Year: 1875

! but from the evidence of their truth which
has been recently gathered by the Legisla-
/ tive Committee and spread before the public
in the reports of their proceedings from day
to day. Even if an accuser had not appeared
| Mayor Wickham would have been bound to
act As the supervising guardian of the city
government he could not have ignored the
sworn testimony taken by the direction of
the Legislature, proving that the Police De-
partment is a huge sink of moral rottenn ness
and official corruption The zeal Of Mr..
Townsend has simply relieved Mayor Wick
ham of the task of framing charges, and
whether they are as skilfully drawn as they
would have been by himself and his assist
ants is a trivial question 1t suffices that
they comprise the main heads of accusation
and leave the Mayor no choice but to call
upon the inculpated Commissioners to make
answer to the charges. That part of the
community which has read the reports of the
testimony taken by the Legislative Commit
tee will not believe that the accused Police
Commissioners can make a valid Defence
and the moral sense of the public will be
affronted and outraged if Mayor Wickham
hesitates to do his duty by the prompt re-
moval of Messrs. Matsell, Disbecker and
Voorhis.


Some Of the topics and specifications pre-
sented by Mr.. Townsend are no adequate
ground of removal, although calculated to
make deep impression Of unftness That
Mr.. Matsell has been for many years the
editor of vile newspaper which pandered to
| the depraved tastes of the criminal classes,
and by which he drew an infamous liyeli-
hood from the scum and dregs of society, is
sufficient reason why he should never have
been appointed; but it would not, of itself,
be legal justification of his removal The
removing power cannot look beyond his con-
duct in Office, and had that been correct the
present Mayor could not officially go behind
it to inquire into his antecedents. But
those scandalous antecedents give an air
of probability to charges founded on
evidence and deprive the culprit of any de-
fence founded on previous good character.
A similar remark WILL perhaps apply to the
charge against Mr.. Disbecker of an out
rageous assault at the Metropolitan Hotel





of goods from Lord & Taylor That brutal
and indecent assault had no immediate con-
nection with Mr.. Disbeckers official duties,
and, although it demonstrates his utter un-
fitness for the place he holds it is hardly
cognizable by the removing power except in
connection with other charges relating to his
conduct as an officer. But it was a revolving
Il. 4. L
body, especially by an appointed guardian
of public order. The innocent porter, acting
under instructions from his employers, re-
| fused to leave the goods he had brought
unless they were paid for, whereupon this
model Police Commissioner assaulted him
with blows and poured out upon him a
volley of the coarsest and vilest language
used by the ruffians and harlots of the street.
! This disgraceful scene is not ground of re-
moval, but it was such display of character
as renders credible all the direct testimony
to Mr. Disbecker's official malversation.


1t is by the sworn testimony to their cor
! rupt and revolving conduct in Office that the
arraigned Commissioners must be judged,
and this is too specific and damaging to need
much confirmation from their bad antece-
dents or extra-official infamies. They and
the force under them appear to have been in
venal collusion with the most debauched vio-
lators of the law and sharers in their illicit
gains The love of money, which we are
told on high authority is the root of all evil,
would seem to have been their besetting sin.
| The chief sources of their dishonest gains
have been the gambling houses and the panel
/ houses, especially the latter. This is a
tempting field, because, in nineteen cases
out of twenty, shame shuts the mouths of
the victims. They cannot make complaints
to the authorities without disgracing them
selves, and no other species of plunder can
be enjoyed with such safety and repose or so
much security against exposure The rob-
/ Deries committed in those vile dens of shame
are seldom known except by the perpetrators
and victims, and in a general way to the po-
| lice, who easily detect the character of the
| places, although they may have little knowl-
edge of the specific robberies. But they know
enough to keep the people who run them in
subjection and terror and they levy constant
| blackmail on them as a consideration for not
breaking up their business. The policemen
cannot long earn these wages Of iniquity
without the knowledge Of their superiors,
and when the latter are vulgar, avaricious
men, they enter into a sly confederacy with
the officers and covertly pocket share of
the infamous gains The occasional ferocious
raids on dens of infamy and shame are not
undertaken with any real purpose of sup
preston, but only to inspire the terror which
facilitates extortion. Every sharp policeman
knows all the panel houses in his beat, and
they could not exist a week without his con-
nivance. But having an interest in their
profits, which is shared by those appointed to
watch him, they are never closed so long as
they consent to paw. and the occnsinnnl Viz