New-York tribune., 1906-12-14
CHIEF MURPHY RETIRES
Jersey Citys Teteran Police Head
.1Uosced 10 Quit H0nOrdbty.

Chief OF Police Murphy OF Jersey City retired
Hast night unde- the pension act on half pay
after the Police Board. which had convened in
special session fer the purpose, mad formally
withdrawn the charges that had been lodged
against him and had revoked the suspension.
Police Commissioners Potts. McNulty ana
Mitchell. constituting the entire board. attended
the meeting. which was called ostensioly TO hx
q date for the trial Of the chief
Corporation Counsel Record arose, as soon as
President Potts had declared the meeting
opened and had stated its object. and said:
Ibis is a public matter. Personally. ! Lave
no feeling against Chief Murphy. If his trlal
goes my part I'm il will be the performance
Of painful duty. II the Chief prevails IL must
he apparent 10 him. with his long experience
of the necessity of discipline, that his posluoh
az the hea or the force will he uncomfortable 10
himself and he viii under these CONDITIONS oe
unable 20 maintain discipline
Then. addressing Mr Vredenbergh. who rep
resented Chi-f Murphy. the Corporation counsel
asked: Now. under these conditions can You
state Whist the Chiefs position is in this mat"
ter
Nr Record read from 4 typewritten state
l7ent. and NJ. Nredenbergh in replying oid
likewise. showing that the procedure had been
carefully arranged before the meeting The
rerlv or Nr VrAdenbergh was as follows
can see no substantial reason why Chief
Murphy should insist remaining Chief OF
Police Of Jersey City. He is the servant of the
Mayor snG this board and his duty IS 10 obey
and work in harmony with them. When these
charges are dismissed. owing the present
conditions and lack Of harmony. his usefulness
viii be gone. His ability TO add to his record
for police work chief Will not only be pre-
vented. bat even his present record may be
injured or DESTROYED. He is entitled 10 retire
on half pay. He has passed his sStiefh birth
GAY. ! ssv. therefore. that if these charges are
dismissed and his suspension revoked his police
record win then he Untarnished. and he can
place and I Will advise him to place. his re-
quest for retirement IN The hands of this board
- once.
Corporation counsel Record. again addressing
tho board, added:
have submitted Mr.. Vredeubergh-s proposI-
tion Mayor Pagan. The Mayor has requested
me say that h looks the case in this way
II go and prevail. The result is only that
The chief retTeS from his Office If succeed in
our case and lhe judgment Of the board goes
against him. il would be question i'm my mind
neither ne would not lose his right to a pension
! am. therefore authorized To say that the Mayor
viii approve. II this board does, of MI NTeden-
hershs suggestion.
The board then adopted resolutions Withdraw
ing the charges and revokng the suspension.
chief Murphy then presented his application for
retirement. in which he set forth that he vas
an honorably discharged Union soldier. had
served over twenty years in the Police Depart
ment, and had attained his sixtieth year
\ resolution was introduced ordering his re-
r.remcnt on half pay tnis salary is $4,000. and
Benjamin Murphy. no for thirty-three years
had been an officer IF the Jersey City police
force. and tor TNenty-Seyen years the comUaH-
dant oI the department. Went out into private
long career d policeman had charges been
preferred against him before. No successor wa :
namA1. The board fixed next Monday night TO
hear counsel for the other suspended officers az
- the date 4or the trials