Year: 1869

For the serious political disturbances which have
recently occurred in midst and the fresh hOr-
rors which have startled the community, the police
have by many been held responsible; and Mayor
Fox has, in turn, been called to account for the
alleged inefIlcency of the police Yesterday morn
ing we waited upon his Honor in his private Office,
at the corner of Fifth and Chesnut streets, to in
quire if he had any response to make to the news
paper assaults which are daily made upon him and
his management of the police department. We found
the Chief Magistrate OF the city in o very amable
frame of mind, despite the "onpleasantness" in
which he is perpetuay involved with such large
proportion OF the population over which he holds
sway; and we found him likewise willing to discuss
the state of affairs in the city with the utmost free
dom.


''You must make the acquaintance of our Chief of
Police" he exclaimed, turning to General Mulhol-
land, who stood in the apartment and then mo-
toned us both to seats


The Chief COnfers with the Invincibles.


"Where shall we begin?" inquired his Honor


'GThe disturbance between the Invincibles and
Keystones last Friday evening is still the talk of
the town. What do you think of it?' was the re-
sponsive query.


at was the most unfortunate thing in the world"
interposed Chief Muholland, "that was not present
at the time But we had every reason to believe
that there would be no trouble"


"Yes," exclaimed the Mayor, "the disturbance
totally unexpected At half-past O'Clock the Chief
sent word over TO the President of the Invincible
Club that he would like to accompany it the
march, in person and with forty men specially de-
tailed for that duty. He then had forty at the
Central Station ready to accompany them. The
ports Of trouble on previous occasions OF this char
acter had led him to take this precaution, in the
hope of avertng a recurrence OF disorder. Mr. Tru-
man, the president, and two other officers OF the
club, responded to the message in person. and after
q conference said they would prefer to go without
the police, whose presence would only be conducive
to trouble. The Chief attempted to get over this
supposed difficulty by rendering the nvncibes
escort made up entirely Of Republican policemen,
under the command of Sergeant Crout. The officers
of the club held another consultation upon this offer,
and again stated that they preferred to march with
out an escort. They pledged themselves to endeavor
to avoid fight, and promised to keep east of Sixth
street during the entire evening""


The InvincibIes Kept their Pledges.


'They kept their promise well, must say" inter-
posed the Chief


The * KeystOnes Did Not.


''The marshal of the Keystone Club" continued
the Mayor, ''had promised several prominent men,
bers of their party that they would not go south Of
Arch street during the evening"


"Did they keep their promise?" we inquired.


mo" exclaimed the Chief, emphatically. "The
Keystones broke their promise at the outset by
marching down Fifth street as far as South then out
South as far Eleventh street, when they turned
up Eleventh street. But about quarter before ten



saw the club marching up Eleventh street Know
ing that the Invincbles had gone SOUTH and seeing
the Keystones going north, l supposed all chance
for trouble was over, and went home, instead OF re-
turning to the Central Station"


Precautions Against Riot.


"But" we inquired at this point show was it that
the forty men who had been collected at the Central
Station were not ON hand when the fight began?"


'srhese forty men," said the Mayor chad been
called to the Central Station without having had
chance to get their supper Most OF them came directly
from their beats, after they had been been at work
all day and were weared, and a number OF them
were to 90 on duty again at midnight. They were
detained at the station, however, until the Invinci
bles had gone south down Second street, and WORD
came that the Keystones were marching north.
Wishing to give them chance to get their supper
and some rest, and not wishing to have 80
many men lounging around the station without
anything to do, they were then dismissed
But precautions were still taken against
any possible disturbance. The Chief had detailed
High Constable Clark and Sergeant Crout to accom-
many the procession the sidewalk, In citizens
dress 10 haze an eye the police and see that they
did their duty in oaae of trouble Thirty-siX men
were also kept within easy reach Of the Central Sta
tion until after 70 oclock-eighteen at the Union
Street Station House, and the same number at the
Cherry Street Station House. 1t having been re-
ported to headquarters that the lnvncibes had gone
SOUTH down Second street. aud that the Keystones
were moving north along Eleventh street, the OFF,
GERS at the Central Station consulted as to the pro-
liability OF disturbance, and concluded there was
then no further danger. 1t was then deemed expe-
dent TO detail the forty men who had been in wait
ing, TO their various staton-houses, to give them
some rest,


The Presence of the Police Disturbing Ele"


ment.


,sBut continued the Mayor, there was stll an
other precauton taken. The Chief had teegraphed
TO Lieutenant Erickson, of the Second district, In
which the Republican meeting attended by the In
yincibles was being held, to turn out his men ana
afrord rnpartia protection to the parade along the
line Of march" -


n shouldsiKe you to get a copy OF that telegram
interposea the Chief. T..


We did SO after the interview, and found that 1t
read as ioIlows:-


ssMAyoR,s OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, oct i lS09-
Gao y M no the Lieutenant OF the Second DlsJrlct:
A ren,,hIican meeting will be held In your district
fonfeft The Invincbles will march tnrougl
eeverel of the streets. You must extend 10 tnen
ey,,v nrofection and preserve order. DO your duty
Il, fna most impartial manner ,
- W 'By order OF the CHIEF OF Police"


laun,s orderp resumed the Mayor, "was compiled


vim tu the result was just as Mr.. Truman had pre-
scted fne presence Of the police seemed to irrtate
,erv npe the large crowd following the procession
~ the sidewalks. Cries OF white hats, ana othei
g,no,lar ekpressons greeted them"