The Jersey City news., 1903-01-06
FOR POLICE
REASONS
Chief Murphy Causes Con-
sternation by Shaking
up the Detective
Bureau.
PATRoLMEN WORRIED
No One Can Tell Where the
Matter Will End Or Who
Will Be Shifted Around
Next.

There is weeping and wailing and
gnashing of teeth among the Nick Car
ters and Sherlock Holmeses Of the Jer-
sey City Police Department For police
reasons" is the explanation given by
Chief Murphy for a general shake up of
the entire detective staff with the ex-
ception of Gus Hottie and Henry G..
Keenan,, who will remani at their old
assignments
NO one seems to know what the cause
OF the upheaval is, not even the men
themselves who are going around asking
each other what it all means. The
change goes into effect tomorrow morn
ing and it will no doubt be several weeks
before the general feeling of soreness
on the part Of some and elation on the
part of others has worn off.
The headquarters assignment is con-
sidered by all the members of the de-
tectlve force to be the most preferable
berth and once man has been assigned
to it he hates to have to change The
hours are easier and the men have much
more chance to distinguish themselves
on difficult cases of detection Of crimes
and criminals.
A headquarters man goes on duty at
eight in the morning and is off duty at
i've in the afternoon if the case on which
he has been engaged is finished. IA pre-
cinct man goes on at eight in the morn
ing off at FIVE for supper, returns at
seven-thirty and remains on duty until
ten o'clock and often much later.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE SERVICE
Chief Murphy this morning when ask
ed what the reason. for the change was,
said:-'sThe re-assignnent Of the men
was made for police reasons and there
is no other exp lanatioii to :be given ont
to the public. The men viii all make
daily reports of what they have accom-
plished to the inspector as usual. and
these reports will be turned over to me
for examination, as has always besn done
III the past.
The new assignments will be as fol-
loWs:-At Headquarters, Henry c..
Keenan,, Frank Bennett, Robert Pearson
and Alexander Gallagher; First. Precinct,
William Prescott; Second Precinct Danl..
Lee; Third Precinct Michael Doyle:
Fourth Precinct, Gus Hottie: Fifth Pre-
cinct; James Larkins: Sixth Precinct,
Michael Clark; Seventh Precinct,
Michael McNallv.
The new Board of Police Commission
ers We're, of course, consulted as to the
change. before it was made. but whether
there have been any complaints made
against the men or not cannot be found
out. Many people expected that there
would be a general shaking up Of the de-
partment when the new Board went into
office, but no one really expected that
it would take the turn it has in such q
wholesale manner.
WHERE WILL IT STOP?
Where the shakup will stop is known
only to the Commissioners themselves.
Many of the men in the department are
guessing as to whose turn it Will next
be to make a quick change.
The friends of Robert Pearson are es-
pecially glad that he has ben returned to
Headquarters duty as he has filled that
assignment for almost twenty years and
has thorough knowledge Of all the old
time crooks in this city and surrounding
towns. His record as criminal catcher
is of the best.
Michael Doyle, who has been shifted
from Headquarters to the Third precinct
will be greatly missed by the unfortu-
mates who are brought before the bar of
the First Criminal Court
For three years Doyle has been as-
signed to duty as court officer in the
mornings, and while in the position has
made many a downhearted wretch take
hope and get a grip on himself. His
wide knowledge Of crime and criminals
made him a good pudge of human nature
and if any one was tried who mhe
thought was innocent. Doyle would do
all in his power to get the man justice
He treated all the prisoners with kind
ness. and during all Ilte time he has
made against him. Should he be return
ed to his cid position there will be great
rejoicing among those whom he has be-
friended.