New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-02
SUNDAY EDITION.
OCT. 2, 1892.
INSPECTOR STEERS OUT.
ais wIFE,s ILLNESS GvENAs THE REASON
LIKELY TO BE CONFLICT BETWEEN INsPEC
TORS CONLIN AND WILLIAMS FOR THE
posITIox-CAPTAIN M'LAUCHLN
MADE AN INSPECTOR

MADE AN INSPECTOR.
Tho unexpected retirement OF Chief Inspector
Steers and the promotion OF Captain Mclaughlin OF
,ho Nineteenth Precinct 20 be an Inspector caused
q stir at Police Headquarters yesterday. conhict
between Inspectors Conln and Williams, for the Office
~ Chief INSPECTOR was said to be Inevitable. The
ornlcaon OF Henry v for retirement was read
at special meeting Of the Police Board Few minutes
before noon. II said that Mr. steers had sunered
much from neuralgia Of late and he wished TO retire
from active service His wife had been Ill also ana
he desired to take her the South and remain there
with her during the winter. The commissioners voted
80 ratire him on an annual pension OF 60 800.
President Martin then said u move the appoint
n,ent of Captain Mclaughlin inspector. subject
10 Civil Service regulations"
Commissioner MacLcan said Il have the opinion
that such course Is not in agreement with either
the letter or the spirit Of the Civil service require
n,ents and therefore object to the notion"
Il have looked up this matter ana believe the
civu Service Board will consent TO such course"
remarked President Martin.
Commissioner McClave -aid d" / have no doubt OF
cant,in NcLaughn's fitness for the office OF Inspector
The Civil Service Board can take such action as Is
proper in the case
commissioner Mclean: The proposed course does
m, leave the competition open COR other captains who
nav be worthy of p.Omoton'
commissioner McClave: "Captain Mcl2ughln's rec
ord shows that he is the captain most worthy OF
promotion"
President Martin There was only one candidate
az the time of the appointment of Inspector McAvoy"
Commissioner Mclean: THAT because the
other candidates had been told to keep out Of the
competition 1t was sad that each OF them was
promised an opportunity when there was another
vacancy
President Martin: 81 had no knowledge of such
nromse The clerk will call the roll
Commissioner MacLean acne voted NO" and the
Nf,I frl lin va. In
the votes of the other three COMM -SoneIs' Mr..
sheehan having taken no part In the discussion Com
missioner McClave's motion t. transfer Captain OCon-
nor from the First Precinct TO the Nineteenth Precinct
was carried by the vote. Mr.. MacLe;n then IN
o,red who would be recognized as the Cnef inspector
in place Of Inspector Steers. President Martin sad
that question would have TO be answered later. Mr..
McCave said he thought il would be fair to assume
that INSPECTOR Williams was the senior Inspector ana
therefore entitled by law to be chef Inspector My
other course would be ridiculous he said President
Martin said that the law which made the senior IN
spector also the Chief Inspector with a salary OF
as oOOa year. and also the head OF the detective force
was intended for special purpose ana became RI
dcuous as soon as Mr.. Byrnes raised TO the rank
Of Superintendent
Mr. McClave said that the law was in force and
must be compiled with Inspectors Comm ana
Williams were appointed OH the same day IL was true
hat Conlin appointed few minutes before "iais
was but Williams had qualified by taking the oa'h
Of Office on the day of appointment while Conln VINO
was ont of the city, did not qualify until two or tifee
days later.
The Commissioners sent request to superintendent
Rvrnes not TO recognize either Conln or Williams rs
Chief INSPECTOR until the next regular meeting Oh
Tuesday MIR. Byrnes expressed the opinion lhAt tne
courts might have to settle the controversy.
Inspector Conn said he would lay claim TO the
position of Chief Inspector and would present Ills
claim 10 the Police Board. He did not say what other
step he might take II the commissioners decided against
lin. Inspector Williams snia: Il will let the
Commissioners cdcide the matter and will abide by
their decision"
Henry V. steers, the retiring Chief Inspector, was
born in westchester County January o. lo34' ana
In his boyhood was Appended 10 shlpbullder but
he Joined the police force special oicer In io''
and on November 49, Of the same year, lie became ii
regular patrolman. lie had completed a term OF lnr
,y-fve years service in the department Wien ne Wa
retired In 1850 wnen he was made a rUuidshl;li
be had a reputation for courage ana ehcehcS u Pt
uceman and 1t increased later b, many meilaon
90 arrests OF criminals the draft rOts of loO3 ne
showed his good qualities as iehtr, ne lie VA ",o
binding from destruction al the hands Of the liOer9
He also served with credit IN the orange
40, in ISL having 1ccn raised to the rank Of ser
scant in 1865, and having been in command Of the
fremont squad. He wa made captain IN Ic'4 anu
lster was In command OF the police squads In East
ne and wenty sixth st. Carmansville and AT
the City Hall. His appointment a" Inspector ",o On
April g. l5-5. t. Ill the Vacancy caused by the death
~ Inspector Thomas ". 1hOrne. 1t was said at that
fine that he could have received an appointment as
police justice but he preferred to RENAL! III the force.
lie became Chief Inspector Oh April l., loy@, wien
Mr. Dyrnes was made superintendent lie has
tastir home Al No. 473 West one hundred and fifty
second St and is reported u be wealthy.
William Mclaughlin, the new inspect'r. was Dom
IN mi, city on December 10. lao, and was ap-
pointed policeman November 70 l7"o. ne
became well hnOwn IN the department when ne was
in the Detective Bureau under Mr.. Nv mes HAVING
been promoted the grade Of rOunfsman ia 16'4 he
was made a sergeant in the Detective burcau IN
lsa4 and later he KIN wn Byrnes's ughl
hand man" lie made many important arrests ana
helped plan the detcct'v" work w!lch resulted IN
led 10 his appointment captain on July ], lnS''
cincf In the absence Of Superintendent Murray, the
hoard Of Police detailed Captain Mclaughlin 10
assist Mr. Byrnes In the management OF the De
fectlve Bureau lie was active iD the detective work
which led 10 the capture and conviction Of FIcnchy,
The murderer Of "Od shakespeare In the recent
shake M Of the police captains he was 10 the
Nineteenth Precinct from the Eldidge-st. station.