The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-10-03
COL. IURPHYON The RACK NOW
MERCHANTS PREFER CHANGES
Against POLICE COMMISSIONER
sus Refsnsi 70 Put Devery On Trial the
Bssss % Complaint Made 10 the Mayer
If Van wyck Doesn't Act the Matter
WIN ne Taken Before Gov. OdeIi.

Following tho refusal 81 Police Com
missioner Murphy to put Dcvery on trial
upon tho charges preferred by the Mer-
chants Association. that organization
made charges yesterday against Murphy
himself. The latest charges ara ret forth
In n letter directed u Mayor Van WICK
They specifically accuse the Police Com
missioner Of malfeasance in Office In refus-
ing 20 entertain. hear and try the issues
raised against his subordinate and ask
for bis removal from Office. and IL is under
stood that ~ the Mayor fails TO take cog
nixance OF the Associations appeal 20 him
the whole matter will be submitted 20 Gov.
Odell. The lettor 10 Mayor Van wyck
follows
Hon Robert 4. Van wyck. Mavor Of the
Cir. Of Nsr iOrk. Guy Hal. NsV Fork.
.Dr.a SIN. The Merchants Association
% New York submits for your ~considera-
ton the annexed charges against william
4. Devery. Deputy Police Commissioner,
together with a demand tha, ho lie placd
on trial thereon, which charges We're di-
rectcd TO Miclsacl c. Murphy. Commissioner
and Chief 81 Police. We also submit the
reply made by COMMISSIONS Murphy.
Wherein he refuses 10 entertain the charges
made by this association. thereby restrain
Ing its right Ia n hearing and preventing
Il from showing by evidence that said
Devery committed tho acts complained
Of and that said acts afford just ground
for his removal from Office.
We now submit Ia YOU that not only
IA Commissioner Murphy'a refusal an In
frngement 81 this associations right To
lie heard. but Il is an anront To public de-
cency, 70 good morals and the self respect
Of this community and demonstrates the
unitns-~ Of said Commissioned Murphy
To longer hold the Office now occupied
by him, In that he by his attitude prevents
proper examination into tho conduct Of
his subordinate. and thereby protects
the latter against just punishment Tor
such misdessds "a shall have been proved
az dnst him. The sentiments 81 public
d~eoency, good morals and self-respcct
ars revercnced by all except tho shame
less and the degraded. To publicly insult
them In 20 outrage the feelings Of every
Respectable man and woman In tho som
muntty Any public Official who does not
understand and respect these sentiments
il unfit to lold offsoe.
William \. Deyery has thus lnsult"d
and outraged the de~ant sentiment 81
this city. because Of his shamcle-sness.
his disregard Of the ordinary decencies
Of civilization. his rufhanly deiueanor
W N acting in "A judicial capacity, his
utter contempt for even the srmhlanc' 81
fairness. he has brought upon this city
and lis people the disgust and contempt
OF tho nation. BecausA 81 these things
this association has demanded Of his su-
perior that Deputy Police commissioner
Devery H. brought To trial In order that u
might show hs offences and thu cause his
removal from ofice.
Police Commissioner Murphy condones
the conduct % las subordinate. declares
that the acts alleged do not constitute
injustice, tyranny and oppression, but =
are necessary and proper measures 81
discipline, and concludes as follows A
careful inquiry into and "A personal knowl-
Of the cases referred to therein and
A careful consideration thereof forces rne
To tho conclusion that | csnno find suf-
ficieni reason Ia call upon the First Deputy
81 Police to answer la the
charges Of injustice, tyranny and
oppression. and that | must. therefore,
decline to take further action
IN respect 10 the same
The charges made by this association
not only injustice. tyranny and
oppression. hut conduct ~unhecoming a
ILputy Commissioner OF Police The
charge II the csscncc OF the subject
The imposition Of fines, the
severity Of the penalties imposed. may.
~ Commissioner Murphy contends. la
wholly within the discretion Of tho Deputy
Commissioner and may he proper and
as measures 81 discipline. but
COMMISSIONS Murphy wholly ignores the
moral character Of the conduct Of his
Deputy and the fragrant indeCenCy Of his
conduct. his language and the moral
fleets thereof upon the men under his
command and upon the public.
The third specification sets forth the In
'ulting language used by the Deputy Com
missioner toward - con plainant not a
member Of the police force, which language
ended 10 publicly degrade and humihate
I've complainant and thereby 90 d~iscourago
he making Of -uc complaints 10y the public
through dread Of Icing subjected TO such
public abuse and affruut