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Lets back up a bit and return to June when
the Municipals and Metropolitans were at each other’s
throats. Mayor Wood resisted an order to disband and the
Metropolitan Police Board ordered his arrest. He was hold
up in City Hall the day he was to be arrested. On officer came
there to serve the warrant but was beaten off. A force of
50 Metropolitan Police returned later that day to enforce the
warrant and arrest Mayor Wood. His 300 Municipals, in the
building, protected him and assaulted the Metropolitans.
This was the account and aftermath.
From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated
Newspaper, June 27, 1857.
GREAT RIOTS IN NEW YORK – SCENES
IN THE CITY HALL – STRUGGLES FOR POWER BETWEEN THE
MUNICIPAL AND METROPOLITAN POLICE.
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING IN NEW YORK
To those of our distant readers who,
far removed from the influences of our great city, take but
little interest in its internal quarrels, and who hearing of
wars and rumors of wars,
The recent Legislature adopted a new
charter for the city of New York, many of the provisions of
which interfered with the existing rights of officers and were
conflicting with the charter already in force. Still the
Legislature adopted the charter and the new officers were
appointed by the Governor, and not by the will of the citizens
and armed with what they deemed sufficient authority, proceeded
to fulfill the duties appertaining to their offices. The
Police Commissioners commenced to organize their new forces,
and to discharge all the old police officers who did not
acknowledge their right to act.
But on Tuesday, the 16th inst., the
difficulty was brought to a climax under the following
circumstances. By the death of Joseph S. Taylor, the
Street Commissioner, a
WARRANT TO ARREST THE MAYOR
On Tuesday, the 16th, Mr. Conover
again presented himself at the Department of the Street
Commissioner, and being refused admittance, applied to Judge
Hoffman of the Superior Court for warrants against Fernando
Wood, James C. Willet and John W. Bennett for assault and
battery. He commenced two suits, one criminal and the
other civil, laying his damages at $10,000. The warrants
were granted and placed in the hands of certain officers to
serve, the bail in each case being $5,000.
ATTEMPT TO ARREST THE MAYOR.
One warrant was placed in the hands of
Capt. Walling of the Metropolitan force, who gained access to
the Mayor and displayed his authority. The Mayor could
not without receding from the position has taken throughout the
difficulty, recognize the authority under which Capt. Walling
held his office, and said to him that he was no officer and
that the warrant must be presented by some one else, at the
same time ordering Walling to leave the room, which he refusing
to do, was summarily ejected.
THE MAYOR REQUESTS THE AID OF THE
MILITARY.
Fearing that some extreme action would
be taken, which might lead to disturbance and perhaps blood
shed, the Mayor addressed the following note to the General in
command:
MAYOR’S OFFICE, NEW
YORK,
June 16, 1857
SIR, - You will please hold the militia
under your command in readiness to protect the city in
case of riot, subject to my orders.
Very respectfully,
FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor
Gen. C. W.
Sandford.
____________________________
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