Case Name: The People of the State of New York ex rel. James Cummings, Appellant, v. Francis V. Greene, as Police Commissioner of The City of New York, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1906-03
Citations: 112 A.D. 883
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York ex rel. James Cummings, Appellant, v. Francis V. Greene, as Police Commissioner of The City of New York, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 112
Pages: 883–883

Head Matter:
Second Department,
March, 1906.
The People of the State of New York ex rel. James Cummings, Appellant, v. Francis V. Greene, as Police Commissioner of The City of New York, Respondent.
Certiorari—return conclusive—relator not satisfied must move for a further return.
Certiorari to review proceedings of the respondent, dismissing the relator from the police force of the city of New York.—

Opinion:
Jenks, J.:
I think that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the determination of the commissioner. The relator raises the point that the determination was void because the deputy police commissioner had not .been duly authorized or delegated to make it. No particular defect is assigned, and obviously the contention is based upon the proposition that inasmuch as the determination up for review was that of an inferior tribunal, it was incumbent on it to show its jurisdiction. The return states that on or before the 5th day of September, 1903, Frederick H. E. Ebstein, second deputy commissioner of police, "was duly designated to hear .the evidence upon the said charges." With this return the relator was satisfied, and came to a hearing thereon. I think under the circumstances the relator is confronted with the rule that jurisdiction prima facie may be established by recitals in the record. (Potter v. Merchants' Bank, 28 N. Y. 641, 653 et seq.; Barber v. Winslow, 12 Wend. 102; Belden v. Meeker, 2 Lans. 470; Smith v. Reid, 134 N. Y. 568; Comstock v. Crawford, 70 U. S. [3 Wall.] 396, 403.) If the relator was not satisfied he could have moved for a further return. (People ex rel. Miller v. Wurster, 149 N. Y. 549.) Hirschberg, P. J., Woodward, Rich and Miller, JJ., concurred. Determination confirmed, with costs.