New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-25
DIR. PARKH CRST VINDTCAT TED.

Inc DeileI upon Wnlcn Ut. IdTkHuTst ds
president of the Society for the Prevention OF
Crime. based his remarkable crusade was this,
| that lawbreaking was knowingly tolerated by
those who were charged with the enforcement
of the laws. Nobody has forgotten the angry
demonstrations with which the local author
tiles, high and low, protested against this bold
avowa. Tammany Hall was thrown into
spasms of vrtuous Indignation, and forthwith
set up chorus of denial and abuse. sub
servient Grand Jury endeavored to quiet the
commotion by condemnng the man and the
motives that had produced it, and Dr. Park
hurst was contradicted and viliied as pre-
lilninary to crushing him. But, nconsiderately
refusing to be crushed or even inundated he
set about the oncrous task of demonstrating
the truth of his assertions. second Grand
Jury. taking up the charges which he had pre-
ferred, found that the facts sustained him, and
bravely arraigned the police for completely with
the criminal classes. BY this time Tammany
was terrified. public sentiment had been
aroused with which it was dangerous to trific.
1t was necessary to do something more than
buster. DR.. Parkhurst's punishment and dis
grace must still be accomplished in some man
ner but in the meantime il was absolutely
necessary to make a counter-dcmonstration
Superintendent Murray's resignation was ac-
cepted, and Inspector ByrneS was appointed to
succeed him.
The general course Of events since that time
is familiar TO all, but until now the community
has not known what the net results have been
Several trials have been so conducted a to give
all possible annoyance to the president of the
r. g ,,ithput i'm
the slightest degree weakening his dctcrmina-
ton or impairing public confidence in the sin
cerity OF his motives. At the same time the
police force, recognized and reinvigorated by
transfers and removals and under the spur of
orders from Headquarters, have been showing
more than ordinary yigor in enforcing the laws,
and general improvement OF conditions has
been visible though how much 1t really
amounted to the public has had no means OF
knowing But now Superintendent Byrnes
comes out with an official report to the Board
of Police, and for the first time it is possible
to cast up the account. The Superintendent
finds himself able TO declare that there is no
public gambling in New-Yorll at the present
time, that the detcstablc policy business has
been completely broken up, that within sixty
days 756 persons have been arrested for vioa
ing the Excise law, and that with the co-opera-
ton of the courts the illegal sale Of liquor
might be entirely stopped. He reports also the
suppression OF numerous vicious establishments
and the arrest of their inmates. II is proper 10
say that the Superintendent questions the adj
vantage to the community OF dealing with such
establishments in this manner, and asserts that
the Excise law cannot be uniformly enforced
by the police alone. against the will of 1.-THE
masses of the people, who entertain the belief
that it interieres with their rights and priv
ileges.n
Leaving disputed points out Of consdera-
ton, these solid facts are disclosed by Supern-
tendent Byrnes, that since he came into power,
and in consequence OF "the system inaugu-
rated" by him. Al public gambling houses and
173 policy shops have been closed and vacated
This publication has been accomplished within
sixty days in city which. according TO the ex-
pohents OF Tammany Hall in official life, was
wickedy DETAINED by reckless clergyman ; II
city where vice and crime were pursued with
relentless vigor by the police, and which need
ed no better administration. Superintendent
Byrnes has officially refuted that pretence lie
has proved that lawbreakcrs hourished under
his predecessor, and that nothing was needed
to bring them to a halt but the will to do So
He does not report, OF course, that they pur
chased their immunity. but he removes from
the popular mind the last vcstgc Of doubt on
that point. Superintendent Byrncs has vindi-
Gated DR.. Parkhurst.