Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-06

the car to the switch where he met the car going north, and from thence the car containing the body of the of hcer was brought to Exchange place by the motorman of the north bound 1 car.
 Immediately upon receipt of the news that the officer had been shot number of officers were sent to Forest park, but their search during the bal ance Of the night and the following day, conducted under the supervision or Lleutenant Dodds, revealed nothing as to The identity of the murderers. ] me conductor and motorman are pos- ltlVe that the attacking party consist ed or three or more men, and that i their faces were concealed beneath ] White handkerchiefs. in the same man. I ner as were the faces of the murder ous gang that assaulted the car crew on the Waterville line on the night ] of February 26 last 1 Ten months have passed since the murder of the officer, yet notwith- l standing the efforts of this depart ment and the Pinlserton National De tectye agency, and the fact that re- 1 wards aggregating $13.65O.OO were of fered, the cowardly murderers have 1 not yet been apprehended.
 l In addition to the Pinkerton men. who we're here working at the exN l pense of the state. a number of men 1 representing various other detective 1 agencies were here for several weeks after the murder. the hope of secur- ing a large reward being 8 powerful l incentive to their best efforts, but all 1 such efforts have thus far failed. Although We have not yet succeed ed in establishing the identity of the murderers, yet I am firmly convinced l that the future will reveal that se- cret, and that the murderers of Paul Mendelssohn will surely suffer the l penalty of their crime
 Officer Mendelssohn was appointed to the supernumerary force March 12 i 1901. He performed efficient police duty continuously after the fire and ] during the smallpox epidemic last year, and from the commencement of the strike last January unti. his death. He was faithful to duty, and had he lived it is almost certain that he would have been promoted to the regular force ere this.
 His widow is the first beneficiary of the police pension fund, from which fund she will receive twenty five dollars per month for the period of ten years. should she remain wid- ow that long.
 Civil Service.
 1t seems to me that this city has reached the time when appointments to, and promotions in the police de- partment, if in no other, should be made under civil service rules. Such system is in operation in all large cit ies, New Haven being one city in this state where it has been in operation with great success for number of years. There can be no doubf but that such system would be for the best interests of the city, as under 1t | the best qualified applicants for the positions would receive the appoint ments. and that should be the object desired by all boards having the pow CT to make the appointments. Much could be said in favor of civil service ] examinations. but do not care to en- ter into its merits further at this time. I simply make the suggestion and leave the rest in your hands.
 In Conclusion
 desire to tender my sincere thanks ! to the retiring board of commissioners i Of public safety, for the efficient and impartial manner in which it has con- ducted the affairs of the department during the past year, and for the courteous treatment that I have per sonally received from each invidual | member.
 also desire to thank the members of the force generally. the officers in l particular. for the manner in which 1 they performed their duties during l the past year, especially during the | trolley strike, when the conditions ! were such as they never had to con- tend against before. and sincerely | hope that such conditions will never again prevail in this city.
 I also desire to assure you, gentle | men. that you will find this dcpart- | ment, over which you are now called | upon to preside, fully abreast of the | times in its methods of performing l police duty and enforcing the laws, | and the peer of any like department | in this state of equal strength. and I 1 have no doubt but that it will main | tain that position as long as such l able men are selected for membership !, in the board of public safety, to con- trol its affairs.
 Appended will be found the usual ! tables giving in detafl the work per formed during the year, also report from Lieutenant Dodds giving in de tail the work performed by the de- tective bureau.
 Respectfully submitted
 GEORGE M. EGAN,
 Chiaf of Police. r