New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-25
MAYOR ACCUSES POLICE
Of A FALSE REPORT
Statement Issued by CltyS
Head Last Night Indicates
Second Duffy Case.
CAPTAIN MADE TARGET
81 Found Him an oldtimer, and
It's Hard to Get Anything
Into Their Skulls"
Gaynor Declares.

Mayor Gaynor issued statement last
night on the case OF Hyman Albert, the
sixteep-year-old Brooklyn boy, anr his
companion. who were put in cell for
throwing a ball in Prospect Park anu
:, led n the belief that he intended to
make another Duffy case out OF IT, II
was just four years ago when he made
=, issue of the arrest Of the Duffy boy
and forced the removal Of Police COM
missioner Bingham by Mayor Mcclellan
The great point made at that time was
that Headquarters had made a false re-
port about the Duffy case
In his statement yesterday the Mayor
saws Headquarters reported that the rea-
son the parents Of the boys were not
notified was because the prisoners refused
10 give their names. The Mayor adds
that the addresses Of the boys were
found on the blotter in the station house
II was suggested the Mayor might use
this case as an excuse TO remove Waldo.
The Mayor referred to the case In
speech he made in Brooklyn in the
morning. Just think Of police captain
at a desk who could do thing like that,
he declared Il found he was one of
the oldtimers. and it is pretty hard to
get anything into their skulls unless
you make hole in their skulls and tuck
il in"
Surprised at Whole Affair,
When he was asked later TO say some
thing more about the case he declared he
was surprised not only at the policemen
but also at the magistrate who fined
the ooys. lie said:
Yes, this boy Albert goes TO the Com
mercial High School in Brooklyn. He
was in Prospect Park on Sunday, June i,
with Michael Halpern. They are sixteen
years old. Near the lake in Prospect
Park they tossed a little rubber ball from
one to the other two or three times. A
policeman seized them both and took
them to the station house. This was at 4
o'clock in the afternoon. At the station
house they were locked up in a cell with
twelve others. They scarcely had room
TO stand up.
They gave their names and addresses
and this was put on the blotter. l got
a report from Police Headquarters about
the matter and the reason given for not
informing the parents Of these boys was
that the boys would not tell their ad-
dresses And yet their addresses l find
are on the blotter.
The truth Is that the police did not
try TO send any notice TO their parents.
II was only necessary for them 20 call
up the precinct station house where these
boys lived and have notice sent from
there TO their houses. This they did not
do. About one o'clock in the morning a
brother Of the boy Albert found out
where he was and bailed him.
"Other boys arrested for the same thing
on that Sunday and the next Sunday
were kept in the cells all night. They
were schoolboys. as a rule. l can think
OF nothing 90 shocking as TO lock a boy
up IN a cellSover night with other people
simply for tossing a ball. The policeman
only had to tell them TO stop and they
would have stopped. There was no need
for an arrest.
Should Have Informed Parents.
And II they were arrested their par
ents should have been informed immedi-
ately and they should not have been
locked up in cells. but kept at the sta
ton house II II was necessary to keep
them at all. This is the way to turn boys
into criminals.
The policeman who made the arrest
is probably some dense, oldtime fellow
who ought to be put out of the force as
soon as possible. The captain at the desk
was of the same sort. He has since been
retired from the force The lieutenant
was probably no better. intend to have
the lieutenant and the officer who made
the arrest put on trial.
II am now tired Of telling the force not
10 do these things. These minor offences
can be dealt with without locking innocent
boys UP in cells with criminals. II they
are arrested at all for such things their
parents should be notified forthwith ]
am surprised at the conduct of the magis-
trate, also. He seems TO have made no
inquiry into the matter.
These boys and others were fined from
s. 10 $40 each. after being locked up over
night We must stop the breaking OF
rules in the parks, but II is not necessary
TO do It in this brutal way. To treat boys
in this way is simply TO make criminals
Of them. and do not propose TO permit
IL TO continue II I have to have any
number Of dismissals from the police
. force"