15

laws. They then proceeded to the office occupied by the Po-
lice Commissioners, but failed to find them or to gain admit-
tance. They also failed to gain admittance to the Mayor's
office. The next morning the visit was repeated, with the
same result—the place being guarded by policemen—and a
personal interview refused; whereupon they established an
office, and addressed to Messrs. Hindes and Wood the fol-
lowing communication :

To Samuel Hindes and Nicholas L. Wood, late

Commissioners of the Board of Police of Baltimore City:

GENTLEMEN : We called yesterday, at about three o'clock
P. M., at the office occupied by you, to exhibit to you our
commissions as Commissioners of the Board of Police of Bal-
timore city, and the evidence of our due qualifications as
such, but were informed by your Secretary that you had ad-
journed over until this morning. Our object was to take
possession of the office, which we supposed that you would
promptly surrender. Upon calling this morning at the office,
and after communicating to you, through your Secretary, our
desire to see you personally, we were distinctly informed by
him that you declined to admit us to a personal interview,
and that you desired that any communication, to you should
be in writing.

This unexpected resistance on your part to the laws has
surprised us, and we regret it; but, unwilling to make any
difficulty in regard to the mode of communication, and being,
moreover, unwilling to assume the responsibility of the pos-
sible result of the course of action which you have thought
proper to adopt, we now require and demand the prompt
surrender and- delivery to us of the office, office furniture,
and other things appertaining thereto, the use of the fire
alarm and police telegraph of the city, all station houses,
watch boxes, arms, accoutrements and other accommodations
and things provided By the Mayor and City Council for the
use and service of the police thereof.

We further require that you surcease forthwith from exer-
cising any of the functions or duties appertaining to the office
of Police Commissioners, and that you utterly and entirely
abstain from assuming any authority or control over the ex-
isting police of said city; and we warn you that we are now
acting as Commissioners of Police, and that if you act con-
trary to your duty in the premises, or interfere with us in the
execution of our office, you will do so at your peril.

JAMBS YOUNG,
WM. THOS. VALIANT.