The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-07
Fagan's Police Board By
An Act " Wortay of Russia 5
Autocraoy Places Frank
Monahan in His Place.
A PURELY POLITICAL CRIME
FEARING THE HONESTY OF THE
CHIEF THE ADMINISTRATION
PARTY sUPPLANTs HIM BY A
TOOL OF THEIR OWN RATTERN

PatruIman Frank Monahan. who is
Hated to succeed Chief of Police Beuja
min Murphy in the event of Mayor
Fagan's reelection, exerted his power
nst night over the Board of Police Com
nissioners and had himself practically
made chief of the department for the
aext twenty-four hours. There was no
happier man in eJrsey City than Mona
IAN when he heard the news of Chief
Murphys humiliation.
Il told you. boys" he said to group
pf Faganites. that l would make the
Chief bow his knee TO me, and / have
accomplished my purpose. l am the
boss of the Police Department for to-day
at least and it will not eb many days, IL
We are successful at the polls, before
will have him out of the department al
together"
Withou consulting President John
Mitchell, the Pagan commissioners, Nc
Nulty and Potts, met in secret session in
4 place other than Police Headquarters
and carried out the programme mapped
out by AlMonahan and the men who are
determined to punish Chief Murphy for
MS refusal to allow the Police Depart
Thent to be converted into political
nlachine.
Several resolutions were adopted The
irst was to put Monahan in charge of a
detail of eight men, who are TO carry
ont secret orders of the Pagan commits
sioners. They are to report only to the
commissioners and are in no way to be
subject to any orders issued by Chief
Murphy. Monahan, by the action of the
Commissioners is for to-day at least the
absolute autocrat of the department. He
ran even order Chief Murphy about, if
be so desires, and the Commissioners
will uphold him in any move he makes.
It isn't likely though that Chief Murphy
viii submit to such high-handed pro-
ceeding. and persons who know the Chief
and his record as veteran of the war
look for clash when the attempt is
made to usurp his authority.
That the Commissioners, in addition
10 humiliatiug Chief Murphy, have other
plans in mind is evidenced from the fact
that they picked oct fifty members of the
force who were known to be favorable
10 the administration to do duty in GER
tain polling precincts.
ruDor was prevalent late last night
that resperate efforts were to be made
TO carry the election for Fagan, even
though bloodshsd had to be resorted to.
1t was said that the purpose of assign
ing the picked Pagan men to certain
polliDf place was to intimidate and
ccerce Henry workers. and. if necessary,
~ uAAfo sA<Au AAOAA tA1 PoAiSs ~Ieueuce
10 given to the rumors by the action Of
the Commissioners In stripping Chief
Murphy of his authority to susl GAsl
members Of the department for violation
Of any of the rules. By resolution the
Pagan commissioners directed Chief
Murphy that there should not be any
suspension Of officers for any cause
whatever. Any policeman violating the
rules of the department Is to remain on
duty while the election is in progress
This Is an unheard Of proposition, and
never before In the history of the de-
9g-tment has Police Board carried poll
tics to such an. extent. 1t means moth
ing more nor less than that the Pagan
policemen have their instructions, and
that they .ha3 been told to go the limit
and that ths Commissioners would pre-
isct them.
The Esws OF the action Of the Fagan
Police COMMISSIONERS spraed like wild
fire end created a decided sensation.
Genexel irdien0sion was expressed. and
many Eagsn supporters declared they
would ress1t such methods BY casting
their ballots for Esney.
A msstlng OF the Bosrdfof Health
frv