The sun., 1895-01-01
President MARTIN TO RESIGN.
Announced Yesterday His Long Cortem-
plated Action-Mr. Sheehan Won't Resign.

Announced Yesterday His Long Contem-
plated Action-Mr. Sheehan Won't Resign.
James ]. Martin. President of the Police
Board, announced yesterday his intention Of re-
signing his Office To SUN reporter he said:
II have had the subject under consideration
for some time and long ago decided to resign
my office as a favorable opportunity
offered. The place has never been congenia to
me; any of my intimate friends will back me up
in that statement. and do not care TO occupy IL
any longer. The Lexow investigation Is ended,
and consider that this is the time for me to
get out. While the investigation was in prog
ress I could not tender my resignation. 1t
would have looked too much as though was
retiring under fire. Now have been publicly
vindicated and am free to do as like, which 10
to step out Of the Police Department and police
affairs. I do not wish to stand in the way Of
such a reorganization Of the Police Department
as may be deemed necessary and wise. On the
contrary, wish to do everything in my power
to further such an end. What my
record has been since l came into the
department is well known to both my friends
and to the public at large. and do not think
that any one will saw that have ever used my
Office for anything but the welfare Of the force
and of the community. On this record 1 am
willing to stand, now that have decided to
sign. AS to the testimony given by Superin-
made by him, do not wish to get into any con-
troversy or handy words with the Superin-
tendent. have too high regard for him as Su-
perintendent and too high respect for my own
office to indulge in any such argument. 1 will
say, however. that any statement made or any
testimony sworn to by the Superintendent to the
effect that he has been hampered by my actions
is absolutely false. In tho first place 1t
was on my motion that Mr.. Byrnes was made
atn - hAAy.
in that office have never done anything to
hamper him in the discharge of his duties. His
testimony in regard to ths meeting of the Cap
tains before the Presidential election in 1902 ia
ment OF that circumstance under oath, and with
the two statements before them will submit TO
the Judgment OF the people as to S which M Is cor
now. i cannot mako them public II would.
Once more will say that have. positively de-
the hands OF Mayor Strong in very few days"
President Martins determination was news to
~ got my first intimation Of Mr.. Martins in
tentions from reporter. cannot say anything
will say that l am not going to resign, and have
never had the slightest intention OF doing so.
hands is not in writing. and IS not in course of
preparation am positively not going to re-
Commissioners Kerwin and Murray said that
they were surprised. They had nothing else to
Mayor-elect Strong said: "Iknow absolutely
nothing about the matter. Rumors of Mr.. Mar
tins intention have reached me, but never
mind rumors and until get Mr.. Martins resig-
nation will say nothing at all"
Mayor Gilroy said that he was not bit sur
prised at Commissioner Martins intention.
II have known for the past six months" said
Mr. Gilroy. that Mr. Martin did not like the
place. think he was quite right not to resign
before. AS he says himself he could not afford
TO let people think he was retiring under fire."
Commissioners Martins term of office would
expire on May next. He appointed in
May, 1889, by Mayor Grant. Before that he
was Deputy Register. He is Chairman of the
Tammany Hall Executive Committee. He is AZ
years of age, and since he 80 years old has
been an officeholder under the city Govern
ment. Under Comptroller John Kelly he was a
clerk in the Finance Department. Later he
served as Secretary of the Board Of Revision
and Correction of Assessments.