New-York tribune., 1901-09-03
MURPHY WOULD HUSH 1T UP
REPLIES TO MERCHANTS LETTER AND
MAKES THE OLD PUBLICITY
HURTS" PLANT.

The Merchants Association yesterday received
a reply to the letter which it sent through its
president D. LIE Roy Dresser, on Saturday TO
Police Commissioner Murphy. Apparently the
Commissioner lost no time in replying, as his
answer was dated on the same day the letter
was sent to him. The letter announced the in
tenton of the Merchants Association to stand
by policemen who, like Patrolman O'Neir. per-
formed faithful police duty. 1t asked the Com
missioner to remove police scandals by roofing
out police evils. and called on him to remove all
police officials whose actions cast a slur On the
CITY.
In his reply Commissioner Murphy declares
that he agrees with Mr.. Dresser in regard TO the
losses to the commercial interests of the city
by the newspaper publication of the police scan
dals Then he says:
when the that 9H n eas to me
under his own Signature and under oath. that the
majority Of the statements made in the press were
aet Of his he DENIAL x does not take Sack
paper assertions and must suffer under the
charges previously made.
The statement of Commissioner Murphy will
be regarded with surprise by persons who read
the published statements made by ONeill when
he was before Deputy Commissioner Devery and
the statement which O'Neill made under oath
before Commissioner Murphy. 1t will be re-
| membered that O'Neill declared before Devery
that he had refused to pay money 10 man
who offered TO have n disasree eeable transfer
revoked, and that he had been shifted several
times since then. He stuck to that statement
when he was before Commissioner Murphy. but
refused to tell the name OF the man who had
asked for money as a transfer agent" The
records OF the Police Department show that
ONeill has been transferred five times in the
last six months not counting his last transfer
back TO fremont at his own request.
In his letter Commissioner Murphy declares
that he will go as far as any man living to
but he does not say anything about dismissing
police officials who cast a slur the city The
assertion that there are no robberIes in New
York" will be surprise to many. particularly
as burglars who committed bold robbery in a
jewelry store at Eghty-sixth-st and Third-ave.
yesterday morning escaped arrest. although
pursued by a crowd of citizens, because no
policemen were to he found when wanted. In
conclusion, the Commissioner wrote
II politics could be eliminated from the press
accounts of the Police Department there would be
no occasion for the scandals that now exist
assure you again that will take any means i'm nv
power 20 eliminate any evils In the department as
have done In the past. | have been here only a
made some changes In the department that have
been OF benefit. and that l am sure will continue
To be or benefit In the future. to good government
as wen as 10 the Police Department am ready
10 cooperate with your society in anything YOU
may suggest that be carried the rules
and under the laws.
In Devery's recent outbreaks he has declared
that politics were at the bottom of the war on
vice waged by Justice Jerome and the Society
for the Prevention OF Crime