The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-23
qualified before City Clerk Scott this
NATHAN rs CHIEF.
The Old Charter Board of Police Puts
Up Its Man.

NATHAN Is CHIEF.
The Old Charter Board of Police Puts
Up Its Man.
Ex-Chief of Police Michael Nathan was
made Acting Chief of Police by the old
Board of Police Commissioners, pending
the conviction of Chief of Police Murphy
for insubordination, with view to max
ing him full fledged Chief of Police
when the new charter is set aside, as they
hope it will be, by the court.
The appointment was made in evident
ignorance of the requirements of the
TIE nure of Office bill This prescribes that
no man shall be appointed on the police
force who is less than twenty-one years of
age. 1t will scarcely be pretended that
Mr.. Nathan is unf-; twenty-one. But 1t
is shrewdly suspected that he is some
what over forty-hve.
The appointment was made at the
meeting of the old Board, held in the
Board of Works building last evening
Commissioners Nugent, O'Donnell, Davis,
Roberts and Smith were in attendance.
President Kern, of the Board of Works,
and Commissioner Watt were in the
small audience that witnessed the pro-
ceedings The meeting took place in the
Assembly room at the Board of Works
building.
President Davis appointed Mr. Smith
clerk of the meeting and that gentleman
attempted to read the minutes of the
meetings held by the Commissioners on
May 13, Is and 81. He was interrupted
by Mr.. O'Donnell, who moved that the
minutes be adopted without going
through the ceremony of reading them.
With a general sigh of satisfaction every
Commissioner voted for the motion.
1t produced smile when Deacon Davis
asked if there were any claims to be
audited Apparently the Police. Depart
ment had been run very economically, or
else its creditors pinned their faith on the
New Charter Board, for not single claim
was offered
Mr. O'Donnell was the next object of
interest He offered a resolution to the
effect that the charges preferred against
Chief Murphy for insubordination and
disobedience of orders be acted on. Com
missioner Roberts added another resolu-
ton that the Chief be notified to appear
for trial on these charges, May 27, at five
D. M. Both resolutions were adopted, and
then Mr.. Roberts supplemented them
with O third which suspended Chief Muir
ply from duty Immediately. This also
was adopted unanimously.
II nominate Michael Nathan for the
position of Acting Chief of Police" said
Commissioner Nugent, and Mr.. Nathan
was elected Aresolution that all mem
bers of the force be notified to obey and
respect his orders as Chief prevailed, and
then recess of ten minutes was ordered.
During the recess Deacon Davis declared
that the Board simply wanted to abide by
the decision of the court.
'There may be more men appointed on
the force before then," said he, but we
will not try to take possession of Police
Headquarters until armed with an order
from the court"
'sIf Chief Murphy refuses to be tried by
your Board, what then?" he was asked.
''If convicted it will be a matter of rec
ord, and that is all we want" he replied.
"Will you pay the present force of 225
men their salary for May?"
''When the pay rolls are submitted to
us we will sign them" said he, "and the
Board of Finance will not recognize any
other pay roll for the Police Department. J"
Recess over, MeSsrs. O'Donnell and Nu-
gent were directed to go in search of Mr..
Nathan and inform him that he had been
elected to the Office of Chief, and they
found him in committee room down
tstairs awaiting them. Mr.. O'Donne1 in
troduced him in formal manner to his
colleagues.
81 accept the honor" said the new
Chief, land will endeavor to do my duty.
have been Chief of the police force be-
fore, and / think that l can now perform
whatever duties l find to do"
A general congratulation took place and
the so called Board adjourned subject to
the call of the chair