfo when PresidehV
! Fcency ordered the Chief 20 rcn0v" kern unless
| he took hls seat The Chief stood up but before
| he could take any action Kern sat down. Chicl
| Murphy called upon for declaration OF MS
| position, and he unhcsitaungly declared thAt no
| would obey the orders Of the new Board, as they
were appointed under the latest law, ana no
was bound to consider the law constitutional
until IL is declared otherwls" by some coalPe
| authority The old Board Immediately adoptcl
n resolution suSpending the Chief, and ordering
| charges preferred against him
TIE usURPERs WITHDRAW.
Tho double meeting continued for few min
utes longer until the Board adjourned ana
left the room in possession Of their rivals b"ioe
adJourning however, Chief Murphy Issued
general order 20 the captains Of the dIhereht
precincts and their commands, setting forth that
the new Board OF Police CommisSl onrrS appointed
By the Mayor in pursuance OF hw, Laa o.r hr" a
regular meeting aud directed that ali orders To
tho Dcus rtmrnt should bc issued through Ben
amin Murphy. The Chief was directed sum
marly 10 suspend any officer or member OF the
DEPARTMENT who received or ohcycd any orders
except those issued through HIM.
The new Commissioners took up thclr quarters
I'm the Chiefs office. and the old members re-
mnncd in the mchtingrOOm. Then the cohni't
brgnn in earnest Commissioner Smith, ut the
request Of President DAVIS, went 10 the tele-
phone and summoned all the captains 90 rep0ro
nt hcadounrtrrs at once. moment later In
spector Smith, by direction OF Chief Murphy,
courtermpudal the order and directed the cap
tains 10 remain in their station house,. laPth'h
Newton was thr only one who appeared AT mead,
auartnrs and hr promptly captured ana
taken into the Chiefs office, where he remained
for some time The old Board ordered all the
other captains suspended, but as boon as this
action was reported 20 thr new Board, the cap
roins werc rrinstated This sort OF thing was
kept up for some time, The old commissioners
sending orders out over the telephone ana ul"
new countermRnding chem. Inspector smith
Gually refused 10 allow the old Commissioners to
use the telephone and he WAS promptly suspended;
CaptaIn Newton was asked by the old Board
to take Chief Murphy place, but he refused.
Roth forces were sill in headquarters AZ mid
night and three policemen wcre on duty to pre-
ytnt any breach Of the peace