Year: 1875

Yesterday being the day for the reception or
the OF Mcssrs. Matsel and Disbecker Police
Commissioners the call OF the Mayor their resig
nations Mr. Matsel appeared promptly at two O'clock
accompanied by his counsel Mr. r. T. Gerry, William
McKeer, Of the Police Gazette and two friends
Mr. Gerry, after stating that his counsel Mr.
T. Parsons, was absent read the following docu-
ment.-


George w Matsell, Police Commissioner attend here
in person to-day in consequences Of communication
addressed 70 the Police Commissioners Of the city of
New York by your Honor, copy which was received
by me on the sth inst This letter calls upon me
tender my resignation 20 your Honor, in order to
''escape further official action upon various
complaints, which you say have been preferred against
me individually and against the Police Board and the
threat is held ont that If do resign that you will
definitely submit some Of the charges against and
against the Board which the public seem attach
much Importance and ask my Immediate attention 70
them


should / tender my resignation as YOU desire and
for the reasons set forth your letter it would be
practical acknowledgment that | guilty of the Of
fences therein charged against me individually, and
that was answerable for any inefciency Of the police
force for you state that the charges sworn 70 by
more witnesses. Ny resignation could not there
fore be received without respect 10 the trutor iasy
OF any OF these complaints.


DO not desire to "escape further Official action,
but, the contrary, most anxious that the
charges to the general character Of which you refer
in your letter should be definitely submitted against
you must therefore respectfully but decidedly de-
cline to resign my position Police Commissioner
0cnylu5 ZIG utl VI -l44 aiu al Sh0i
against me GEO. W. MATSELL


Commissioner Of Police and President Of the Board
OF Police.


Mr. Gerry then turned to the Mayor and asked
whether his charges made against his client in
dividuaIly or against all the Commission On receiving
response that in his individual capacity he had
been asked Mr Gerry proceeded to read the
following


TIE OLD CHIEFS REASONS.
To the Hon. WILLIAM II. WIcKHAMe Mayor Of the City
Of New York


Commissioners of the city OF New York for their nfor
nation and attention, communication signed by John
ID. Townsend" containing allegations and charges
against the Board Of Police Commissioners and mem
bers thereof


/ respectfully insist that Your Honor has no legal
right power or authority to hold responsible for
any Of the acts which your communication charges
upon the Board To warrant my removal l claim that
there must be charges preferred against personally
of specific wrongful acts neglects, of
Personal cooperation, by vote or otherwise, in wrong
fu acts Of the Board


With respect any and all matters contained or re-
ferred to IN your communication which may be
strued implying any neglect Of duty or any official
misconduct on my part an individual Commissioner
do explicitly and fully deny every such charge


deny that anv present nispoverument Of the police
force has been shown by recent or other "deveop-
mcnts, much less has il been shown that the de-
parent Is insufficient for the protection Of persons
and property or in the prevention and detection OF
crime


sends charges, and ask for my that respectful
careful cain, patent consideration which Your Honor
would ask ami expect were you charged with official
derehcuon


!.


l. the undersigned, answer charge one, and that
the Police Commissioners have made rules and regula
tons for the guidance and government Of the police
force in and conformity with the existing
laws Of the State and ordinances Of the city OF New
York and that soon new law ordinance is
passed the rules OF the police force modified accord
ingy, and copy OF such new or modified rule is mme-
diatey to each captain the force and read by
him TO all the police officers under his command


ANSWER No.


l, the undersigned, in answer TO charge two, en-
phaticaly aver that am not aud have never been de-
void OF such moral capacity or character would
elevate me above vice and crime and enable me TO
respect in the force under my command. aver
that evidence Of that exists can be o5-
tanned. And in this connection and support Of this
assertion make the following personal statement-
In the year ls40 became acquainted with your late
revered predecessor the Hon William Frederick
Havemeyer, and secured his approving confidence by
nnceasing aoofs in season and out OF season. for the
public safety He appointed me Chief Of Police, which
responsible position held through seven successive
mayoralties without single whisper against my
tegrity. | desire no higher commentator than the
fact that his faith ia never abated. deny that
have boen the editor Of immoral periodical;
but the contrary, aver that publicly edited prior
To my appointment on the police paper called the
National Fodce Gazette, which never was immoral
publication


/ say it is true that on one occasion while was
Superintendent Of the force, and when was about TO
accompany the then Mayor Of New York on the police
boat pursuant 70 my authority under section ~ Of
the Manual directed Captain Edward Walsh absent
himself from the boat Tor the time being II
is also true that two three other
have been Commis-
soner ana when about to make use OF the boat for
personal inspection of the river the superintendent
my ntmation. has similarly directed the said captain
70 leave the boat The reason for j. is correctly stated
10 be my uuwlIngness % meet him on the boat after
the statements which had come to me in reference
his conduct and after had read The story of the girl
Clifton and aituT Captain Walsh had absaaned from
asking Tor an investigation


3


For answer TO charge three say that have
knowledge that during my ucumhency Of the office of
Police Commissioner any officer member Of the po-
neglected give any officer or member or the force
trial when nghtuily demanded; wherefore | deny the
assertion that such denial and neglect have ever
Cured.


am notaware Of any power il the Mayor 10 com
pei answer Tor the shortcomings 81 the Board or
remove me from office by reason q any action of the
Board. For myself 1 deny that have ex.
hibted ignorance Of my duties Or have viii
fully neglected them. Nor do | SIC how could
readily discover after the lapse Of long period 81 time
gross outrages and msdeeds committed ong before my
advent 70 Office which either eaded the scrutiny Of my
predecessors concealed and buried ia in
stances perhaps BY their connsanco 70 render
the fact q their perpetraton-mech more the ev-
dence TO establish the iact-unkn0Wn TO me.


In dealing with offences ! have had among other
things, consider the character and position Of the
officer charged his term Of service his previous stand
ing the circumstances under which the offence charged
was committed, and the effect Of punishment not
alone upon the offender but upon those
who were his immediate companions upon the force
that / have recognized the necessity OF dealing
with different according TO the dictates OF an
perenced judgment and acquaintance With their indi-
yidlal circumstances and surroundings When Tor ex-
ample policeman, for bis own corrupt profit or con
venence, has delayed the presentation ~ prisoner
have urged the nncton q the extreme penalty but





inlraciion Of the Of the law when robbers
thereby brought justice and their punder restored 10
the rghtiul owners.


ANSWER 10. T.


DENY the statements contained IN charge four and
aver that so FAR as am informed OF The action Of the
Board and 50 far A. my individual action a Police
commissioner is concerned, The superintendent, Cap
taing, and other officers Tie police force have been
required 70 10 their duty IN the premses
Thus lave replied 70 every allegation against me-
and IN each instance furnished reasons which AZ be
hevc, Will appear 70 you ample FOR s s ~ die whole
of the charges against me


That they can be thus easily and completely dis
proved will surely be only less gratifying TO yon IA Al
20 myseii-to you, who, though OF a younger gepsra
tion, have grown up IN this city aud are acauatnted
With my long aud faithful services in behalf o g citi



10 my services ! point with pardonable pride. a.