flashed all over New York and the adjoining
country before a man has fairly secured his plunder. If a child is lost,
all the precincts are furnished immediately with an accurate description
of it, and the whole force is on the lookout for the little wanderer, and
in a marvellously quick time it is restored to its mother's arms. By
means of his telegraph, the Superintendent can track a criminal, not only
all over the city, but all over the civilized world, and that without
leaving his office. One of the most interesting rooms in the
headquarters is that for the trial of complaints against members of the
force. Every charge must be sworn to. It is then brought before the
Commissioners, or rather before one who is appointed by the Board to hear
such complaints. He notifies the accused to appear before him to answer
to the charge. Except in very grave cases the men employ no counsel.
The charge is read, the Commissioner hears the statements of the accused,
and the evidence on both sides, and renders his decision, which must be
ratified by the full "Board." The majority of the charges are for
breaches of discipline. A Patrolman leaves his beat for a cup of coffee
on a cold morning, or night, or reads a newspaper, or smokes, or stops to
converse while on duty. The punishment for these offences is a stoppage
of pay for a day or two. First offences are usually forgiven. Many
well-meaning but officious citizens enter complaints against the men.
They are generally frivolous, but are heard patiently, and are dismissed
with a warning to the accused to avoid giving cause for complaint.
Thieves and disreputable characters sometimes enter complaints against
the men, with the hope of getting them into trouble. The Commissioner's
experience enables him to settle these cases at once, generally to the
dismay and grief of the accuser. Any real offence on the part of the men
is punished promptly and severely, but the Commissioners endeavor by
every means to protect them in the discharge of their duty, and against
impositions of any kind.

Another room in the headquarters is called "The Property Room." This is
a genuine "curiosity shop." It is filled with unclaimed property of
every description, found by, or delivered to the police, by other parties
finding the same, or taken from criminals at the time of their arrest.
The room is in charge of the Property Clerk, who enters each article, and
the facts connected with it, in a