New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-18
LOW ACTS SHARPLY ON RIOTS.
ORDERS CHARGES PREPARED AGAINST CROSS AND TAKES
STEPS TO STOP CLUBBING.


OF the highest importance to Ak. The inspector
in command of the district was Inspector Cross;
the captain in command at headquarters was
CAPTAIN Herlihy: the sergeant to whom appllca-
tion was made for the permit for the funeral
procession Sergeant Brady; the captain in
command OF the Seventh Precinct IN winch the
procession started. was Captain Thompson, since
resigned: the captain in command OF the Thir-
teenth Precinct. in which the disturbance took
place was Captain Albertson: the officer in
charge of the reserves who arrived at 10 and
who are said to have dashed into a crowd that
was not engaged in actual disorder, and to
have broken it up by clubbing right and left,
without calling upon the crowd 10 disperse. is
unknown.
After a careful study of the committees re-
port and of the evidence. and as means of de-
termining the exact measure of responsibility
TO be borne by each one Of these officers, have
asked rhe CORPORATION Counsel to prepare
charges covering the following matters
Then follow the charges against Cross and
Brady The letter continues:
RECOMMENDS OTHER CHARGES.
II may be that Captain Herlihy, who was in
charge at Headquarters on the evening before
the funeral is the officer really responsible for
these mistakes. II So the charges shoud pe
made against him. instead Of Sergeant Brady,
or against both of them.
Captain Thompson. then In command or the
Seventh Precinct. has in the mean time re-
signed and. therefore. charges cannot ne mace
against him for bad management and neglect OF
duty in this connection
l am aware that the committee have MADE no
criticism 1!pon Captain AlbertsOn. and that he
had no official knowledge Of the funeral. L
think nevertheless that Captain Alhertson also
should be placed under charges in order that he
may have the opportunity to explain why ne
should have gone off duty 10 take iunCheoh' as
it appears Iby the evidence that he did. just as
this procession was reaching the most critical
point in his precinct
You will also take steps 20 identify the officer
in command o. the reserves who arrived upon
the scene at a bout 10 and who are reported
70 have broken up crowd not engaged IN
active disorder ny clubbing. without first giving
it warning 10 disperse- When YOU have ldenu-
fed this officer. you Will see that he is placed
under proper charges.
Il -our inquiries lead you 70 believe that
other officers than those alreaoE riolca'SG Nd
been guilty # improper use Of their clubs IN
this affair. you will place them also under
charges.
The committee report to me. without specify
ing individual officers. that they have reason 70
believe that the practice Of clubbing is INDUCED
in much too frequently by the police, and often
n-itbo,t snf7icient rroyocatfon This matter will
require the most careful consideration. Please
send 70 me AZ once the regulations of the de-
partment bearing upon this subject. and. for my
be properly prepared, showing the name OF
each officer tried the charge OF improperly
clubbing or assaulttng citizen. from the be
ginning of Mayor Strongs administration 10 the
present time. This report should give the name
Of the officer, the name Of the trial Cornmls-
sioner. the finding and the sentence. / should
like il made out by years and months
The committee also discusses the question OF
what ought be the attitude Of the depart
ment toward officers who are under Indictment.
I understand as the committee does that there
two sides 10 The question. I satisfied,
however. that it calls for careful consideration,
and that ii may not be necessary TO follow, in
every case, a uniform rule. AS tending to throw
some light upon the subject. desire you to re-
port 10 me at YOUR earliest convenience. the
name OF every officer on the force now under In
dictment the date when the indictment was
found. and the offence charged.
You Will be kind enough TO proceed with these
trials will all due diligence, and report to me
your finding in each case.
The letter to District Attorney Jerome was as
follows:
I hand you herewith copy Of the report sub
mitted to me by the special committee appoint
ed by me investigate the disturbance the
East Side IN connection with the funeral Of the
late Rabbi Joseph You will observe that the
the primary responsibility for this disturbance
clearly rests upon persons IN the establishment
Of MesSrs. r. Hoe & GO.
The facts Of the situation seem to be that
many of those who Joined in the funeral process
sion to do honor TO the memory Of Rabbi Jo-
seph. were first assaed by missiles from the
windows of this factory then drenChed with the
hose, and then dubbed by the police The throw
ing Of missiles and the Of the fire hose D.
near to raise questions lying within YOUR iuris-
diction. Very possibly you have taken steps TO
do what is called for in the premises The
question affecting the police l dealing with
myself
you, for such action as may seem to you called
for.
At Police Headquarters II was said last night
that Inspector Cross was in Europe and that he
would not return for two weeks.
District Attorney Jerome said last night that
he had not received the letter as it had prob
ably gone to his office. When told it's contents
he said:
Not a word. If the police want to do some
thing about it. all right"