Introduction
Things were about to get ugly late in the evening of June 7, 1895. Four Police Roundsmen and fifty Patrolmen, all from New York City, were crowded into patrol wagons making their way silently on dark dirt roads toward the communities of Pelham, City Island, West Chester, East Chester, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and Unionport.
Each Police Officer was armed with a loaded revolver and billy club. The plan was to invade West Chester and take control of its Town Hall, then to dispatch groups of Police Officers from that command post to town halls and other public buildings in the remaining communities. However, the group of invaders had been assembled so quickly that none was mounted on horseback. Plans were to substitute mounted men for the invading Police Force as soon as possible.
The Great Invasion of Lower Westchester was underway.
The Origins of the Invasion
The previous day, June 6, New York Governor Levi P. Morton signed into law Chapter 934, New York Laws of 1895. That statute annexed much of the Town of Pelham including City Island and all of today's Pelham Bay Park into the City of New York. It also annexed areas including the Town of West Chester, portions of East Chester, Wakefield, Unionport, and more.
Neither New York City nor the communities being annexed seemed ready for the legislation, despite the fact that it was long in coming. Indeed, some in the communities believed that the annexation was unlawful and vowed to continue to fight it, both physically and through the courts. Others argued that residents of most of the communities favored annexation while their elected representatives (who would be turned out of office by the annexation) did not. In any event, rumors abounded at the time that local residents would use force to resist annexation; hence, the police invasion that night.
To make matters worse, rumors abounded in New York City that local elected officials in the annexed communities were on spending sprees to deplete their public coffers before New York City took over the public funds and that local officials also were entering into contracts of all sorts for public services in the hopes of binding New York City to the arrangements once annexation was finalized. Consequently, early in the day of June 7, United States Congressman Benjamin Fairchild, a resident of the Village of Pelham (today's Pelham Heights), and State Assemblyman J. N. Stewart of Westchester County gathered a group of local Westchester citizens. The group scurried to see New York City Mayor William Lafayette Strong "in a state of considerable excitement."
The group fomented anxiety in among Mayor Strong and his staff. They told the Mayor that local elected officials in the annexed district were engaged in subterfuge to defeat the annexation and were fomenting dissent among local residents. According to one account:
"They asked that the New York police be sent up to protect them and that the proper authorities take charge of the public buildings, and that means to be taken to get the $200,000 or more of money in the public treasuries of the several villages and towns turned over to the City Chamberlain before it can be wasted by the officials, who say they propose to fight the annexation on the ground that the law is unconstitutional. The Town Board of West Chester has retained H. C. Henderson to test the law, and there was talk of resistance to our occupation of the territory."
As soon as the meeting ended, Mayor Strong consulted with his Corporation Counsel, one of his Police Commissioners, his Commissioner of Public Works, the New York City Comptroller, and others. Members of the Board of Commissioners of the City Police Commission contacted the Acting Police Chief to consider the matter. The group soon realized that local police in the communities of the annexed district had been "deposed" by the legal machinery of the annexation. The entire annexed district was entirely un-policed!
With the guidance of the Police Commissioners, Acting Police Chief Conlin formulated a plan quietly to invade the annexed district that night with a large police presence to secure public buildings and maintain order. There was particular concern over the saloons operating on City Island. The plan was to create two police precincts in the region: the Thirty-Eighth Precinct and the Thirty-Ninth Precinct. The Thirty-Eighth Precinct would be based in the West Chester Town Hall as its principal police station with two sub-stations (sub-precincts) located, respectively, in the Wakefield Fire Engine House and the Pelham Town Hall Building on City Island.
Later in the day (June 7), a letter authorizing the plan was secured from newly-appointed President of the Board of Commissioners of the City Police Commission, Theodore Roosevelt (later to become Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States, and President of the United States). The letter, to be delivered to Pelham Town Supervisor William McAllister at City Island, Town Supervisor August M. Fields of the Town of West Chester, and Village Clerk Robert Wallace of Williamsbridge, read as follows:
"POLICE DEPARTMENT, June 7, 1895.
SIR:
Under the act, chapter 934, of the Laws of 1895, which became law yesterday, it becomes the duty of this department to police all that territory comprised within the limits of West Chester, East Chester, and Pelham which lies southerly of a straight line drawn from a point where the northerly line of the city of New York meets the centre line of the Bronx River to the middle of the channel between Hunter's and Glen Island, in Long Island Sound, and all that territory lying within the incorporated limits of the village of Wakefield which lies northerly of such line.
In the performance of this duty it becomes necessary for this department to take possession of all public buildings within the area described and to receive from the former custodians thereof free access thereto and possession thereof.
The bearer of this, Acting Inspector John McCullagh, is authorized so to take possession on behalf of this department, and you will please, upon presentation hereof, put him in possession of all such buildings within your jurisdiction and deliver to him the keys thereof, taking you a voucher or receipt therefor from him.
Yours very truly,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT."
The Town Hall of the Town Hall on City Island
Many may be surprised to learn that the Town Hall of the Town of Pelham once was located on City Island. Pelham has had at least four Town Hall Buildings since the town was organized by State statute on March 7, 1788. The first was a beautiful brick structure that once stood on today's Shore Road. Built in 1858, it was demolished by New York City in 1955. See Wed., Dec. 03, 2014: Pelham Proposed To Build A Town Hall and Post Office in 1857.
Undated Photograph of Pelham Town Hall on
Shore Road Not Long Before it Was Razed in
1955. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
For much of the 19th century, however, City Island was the population center of the Town of Pelham. Thus, most elected Town officials lived on City Island. Typically they found the chore of crossing to the mainland to conduct Town business tiresome and, at least for a time, abandoned the structure as a meeting place for the Town Board, although it continued to be used for other functions and even, for a time, a tiny schoolhouse. During such times, Town business was conducted on City Island.
Although it is not now known all the places where Town Board meetings were held on City Island, it is clear that at least during the early to mid-1890s, a building that once stood
Postcard View of Old Pelham Town Hall on City Island
Postmarked July 26, 1905 From Collection of the Author.
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Detail from Map Published in 1893 With Arrow Showing
Location of Town Hall Building on City Island at the Time.
in Bien, Joseph Rudolf, Atlas of Westchester County,
New York, p. 3 (NY, NY: Julius Bien & Co., 1893). NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.
With annexation, as detailed below, New York City took control of the Town Hall building on City Island. Thus, the Town of Pelham had to move its government to a new location within the unannexed portion of the Town. It chose to move Town business to a small wooden meeting facility and courthouse built in the settlement of Pelhamville in 1890. The facility once stood on the location of today's Town Hall at 34 Fifth Avenue. See Tue., Apr. 21, 2015: The Early History of Pelham's Town Hall, Built in 1909. After that Town Hall structure burned on October 23, 1908, the Town of Pelham built in 1909 the beautiful brick and stone courthouse that still stands and still serves the same purpose.
Detail from Undated Photograph of the Original Pelham
Town Hall on Fifth Avenue on an Election Day. The Building
Later Burned on the Evening of October 23, 1908 in a Suspicious
Fire. Source: Courtesy of The Office of The Historian of The
Town of Pelham. Note: Click on Image to Enlarge.
2013 Photograph of Pelham Town Hall, Built in 1909.
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Back to the Police Invasion of Pelham and City Island, and its Aftermath
As the police force left in patrol wagons for West Chester Town Hall, someone telephoned a wild "tip" to the former Constables of the Town of West Chester. According to the tipster, a force of five hundred police officers "flanked by a regiment of soldiers" were on their way "to capture the town." Word spread like wildfire. The former Chief of Constables raced over to the Town Hall building with his keys and "barred and locked the doors and windows, leaving a lone prisoner locked up in the cellar."
A crowd of more than five hundred local residents gathered along the road outside West Chester Town Hall to "meet" the police. Soon the patrol wagons rolled up and police scrambled over the sides of the wagons. The town hall building was pitch black. Local streets were unlighted. Inspector John McCullagh, who led the force, assembled his men and ordered them to march to the building and surround it. As they followed orders, the Inspector went to the front door, found it locked, and began pounding on the door.
Soon a quivering voice came from a cellar window. The lone prisoner still held within the building said "There's no one here but me, and as I'm locked up I can't get out to let you in." Someone in the crowd told McCullagh that the former Chief of Constables had the keys and lived a block away. Five police officers were dispatched to his home to take the keys. Though McCullagh protested and said that the New York City Police had no authority to enter the Town Hall, he turned over the keys. The Police returned to Town Hall and handed the keys over to Inspector McCullagh.
The crowd turned ugly and began to harass the Police Officers. When Inspector McCullagh had had enough, he ordered his men to drive back the crowd. Armed with billy clubs and revolvers, the Police waded into the crowd and drove it back "in a hurry." The unruly crowd and the response of the Police seemed to prompt the former Chief of Constables to action. According to one account, after Police drove the crowd back, he:
"looked around in the crowd for his town constables and found two of them. A consultation was held, and then Fitzgerald approached the Town Hall and volunteered to show Inspector McCullagh how to unlock the door. He also got an oil lamp from one of the village stores and lighted it, so that the police could see their way in. When the doors were opened a dozen policemen filed in and drew up in line along a railing surrounding an oak writing table. Fitzgerald placed the lamp on the table."
Inspector McCullagh went behind a railing and sat at the table. He next took the first formal action in the annexed district to establish a New York City Police presence. He "formally established a new police station" and put one of his Police Roundsmen, a man named Wolf, in charge, stating "This will be known as the West Chester station."
Leaving Roundsman Wolf in the Town Hall with eight Policemen to maintain order, Inspector McCullagh drove to Williamsbridge where he left a detail of eight men with a Police Roundsman at a "little hall" that was "used as a political meeting place." Next he drove to the Town Hall building on City Island where he left a dozen Police Officers with another Roundsman in Charge. He drove an additional patrol wagon full of men "to Pelham" and left eight patrolmen there. (Although nowhere in news reports is there any indication as to where in Pelham he left these men, it is virtually certain that he and the men commandeered the old brick Town Hall building built in 1858 that stood along Shore Road. That was the only Town building not on City Island that was part of Pelham within the annexed district at the time.) Finally, Inspector McCullagh drove a small group of officers who were left at Throggs Neck, described as "the most dismal place in the new district," to "patrol the woods in the vicinity of Fort Schuyler."
The invasion was complete without the loss or injury of a single person. The annexed district no longer was un-policed as of late in the evening, June 7, 1895.
The Aftermath of the Invasion and Cleaning Up the Details
The invasion may have been complete, but because it was organized so hastily, many details had to be addressed in the coming months. For example, the following day, a representative of the New York City Comptroller's Office, James Rapp, appeared in front of the Town Hall in each annexed municipality and read "to the assembled trustees" of each municipality, the statute providing for the annexation of the district.
Additionally, important municipal records had to be transferred to New York City. The papers of the Town of Pelham presented a particularly thorny problem because a huge portion of the acreage of the Town had been annexed but the property annexed represented only about one-third of the assessed value of all taxable properties in the Town. Nevertheless, because Pelham Town Supervisor William McAllister was one of the leaders in Pelham of the movement to annex City Island and Pelham Bay Park, he quickly turned over Pelham records to the City by June 9. According to one reported, once again quoted and cited in full below:
"At City Island Supervisor McAllister has surrendered all the papers and documents concerning the annexed part of Pelham. He holds the papers and documents of the unannexed portion. The unannexed portion represents about two-thirds of the taxable valuation of the town. Mr. McAllister will turn these over to his successor in the Board of Supervisors as soon as there is one. Only one-third of the Town Building here belongs to the annexed part of the town, and it is thought some means of transfer of the third portion will be found, so that the city may become sole owner. It is thought the Town Board of Pelham will be allowed the use of the hall until such a settlement is made. Mr. McAllister is the leader of the annexationists here. He thinks there will be no trouble in arranging the details. The majority of the citizens on City Island favor the change."
Similarly, on June 11, 1895 a regional newspaper reported that "Deputy Collector John H. Rapp, of the Finance Department, took possession of the public property and records of the villages of West Chester, Williamsbridge, Wakefield and City Island, and made his report to the Controller yesterday." (See full article cited and quoted below.)
Next there were efforts to tie up loose ends that should have been handled before legislation effecting the annexation was passed in the first place. For example, in order for the public buildings seized by the City to serve as authorized police station houses, they first had to be designated by the Mayor and Common Council of New York City as "houses of detention and refuge." By June 21, 1895, the Police Board, led by Theodore Roosevelt, requested such a designation.
About three months later, on September 6, 1895, the Police Board adopted a resolution dealing further with the issue. The resolution provided, in its entirety, as follows:
"Resolved, That all the territory annexed to the city of New York, pursuant to chapter 934, Laws of 1895, shall constitute a police precinct, to be known and designated as the Thirty-eighth Police Precinct.
Resolved, That on the approval of the Mayor and Common Council of the West Chester Town Hall as principal station, and the Wakefield engine house and the City Island Town Hall as sub-station, said premises be designated and set apart for the accommodation of members of the police force, for the temporary detention of persons arrested within said precinct and sub-precincts, and for the transaction of the business of the Police Department.
Resolved, That the quota of the police force of said precinct shall for the present be as follows: One Captain, 4 Sergeants, 10 roundsmen, 45 patrolmen, and 8 doormen, or a total of 68, to be assigned as follows: West Chester (main station), 1 Captain, 4 Sergeants, 4 mounted roundsmen, 16 mounted patrolmen, 6 foot patrolmen, 2 patrol wagon drivers, 2 patrol wagon guardsmen, and 3 doormen. Wakefield (sub-station), 2 roundsmen and 4 patrolmen. . . ." (Note: No mention of City Island or Pelham.)
Only a few weeks later, on September 30, 1895, the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York passed a resolution "authorizing the establishment of a police station for the Thirty-eighth precinct in the Westchester Town Hall, and sub station in the fire engine house in Wakefield and in the Town Hall, City Island."
The entire arrangement was finally formalized early on October 10, 1895 when New York City Acting Chief of Police Conlin issued an order constituting the police force of the newly-established Thirty-eighth Precinct covering the annexed district a permanent force. His order followed adoption of a resolution early the same day by the Board of the New York City Police Commission authorizing the creation of a permanent force in the precinct. According to one account published on October 10:
"Acting Chief of Police Conlin this morning issued an order creating the permanent force of the Thirty-eighth Precinct. The precinct was made permanent by a resolution adopted by the Board of Police early this morning. The new precinct comprises the territory recently annexed to the city, and embraces all that territory lying within the villages of West Chester, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and City Island. The police have been in command of the territory since June 7, but the police force stationed there has been only temporary and was made up from the various precincts in the city. The district as it stands now has forty-five men to look after it. It was said that twenty more will be added to these as soon as new appointments are made. The precinct is in command of Acting-Capt. Frers, who was made Acting Captain at the last meeting of the Police Board. It was said that he would be made a Captain as soon as his six months of probation as required by the rules of the department are ended."
The Great Invasion of 1895 was complete. New York City Police had prevailed. Portions of Pelham in Pelham Bay Park and all of City Island thereafter were policed by New York City. Mainland Pelham had shed an albatross about its neck.
* * * * *
"ANNEXED BY OUR POLICE.
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WE'RE IN POSSESSION OF THE CITY'S NEW TERRITORY.
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Fifty Policemen Go Up and Occupy the Public Buildings -- The Comptroller After the Public Funds -- A Formal Resistance by Local Authorities, Who Propose to Test the Constitutionality of the Law.
Congressman Fairchild [of the Village of Pelham] and Assemblyman J. N. Stewart of Westchester county, together with several other prominent citizens of the territory brought into the city of New York by the law signed by Gov. Morton on Thursday, came down to see Mayor Strong yesterday in a state of considerable excitement. They represented that some of the town and village authorities in the territory referred to have been acting as though to defeat the objects of the annexation: letting contracts of various sorts, tearing up streets, and otherwise disposing of the public funds. They asked that the New York police be sent up to protect them and that the proper authorities take charge of the public buildings, and that means to be taken to get the $200,000 or more of money in the public treasuries of the several villages and towns turned over to the City Chamberlain before it can be wasted by the officials, who say they propose to fight the annexation on the ground that the law is unconstitutional. The Town Board of West Chester has retained H. C. Henderson to test the law, and there was talk of resistance to our occupation of the territory.
Mayor Strong consulted with Corporation Counsel Scott, Police Commissioner Parker, Commissioner of Public Works Brookfield, Comptroller Fitch, and others. Later in the day Supervisor Fields of the town of West Chester turned over to City Chamberlain O'Donohue $19,000 of public moneys which had been in his keeping.
Police Commissioner Parker went back to Headquarters and the Commissioners called in Acting Chief Conlin. The local constabulary having been deposed by the operation of the law, it became necessary to police the district at once.
Four roundsmen and fifty patrolmen were detached from various precincts and ordered to proceed forthwith to Capt. Creeden's headquarters in the Thirty-third precinct, the Town Hall at Morrisania. There Acting Inspector McCullagh took command of them. Accompanied by a representative of the Comptroller he left Morrisania at 6 o'clock, and with his force in patrol wagons moved on West Chester village, where a temporary headquarters was established. There the detail was built up and squads were sent to City Island, Williamsbridge, East Chester, Pelham, Wakefield, and Unionport. The men were all armed with billies and revolvers. All men were afoot, but as soon as possible mounted men will be substituted.
Commissioner Parker said that the new district would probably be made into two precincts, to be known respectively as the Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth. Copies of the following letter, signed by President Roosevelt, were given to Inspector McCullagh to be delivered to Supervisor William McAllister at City Island, Supervisor August M. Fields at West Chester, and Village Clerk Robert Wallace at Williamsbridge:
POLICE DEPARTMENT, June 7, 1895.
SIR: Under the act, chapter 934, of the Laws of 1895, which became law yesterday, it becomes the duty of this department to police all that territory comprised within the limits of West Chester, East Chester, and Pelham which lies southerly of a straight line drawn from a point where the northerly line of the city of New York meets the centre line of the Bronx River to the middle of the channel between Hunter's and Glen Island, in Long Island Sound, and all that territory lying within the incorporated limits of the village of Wakefield which lies northerly of such line.
In the performance of this duty it becomes necessary for this department to take possession of all public buildings within the area described and to receive from the former custodians thereof free access thereto and possession thereof.
The bearer of this, Acting Inspector John McCullagh, is authorized so to take possession on behalf of this department, and you will please, upon presentation hereof, put him in possession of all such buildings within your jurisdiction and deliver to him the keys thereof, taking you a voucher or receipt therefor from him. Yours very truly, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Inspector McCullagh's orders to his men were first to take possession of the Town Hall in West Chester village. Some one had telephoned to the West Chester constables, notifying them that 500 policemen, flanked by a regiment of soldiers, were on their way to capture the town. Chief of Police John Fitzgerald, who is also keeper of the Town Hall, hurried to the Town Hall, barred and locked the doors and windows, leaving a lone prisoner locked up in the cellar.
The hall was dark and deserted when the patrol wagon with the police arrived. But the news of their coming had been spread about the various villages, and a crowd of over 500 men, women, and children gathered to meet them.
Inspector McCullagh drew the men up in front of the hall, and gave orders to march in on the lawn. The policemen surrounded the big old-fashioned building, and the inspector went to the door and rapped.
An answer came from a cellar window. It was the lone prisoner who spoke, saying:
'There's no one here but me, and as I'm locked up I can't get out to let you in.'
A man in the crowd out on the road shouted that Fitzgerald had the keys. Roundsman Benjamin Wolf and four policemen were sent to hunt for Fitzgerald. They found him in his house, a block away. At first he refused to give up the keys, saying that the New York police had no authority to enter the Town Hall.
Roundsman Wolf was not to be bluffed, and he soon had possession of a bunch of keys bigger than his head. There were forty keys in the bunch. Fitzgerald explained that one was for the Town Hall, another for the town safe, and so on.
'Just what we want,' said Wolf.
'Well, I didn't give them up voluntarily,' remarked Fitzgerald. 'I intend to have this thing tested by the courts. This is a game of politics, and the cards were stacked right here in this town. It's no use to quarrel with you policemen, for you'd get the best end of it. You'll be sorry for this.'
Roundsman Wolf and his companions went back to the Town Hall and handed the keys over to McCullagh. By this time the crowd had begun 'sassing' the bluecoats.
Inspector McCullagh ordered his men to drive the crowd back, and they did so in a hurry.
Fitzgerald looked around in the crowd for his town constables and found two of them. A consultation was held, and then Fitzgerald approached the Town Hall and volunteered to show Inspector McCullagh how to unlock the door. He also got an oil lamp from one of the village stores and lighted it, so that the police could see their way in. When the doors were opened a dozen policemen filed in and drew up in line along a railing surrounding an oak writing table. Fitzgerald placed the lamp on the table.
Inspector McCullagh went around behind the railing and then formally established a new police station, putting Roundsman Wolf in charge.
'This will be known as the West Chester station,' said the Inspector.
Eight policemen were left with Roundsman Wolf in the Town Hall, and the Inspector drove away to Williamsbridge, where he left another detail of eight men with a roundsman in charge in a little hall that is used as a political meeting place.
Then City Island was visited, and here a dozen policemen were left with a roundsman in charge.
There was still a patrol wagon filled with men, and this was driven to Pelham, where inspector McCullagh left eight patrolmen.
At Throgg's Neck, which is the most dismal place in the new district, the remaining coppers were dropped from the patrol wagon to patrol the woods in the vicinity of Fort Schuyler.
As this load of coppers was dumped out an old Irishman advised them not to go up near the fort as they would be shot by the soldiers there.
'They'll be suspicious of seeing brass buttons out there in the moonlight,' said the man.
At Throgg's Neck there is an Irish settlement, and here the coppers got a royal welcome. One of them remarked that the place was made just after Hoboken had been finished, but it would be a good place to catch fish and chase butterflies in the summer time.
After visiting Throgg's Neck Inspector McCullagh returned to the new station house in the West Chester Town Hall and inspected it.
In front of the Town Hall at each place, James Rapp of Comptroller Fitch's office read, or will read to-day, to the assembled trustees of the village, the act by virtue of which it became a part of New York."
Source: ANNEXED BY OUR POLICE -- WE'RE IN POSSESSION OF THE CITY'S NEW TERRITORY -- Fifty Policemen Go Up and Occupy the Public Buildings -- The Comptroller After the Public Funds -- A Formal Resistance by Local Authorities, Who Propose to Test the Constitutionality of the Law, The Sun [NY, NY], Jun. 8, 1895, p. 3, cols. 1-3 (see map below that accompanied this article).
"THE NEW TERRITORY JUST ANNEXED TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
[The shaded part of the map shows the new territory. It comprises 20,000
acres and includes West Chester, East Chester, Pelham, Wakefield, City
Island, and Hart's Island.]" NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
"POLICE IN THE NEW DISTRICT.
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Every One but Displaced Officials Is Satisfied.
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Only One Arrest, and That Was a Lost Italian Boy.
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Acting Police Inspector John H. McCullagh, who has charge of the new annexed district, has made his headquarters at the new police station in the Westchester Village town hall, and Supt. Brennan, of the Police Telegraph Service, is engaged in putting in telephone communication with the Central Office.
Inspector McCullagh made a tour of his new district to-day, starting from City Island at 7 A.M. He says that the advent of the city police was received with expressions of pleasure by the people of the various annexed places, the only dissenters being the village officials who are legislated out of office.
At City Island, where there are 1,800 inhabitants. Roundsman Seavy and three patrolmen have established a station in the Town Hall.
At Eastchester, which has 350 inhabitants and is three and a half miles from City Island, a roundsman and two men are quartered at Steve O'Donnell's Hotel, on the Boston road, the nearest stopping place of the coaches.
At Wakefield, a pretty place of 2,500 inhabitants, Roundsman Strathman and six men are quartered in the headquarters of the Volunteer Fire Company, which is rented as a sort of village hall.
At Williamsbridge the only entries on Roundsman Duffy's books this morning were a false alarm of fire last night and a second visit of the village clerk and other officers to demand again the tax books. The request was denied.
At Westchester Roundsman Wolf has headquarters in the Town Hall.
Inspector McCullagh conferred with Supervisor Field regarding the character of his new duties to-day, and the latter said:
'We have covered everything with two constables, but they would never interfere with the ball players, who play near the saloons. Then there are the thimble-riggers on the West Farms road every Sunday fleecing the people.'
The Inspector said: 'I won't promise you much for to-morrow, for we are only temporarily established but by next Sunday we will be thoroughly organized and will restore order.'
There has been but one arrest so far in the new district, that of a four-year-old Italian boy, lost in Wakefield. If not claimed he will be sent to the Central office.
'What will I do if 'Little Monte Carlo' does poolroom business now?' said Acting-Chief Conlin to a reporter of 'The Evening World,' which paper succeeded some time ago in rooting out the nuisance.
'Well, now,' and the Chief winked his gray eyes significantly, 'there's no 500-feet-outside-the-city-line business about Little Monte Carlo now.
'The Evening World' can depend upon it. Little Monte Carlo will be carefully watched.'"
Source: POLICE IN THE NEW DISTRICT -- Every One but Displaced Officials Is Satisfied -- Only One Arrest, and That Was a Lost Italian Boy, The Evening World [NY, NY], Jun. 8, 1895, p. 7, col. 3 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"WITHHOLDS THE MONEY
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Annexed Westchester's School Commissioner Has $12,000.
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DUE TO NEW-YORK CITY BY LAW
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Acting Chief of Police Conlin Will Send a Squad of Mounted Metropolitan Police to Protect the New Territory.
Acting Chief of Police Conlin was busy yesterday completing the arrangements for policing the new territory annexed to the city, which takes in Westchester, East Chester, Pelham, Wakefield, City Island and Hart's Island.
Acting Inspector McCullagh has established a temporary headquarters in the Westchester Town Hall. Telephonic communication was established yesterday between Police Headquarters and Westchester. Acting Chief Conlin said that the present police arrangements were temporary.
'The men on duty in the new territory to-day,' said the Chief yesterday, 'will go back to their precincts to-morrow morning. I am selecting twenty-five mounted men, who will be sent up there to-morrow. They will be kept there for the present. I will send a Sergeant or two along. Temporary quarters will be provided for the men. The department, of course, has to arrange to board the men until the police details for the new district are permanently completed.
'Acting Inspector McCullagh will have supervision over the squad. The new territory will be included in his inspection district. I have a telephone at the headquarters at Westchester, so I am in direct communication with the men stationed there. A patrol wagon will be kept at Westchester, which is the central point of the new territory. Prisoners will be taken in the patrol wagon to the King's Bridge and Morrisania stations.
'There was no trouble during the night. I wish to give notice that the law will be enforced to-morrow up there. I will permit no violations of the excise law. I understand that no respect at all has been paid to the excise law at City Island and the other places on Sunday. I will stop that right away. The law will have to be rigidly enforced.'
The first case to be reported from the annexed territory to the police was entered on the books in the Information Bureau at Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon by Sergt. Harley.
Antonio Brandi, who lives in Pleasant Avenue, between Second and Flower Streets, called upon Sergt. Harley and had an alarm sent out for his child, Victor, two and a half years old, who wandered away from home yesterday, and was last seen at 6 o'clock last night on the White Plains Road.
Acting Chief Conlin yesterday afternoon detailed Sergt Revelle to command the mounted men who will go on duty in the new district.
When the police took possession of Westchester Village on Friday night the whole town was thrown into a state of excitement over the announcement that the village authorities would resist the taking possession of the town records and buildings. The authorities did nothing.
Supervisor August M. Field, who has been one of the strongest advocates of annexation, and who was the only one in the Town Board who did not condemn the annexation, Friday turned over to City Chamberlain O'Donohue $19,000 which was in his possession as town money. He received his receipt for it. It was at first supposed that the other members of the board would obtain a writ from the Supreme Court restraining him from Turning over the money.
School Commissioner Warren Ferris of the village has still in his possession $12,000, which, it is said, ought to have been turned over to New-York City. He will wait, it is said, until he obtains legal advice.
The following office holders will be legislated out of office:
John Fitzgerald, J. McGory, and F. O'Mara, Constables; Justices O'Neil, Cox, Delahanty, and Kidder, Town Clerk Thomas Dunnigan, Supervisor Field, and Road Commissioners Talma T. Hyde, Henry Victory, and J. Gerroughty.
As yet there have been no changes in the schools. There are four schools in this place. The largest is School No. 1, presided over by Michael E. Devlin, as principal. It is said that Devlin will be the first to have his head cut off, as a consequence of his fighting the bill for annexation.
At City Island Supervisor McAllister has surrendered all the papers and documents concerning the annexed part of Pelham. He holds the papers and documents of the unannexed portion. The unannexed portion represents about two-thirds of the taxable valuation of the town. Mr. McAllister will turn these over to his successor in the Board of Supervisors as soon as there is one. Only one-third of the Town Building here belongs to the annexed part of the town, and it is thought some means of transfer of the third portion will be found, so that the city may become sole owner. It is thought the Town Board of Pelham will be allowed the use of the hall until such a settlement is made.
Mr. McAllister is the leader of the annexationists here. He thinks there will be no trouble in arranging the details. The majority of the citizens on City Island favor the change.
Fire Commissioner Ford and Chief Bonner visited City Island yesterday, and were met by Fire Chief Fordham of City Island. Chief Fordham showed the officers the department maintained by the island, and, after an inspection, both Mr. Ford and Chief Bonner agreed that the fire protection was ample for the time being, and until permanent arrangements could be made."
Source: WITHHOLDS THE MONEY -- Annexed Westchester's School Commissioner Has $12,000 -- DUE TO NEW-YORK CITY BY LAW -- Acting Chief of Police Conlin Will Send a Squad of Mounted Metropolitan Police to Protect the New Territory, N.Y. Times, Jun. 9, 1895, p. 9, cols. 3-4 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"IN PEACEFUL POSSESSION.
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CITY AUTHORITIES HAVE FULL CONTROL IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
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PEOPLE IN THE ANNEXED DISTRICT A LITTLE ANXIOUS OVER THE QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENTS -- A MEETING THAT WAS NOT HELD.
The land up in Westchester, with its groves and primeval forests, its natural parks and antique buildings, which has just become a part of the city of New-York, was visited yesterday by a number of New-Yorkers who were anxious to see what the baby ward of the city looked like. Some went by trolley from One-hundred-and-twenty-ninth-st., by way of West Farms, and some took the suburban road. Those who went by trolley landed in the centre of the pretty village of West Chester and escaped the hackmen at the station, who seem to have become intoxicated with metropolitan honors and although they retain all their rustic looks and their strictly 'country' conveyances, they charge city prices. The place looked lively, and the new New-Yorkers stood in groups in the street discussing annexation and the appearance of their visitors. One little girl from New-York proper was heard to say to her father: 'Isn't it nice, though -- we can go to the country now without leaving the city.'
Blue-coated guardians of the peace in the well-known metropolitan uniform patrolled the place, and the town hall has been converted into police headquarters for the Annexed District. Until yesterday there were only twelve men in charge of the district, but this force has been augmented and there are now distributed in the Westchester part, under command of Sergeant A. Revelle, Sergeant W. W. Burfiend, Acting Sergeant Ferdon, four roundsmen, sixteen mounted men, twelve patrolmen, one driver, one guard, one stable man, one doorman and a patrol wagon.
Acting Police Inspector McCullagh was in charge yesterday, and the newly made citizens looked with awe through the open doors of the 'meetin' house' on the men who came to preserve the peace. It was expected by some that there would be a contest between the old town authorities and the police yesterday, but there was none.
A meeting had been held last week and adjourned to meet yesterday at 10 a.m. At the appointed hour about twenty citizens demanded entrance to the town hall, but they were told by Roundsman Benjamin Wolf that the town hall was now a police station and that no meeting could take place there. There was a little muttering, a little talk, which was more emphatic than polite, and then the citizens retired in good Westchester order.
There is certainly some dissatisfaction on account of the annexation, but the majority of the inhabitants are pleased with the change. The only town official to be seen yesterday was Thomas O'Neil, who was elected a Justice of the Peace in March, 1894, for a term of four years. He was shoeing a horse in his blacksmith shop when a Tribune reporter called on him. He stopped to say: 'The reports which have been sent to New-York about the lawlessness of our people and of their intention to resist annexation do us a great injustice. We are law-abiding citizens,' he added, 'and we were against annexation because we were afraid we would get no improvements. There is so much to be done in the way of public improvements in the city proper that it seems but natural that we should be neglected. We know how little has been done for Fordham and for Tremont, and has been done for Fordham and for Tremont, and that's why we opposed annexation,' and the blacksmith Justice of the Peace resumed his labors.
Deputy Collector John H. Rapp, of the Finance Department, took possession of the public property and records of the villages of West Chester, Williamsbridge, Wakefield and City Island, and made his report to the Controller yesterday.
The Controller also received yesterday a petition from many prominent citizens of the town of West Chester asking the Controller to allow the tax-books of that town to remain for a reasonable time at the office of the late Supervisor, Augustus M. Field, and that Mr. Field be appointed custodian of such books, with authority to receive the back taxes and furnish searches from the records."
Source: IN PEACEFUL POSSESSION -- CITY AUTHORITIES HAVE FULL CONTROL IN THE NEW TERRITORY -- PEOPLE IN THE ANNEXED DISTRICT A LITTLE ANXIOUS OVER THE QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENTS -- A MEETING THAT WAS NOT HELD, N.Y. Tribune, Jun. 11, 1895, p. 5, col. 1.
"CAPT. GALLAGHER RETIRED. . . .
The Mayor and the Common Council were requested by the board [i.e., the Police Board of New York City, led by Board President Theodore Roosevelt] to designate the town hall at Westchester, the engine-house at Wakefield, and the town hall at City Island as houses of detention and refuge, so that those places may be fully authorized station-houses for the Annexed District. . . ."
Source: CAPT. GALLAGHER RETIRED, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Jun. 21, 1895, p. 3, col. 1.
"WARING ASKS POLICE AID.
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WANTS PEOPLE WHO LITTER THE STREETS LOOKED AFTER.
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The Annexed Territory to Be Known as the 38th Police Precinct. . .
At the meeting of the Police Board yesterday . . .
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Grant and adopted:
Resolved, That all the territory annexed to the city of New York, pursuant to chapter 934, Laws of 1895, shall constitute a police precinct, to be known and designated as the Thirty-eighth Police Precinct.
Resolved, That on the approval of the Mayor and Common Council of the West Chester Town Hall as principal station, and the Wakefield engine house and the City Island Town Hall as sub-station, said premises be designated and set apart for the accommodation of members of the police force, for the temporary detention of persons arrested within said precinct and sub-precincts, and for the transaction of the business of the Police Department.
Resolved, That the quota of the police force of said precinct shall for the present be as follows: One Captain, 4 Sergeants, 10 roundsmen, 45 patrolmen, and 8 doormen, or a total of 68, to be assigned as follows: West Chester (main station), 1 Captain, 4 Sergeants, 4 mounted roundsmen, 16 mounted patrolmen, 6 foot patrolmen, 2 patrol wagon drivers, 2 patrol wagon guardsmen, and 3 doormen. Wakefield (sub-station), 2 roundsmen and 4 patrolmen. . . ."
Source: WARING ASKS POLICE AID -- WANTS PEOPLE WHO LITTER THE STREETS LOOKED AFTER -- The Annexed Territory to Be Known as the 38th Police Precinct, The Sun [NY, NY], Sep. 7, 1895, p. 9, col. 3.
"CITY JOTTINGS. . . .
The Board of Aldermen yesterday passed a resolution authorizing the establishment of a police station for the Thirty-eighth precinct in the Westchester Town Hall, and sub station in the fire engine house in Wakefield and in the Town Hall, City Island. . . ."
Source: CITY JOTTINGS, N.Y. Herald, Oct. 1, 1895, p. 13, col. 2.
"THE NEW PRECINCT.
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A Permanent Police Force Created.
Acting Chief of Police Conlin this morning issued an order creating the permanent force of the Thirty-eighth Precinct. The precinct was made permanent by a resolution adopted by the Board of Police early this morning. The new precinct comprises the territory recently annexed to the city, and embraces all that territory lying within the villages of West Chester, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, and City Island. The police have been in command of the territory since June 7, but the police force stationed there has been only temporary and was made up from the various precincts in the city. The district as it stands now has forty-five men to look after it. It was said that twenty more will be added to these as soon as new appointments are made.
The precinct is in command of Acting-Capt. Frers, who was made Acting Captain at the last meeting of the Police Board. It was said that he would be made a Captain as soon as his six months of probation as required by the rules of the department are ended."
Source: THE NEW PRECINCT -- A Permanent Police Force Created, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Oct. 10, 1895, p. 4, col. 4.
"Y'EAVE HO, THE TARRY COPS!
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They Are the Bluecoats Who Keep Watch and Ward on City Island Reg'lar Old Mariners, Now.
The police of the Westchester Sub-Station, at City Island, have become regular old shellbacks, and can catch oysters, clams and flounders as well as they can catch lawbreakers.
It is nearly two years since the territory north of the turbulent waters of the Bronx was annexed to the city. One night two big patrol wagons, filled with policemen, suddenly drew up in front of the West Chester Town Hall. The men jumped out, fell into line and captured the building. Then a few of them were sent to Wakefield, and half a dozen under Roundsman Wolf, went to City Island and took possession of the Town Hall of Pelham, where they are yet.
City Island is a bit of land in Long Island Sound, less than two miles in length and only half a mile wide at its fattest part. Its chief industries are boat building and oyster and clam catching. The place reeks of the salt, salt sea.
When the bluecoats arrived at City Island the natives were inclined at first to regard them as curiosities. The instructions from Capt. Freres to his men were to treat the people kindly and not enforce all the city ordinances at once, so no one was arrested for spilling sand on the seashore or scattering paper over the clam cars.
The City Island police were gentlemen, every one of them. The natives took them under their wings and mainsails and the result is that the policemen can reef, steer, dredge for oysters and converse in a tarry-topsail sort of way.
When off duty the police go sailing or fishing or sit on oyster and clam cars and talk about Stepping Stones and Sand's Point Lights, the last storm and about the oyster sloop Kate receiving a new suit of sails or Cap'n Pell's new catboat breaking her main boom off Turtle Cove.
They know the history and records of all the famous yachts laid up or getting ready for the season at Piepgrass's or Hawkins's shipyard. They have a perfect knowledge of all the tides -- where the best places are to fish, when, where and how to plant and dredge for oysters and how to calk, rig and handle a boat.
Should you visit the island and ask for a certain policeman who might be absent you would be told that he had 'gone over to the main,' meaning that he had crossed the rickety drawbridge to the mainland, on which Pelham Bay Park is situated.
When a City Island policeman starts out for duty he 'weighs anchor.' He 'hauls alongside' a lawbreaker, takes him to the sub-station and 'claps him under hatches.'
The policemen only sleep in 'Town Hall,' their diminutive headquarters, when on duty. Nearly all have neat little cottages with pretty gardens about them, with hard winding paths made out of ground-up oyster and clam shells.
There are not many posts on City Island, but what few there are cover such important places as Main street, Belden Point, the drawbridge and Pilot avenue, including a close watch over the shipyards and clam cars. When a prisoner is brought in a policeman starts 'east'ard' and uses a telephone or the ship news reports who controls the only telegraph wire on the island may send a message for him to West Chester and the prisoner is taken to West Chester Station and later on arraigned at the Morrisania Police Court.
Once a day Capt. Freres drives from West Chester to City Island to see how things are getting along and talks to the police, boat builders, and oystermen, shakes hands with the leading citizens and then drives away again."
Source: Y'EAVE HO, THE TARRY COPS! -- They Are the Bluecoats Who Keep Watch and Ward on City Island Reg'lar Old Mariners, Now, The World [NY, NY], Sep. 1, 1897, p. 2, col. 5 (Note: Paid subscription to access via this link).
Labels: 1895, Annexation, City Island, City Island Police, New York City, Pelham Bay Park, Pelham Police, Thirty-Eighth Precinct, Thirty-Eighth Precinct Substation, Town Hall, William McAllister
