The Scandal of 1922: The Cast of Characters

Now that we know the outcome of the trial of Chief John J. Cruise for dereliction of duty, it is of interest to consider the people who played major roles in this drama. The Chief Cruise was investigated, accused, and tried by the Commission of Public Safety, a governmental body that appears to have been created by a charter amendment adopted in May 1921. (A Commission of Public Safety is not mentioned in the previous 1895 version of the charter.) The commission was made up of three men who were appointed by the mayor, who at that time was Henry C. Galster. 

Up until quite recently (2004 to be exact), being the mayor of Hudson was not considered a full-time job. Mayors had other occupations, and being the mayor was just a part-time gig. Galster, who served for one term, in 1921 and 1922, was a doctor. During his term as mayor, he was in his early 30s. The 1920 census indicates that he owned 454 Warren Street (now the location of Nolita), where he lived with his wife, Kathryn, and her two younger and unmarried sisters, and practiced medicine. This picture of the house, taken by Walker Evans probably in the early 1930s, shows Dr. Galster's shingle on the street-level door that gave access to his office.

Galster appointed the three men who made up the Commission of Public Safety that took action against Cruise for dereliction of duty. He appointed a fellow medical man to be the president of the Commission of Public Safety: Sherwood V. Whitbeck. Whitbeck, who was 40 when the 1920 census was taken, lived at 363 Allen Street with his wife, Caroline, their two children, Mary and Volkert, and a servant named Grace Fuller. Whitbeck also conducted his medical practice at 363 Allen Street. Interestingly, it is also a Walker Evans photograph (discovered and identified by Sam Pratt a few years ago) that shows us Whitbeck's house. The house, which stood west of the Columbia County courthouse, where there is now a parking lot, was demolished in the early 1980s.

The second member of the Commission of Public Safety, often mentioned in accounts of Chief Cruise's trial, was Charles A. Van Deusen, who was a bank president. In the 1920 census, Van Deusen, who was then 54, lived at 441 Allen Street with his wife, Grace, and their two sons, both in their late 20s. Also residing at the house in 1920 were Saddie Wood, a cook, and Margaret Sheldon, a servant. Van Deusen's house is now the office of the law firm Freeman Howard.

The third member of the Commission of Public Safety was William Petry, who owned the Hudson Garage, located at 724-730 Columbia Street, in the building that was originally part of the Gifford-Wood foundry and was most recently Van Kleeck Tire.

Petry was by all accounts a very successful business man and a well-liked member of the community, but he lived more humbly than his colleagues on the Commission of Public Safety. His house, where he lived with his wife, Lelia, and their three children (no servants), was at 538 Washington Street. When the 1920 census was taken, Petry was 50.

Then there were the lawyers--two for the prosecution, representing the City of Hudson, two for the defense. The lead prosecutor was city attorney, a.k.a. corporation counsel, William J. DeLamater. In 1920, according to the census, DeLamater was 38 years old and lived at 604 Gifford Place, in one of the houses originally built for the sons of Elihu and Eliza Gifford. DeLamater's household included his wife, Anna, their son, William, who was then a toddler, a servant named Lucy Sowdek and her 8-year-old daughter. Today, the block where DeLamater lived is no longer called Gifford Place but Columbia Street.

Assisting DeLamater was Samuel B. Coffin, an attorney who has figured in more than one historic tale retold by Gossips. When, in 1914, Malcolm Gifford, the eldest son of the eldest son of Elihu Gifford and heir to the Gifford Iron Works, learned that his eldest son, Malcolm, Jr., had been arrested and indicted in Albany for murdering a chauffeur somewhere near Watervliet, the elder Malcolm rushed to his son's side, bringing with him the family attorney: Samuel B. Coffin.

When, in 1916, Mabel J. Hoffman, daughter of Fred W. Jones, sued the New York & New England Cement and Lime Company for damages caused by cement dust to real and personal property at what had been her father's home on Route 9 just south of Hudson, Samuel B. Coffin represented the cement company in the case.

In 1920, according to the decennial census, Samuel B. Coffin was 55 years old and lived at 5 Willard Place, which is now the bed and breakfast The Croff House, with his wife, Frances, his mother-in-law, Cecelia Lewis, and a servant named Mary Monthia.

Coffin was still living at 5 Willard Place in 1941 when a fire destroyed the third floor, with its mansard roof, and tower of what had been a Second Empire house similar to several others on the street.

Coffin was not at home when the fire occurred in the early morning of Memorial Day 1941, although his wife, his sister, and a servant named Alice Moore were. Coffin, then 76, was in Rhode Island, about to embark on his annual cruise along the eastern seaboard in his yacht. 

Early accounts of Chief Cruise's trial make reference to the "formidable line-up of counsel" assembled to represent him. Principal among them was Robert Monell Herzberg. In the decennial census for 1900, Herzberg is a 20-year-old law student living with his mother, Mary Herzberg, at 123 Union Street. Mary Herzberg is identified as the head of the household and her status is given as married. Her husband (Robert's father) is not listed, but his place of birth is given as Germany. Also in the household are a cousin, Louisa Waldron, and German servant named Tillie Bierson.

Robert Monell Herzberg cannot be found in the census records for 1910 or 1920, but the Hudson city directory for 1912 indicates that he is practicing law in partnership with Mark Duntz, and the offices of Duntz & Herzberg are located at 542 Warren Street, now The Barlow Hotel. The directory indicates that both men live in Claverack.

In the 1930 census, eight years after the Cruise trial, Herzberg reappears. He now lives at 3 Willard Place, a house valued at $7,500 which he owns. He now has a wife, Sarah, and a son, Robert W. In 1930, Herzberg is 49 years old, and his wife is 61. According to the census records, they were married when he was 25 and she was 37. In 1930, their son was 24 years old.

The census, of course, does not indicate when Herzberg bought the house, but it's intriguing to contemplate the possibility that Cruise's principal attorney lived just two doors away from the attorney who was representing his accusers.

Cruise's other attorney, John J. Moy lived nearby at 316 Allen Street, directly across the street from Willard Place. There is no longer a house at that address, but the one that was there in 1920 must have been substantial, because it accommodated two households.

The first household living at 316 Allen Street in 1920 was headed by Daniel Moy, then 67, who had immigrated from Ireland in 1873. Daniel lived there with his wife, Mary, an unmarried daughter, Catherine, and a married daughter, Winnifred O'Rourke, who had a 10-year-old son. 

The second household was headed by John J. Moy, presumably Daniel's son, who was 32 in 1920. His household included his wife, Anna, their two sons (one 3 years old, the other 6 months), Anna's father, Marcell Frananski, who had immigrated from Poland in 1890, and her brother John Frananski. The census records indicate that both Daniel and John Moy owned the house.

And that is the cast of characters who played major roles in the 1922 trial of Hudson police chief John J. Cruise.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Enjoy Labor Day!

Labor Day Parade in New York City, 1909

Discovered While Looking for Something Else

Many's the time this picture has stumped people who encounter it. What is it? Where was it located?

Bizarre as is seems, it's not hard to figure out that this is a bell turned upside down and put to use as a water trough for horses. The bell appears again in a later photograph, which identifies its location--at the intersection of Green Street and Fairview Avenue. (Note the bell at the left.)

Just tonight I discovered, in the Columbia Republican for January 10, 1922, a news item which, while announcing the end of the bell watering trough, recounts its history.

The death knell was sounded Wednesday for the old "bell" watering-trough situated for years at the corner of Green street and Fairview avenue, when the Commission of Public Words ordered that it be removed. The passing of this bit of Hudson landmark was brought about because of the confusion it has caused at the street intersection since motor traffic became so extensive.

The bell was originally the old Hudson fire bell and was used for many years in the tower to call out the firemen. It was replaced by the bell now in use in the tower back of the City Hall. The old bell became the possession of Jonas Rossman, who owned the fine place on upper Green street. The latter originated the idea of reversing the bell position and using it as a watering-trough.

The plan was carried out by Mr Rossman and the bell was placed in the middle of the street intersection, connected with running city water. The unveiling of this was one of the events in the history of the city at that time.

But the bell has served its purpose now. The horses that would stop at that end of the city for a cool drink have grown fewer and fewer each year and motor cars have as steadily increased in number. The position of the bell in the center of both roadways made for increased danger to motor traffic and last summer the Public Works board's attention was called to this by the Commission of Public Safety. The matter was taken up and fully discussed for some time with the result that the decision came Wednesday.

The Commission Wednesday decided to place a watering-trough at the Rogers Park, at the intersections of Green, Columbia and State streets instead. There will also be another watering-trough in the lower part of the city, the location to be decided upon later. 

COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Primary Prep: In Their Own Words

Last week, Gossips invited all the alderman candidates in the upcoming Democratic primary to submit a statement for publication of what each of them most wanted to communicate to his or her constituents before the election on Thursday. They were asked to limit their statements to 500 words. All six candidates responded, and their statements, grouped by ward and in the order in which they were received, follow.

____________________

FIRST WARD

NICK HADDAD

As the incumbent, I am in a three-way primary for our two seats. Perhaps this is the best of all possible scenarios, for it truly underscores the Democratic process, and hopefully the turnout will reflect the continued interest of our residents and their collective participation in the governance of our City.

My past four years on the Council I believe to be one of the more progressive periods in the legislative history of our City. It has not always been easy. And, on occasion, it has been an uphill battle against an entrenched mentality whose time is long past and whose methods are decidedly anti-progressive. But I firmly believe that a committed and contributing populace is the key to our continued prosperity. 

I have lived and worked in Hudson now for almost thirty years. The changes are remarkable, and we’ve become what we are by dint of an entrepreneurship unmatched anywhere in our state. There is a measure of serendipity, too. The City’s advances, its revitalization, is a product less of any comprehensive city plan than of the dreams and successes of its residents. I want to see that spirit kept alive, while we draw the city government into actually helping not retarding our development.

Unfortunately, not all of us have shared in this great creation. Many of our residents are unemployed and do not have adequate housing. For many our school system fails them with a graduation rate below 60 percent. For us to become a truly inclusive community we all must have a stake in our City.

To achieve that, the Council must be the bulwark and simultaneously the proponent of the wishes of the community. Elected officials must be fluent in the resolutions upon which we vote and must be willing to listen to our constituents.

During my tenure as Chair of Finance I have become acutely aware of how tenuous are our collective finances. We may be rich in people and talent but are not so in our income or savings. Almost 40 percent of the property in the City is off the tax rolls, leaving a disproportionate burden of taxes on a modest number of the population to shoulder.

For too long previous administrations and Councils avoided and frankly ignored the reality that our infrastructure was crumbling, and our rolling stock was aging. We now face the task of paying for these needed repairs and equipment.

In order to do so, I am working to establish Capital Reserve accounts, identifying known future expenses and saving in these accounts for the necessary expenditures. Working jointly, the Finance and Legal Committees created and the Council will this month send to Albany a new Lodging Tax to augment our revenues.

It takes a persistent, passionate, and independent voice in City government to make this happen. I enjoy what I do on the Council and hope I can continue representing my friends and neighbors in the First Ward for another two years.

Note: With the candidate's knowledge and consent, Haddad's statement was cut to meet the length requirement.

RICK RECTOR

Thanks, Gossips, for this opportunity.

We are living through an extraordinary time in Hudson. The city has become the envy of surrounding towns and is being recognized nationally and internationally as a destination to discover.  

While it is exciting to see the streets crowded with residents and tourists flocking to restaurants, galleries, and businesses and to witness the influx of talented and inspired entrepreneurs, we are faced with a myriad of serious issues. These issues will require thoughtful and dedicated public officials who are willing to go beyond petty politics and get things done together for the betterment of Hudson.

Serving on the Historic Preservation Commission and chairing it for the past three years has provided great experience in working with both residents and city officials. Serving as alderman for the past four months and sitting on the Police, Economic Development, Legal, and Arts, Entertainment & Tourism committees has been educational, challenging, and extremely rewarding. I come from a long background in business and will bring these skills to the job.

Our children and the education we provide for them are important to me.

Our river, the development of our waterfront, and the improvement of the community’s access to the river are of great importance to me.

Our rich history of people, places, and architecture is very important to me.

I love this city and I understand where it is headed. I celebrate our history, our diversity, and our future.

My agenda is simple: Do what is right and best for both the First Ward and the entire community. Be fair. Be honest. Be dependable. 

I hope to continue to bring these attributes to City Hall, and I ask for your support and your vote next Thursday.

MICHAEL O'HARA

Hudson is my home. I care about this community and our future. I care about our shared history and how it helps us understand what we are today. I have some experience, some talents, and some understanding which may be useful in helping Hudson become a city that works for all its residents. The Hudson Common Council is one place where my efforts may be applied to nudge the City towards a better future, and I would appreciate your support in making that possible.

____________________

FOURTH WARD

ALEXIS KEITH

Age 32, 61 Short Street, Hudson

Daughter--Jaley Claire Mignott 

Mother--Jacinta Wildman-Keith

While working in the Human and Health Service fields for over fifteen years, I understand the importance of receiving quality service and benefiting from accessibility of resources within our community. A lifelong resident and employed in our community at the Department of Social Services in the Day Care Subsidy and Medicaid Departments and currently with the Mental Health Association in the HCSD as a Family Support Specialist, I see the needs of our community firsthand. Understanding the importance of education and having knowledge of diverse issues faced here in Hudson, I became a certified trainer of Youth Mental Health First Aid with the National Council for Behavioral Health in 2014. Going forward, I will continue my advocacy for equality, diversity, and unity in the City of Hudson.

Top Issues to include:

1. Keeping Property Taxes within State Tax Cap

2. Creating optimum parking solutions for all residents, addressing strategies to include creating one way streets like Short Street, and lifting the street parking ordinance on Carroll Street

3. Create alternative routes for our trucking system, that passes through Columbia Street

4. Upkeep and removal of snow in the winter months of our streets and drainage systems

5. Promoting optimum Mental Health Services to all our residents

LAUREN SCALERA

Hello & thank you for the invitation to use Gossips of Rivertown as a platform for the upcoming Primary being held this Thursday. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Lauren Scalera, and I am running for Fourth Ward Alderman. I have been asked to release a statement on what I feel is most important for voters to know about me. The following issues, in no particular order of priority, are issues that I would like to address if elected:

Affordable housing: Unless I’m mistaken, I haven’t seen a commitment from this Common Council that shows they are serious about providing affordable housing. For too long it has been talked about, and everyone agrees there is a need in Hudson. We as a Council will need to team up with developers who have a history of creating this type of housing and prove that we are dedicated to this goal by approving tax breaks. The first order of business should be to sell the vacant lot on the corner of Fourth and State, with the condition that it must be an affordable housing project.

Sidewalks: To the residents of the Fourth Ward--take a look around. It is dangerous to walk our streets. The sidewalks are in terrible condition, and there are no safe routes to Middle School and High School. There was a state grant in place to remedy this situation--I’d like to know what happened to it. As far as the current residential sidewalks, I’d like to be a part of a committee to work on this issue.

Parking: As I walk around, it is clear there are parking issues on Columbia Street adjacent to the Columbia County Dept. of Health Building. I would like to meet with County officials to help resolve this.

Library/Senior Center: Soon the "crown jewel" of the Fourth Ward will be complete, with a brand new multi-million dollar Library and a long-term commitment for space for our seniors. As a Fourth Ward Alderman, I would like help promote this new addition which will provide new educational and recreational opportunities for all to enjoy.

Speeding: As I go door to door on Harry Howard Avenue, it has become apparent that most people are concerned about speeding and the lack of enforcement in that area. I believe we should invest in a speed detection machine, similar to Greenport’s, as a tool to slow down traffic, in addition to ensuring regular enforcement.

Current Library (& soon to be former library): When the Library moves into its new location, many residents are concerned who the new tenants of 400 State Street may be and if the building will be well maintained. While we may not have control over who will occupy the building, the owner of this historic building should provide this information in a timely manner to the elected officials of our ward in hopes that we may be a part of the conversations that occur.

RICH VOLO

As Fourth Ward Alderman, I plan to faithfully attend Council meetings--having duly prepared in advance--and then bring information back to my constituents. I will do so via a website and regular Meet & Greets throughout the ward, by listening to people’s opinions, and then voting accordingly. My primary goal as an Alderman is to create and encourage regular communication with my constituents so that I can do my job, which is to truly  represent them.

The Fourth Ward is very diverse, and I plan to set up times to meet people from Warren Street to State Street and from Crosswinds to the Firemen’s Home.

I want the Fourth Ward to have a voice and have active and vigilant representation in Common Council meetings. More generally, I want to bring common courtesy, respect, decorum, and politeness to the Common Council meetings. I think that my experience as a working professional, a certified yoga instructor, a small business owner, and a landlord will serve me well in achieving this goal.

I love Hudson, and have committed myself to contributing to the community on multiple fronts.

I have brought jobs to Hudson. Last year, I was given the opportunity to hire three individuals, in Hudson, and set up an IT support office for a financial services software company. Based on my over twenty years' experience in Wall Street financial companies, implementing accounting and reconciliation systems, I had the background necessary.  There are now three new full-time, 9 to 5 professional jobs with benefits in Hudson, which were created within the past year, with me leading the team.

I grew up in a union household and a household of educators. Both of my parents are retired NYS schoolteachers, as well as my uncle and aunt. Education, to me, is very valuable, and I will do what I can as Alderman to understand and help the education needs of my community.

I have organized countless community and volunteer events, parades, and festivals in Hudson over the past several years. I am in regular, daily contact with Hudsonians up and down Warren Street, at the hospital, at the Farmers' Market, and in my own neighborhood. I make myself available.

I live in the Fourth Ward full-time. I own two houses in the Fourth Ward, and I spend most of my time here. I am committed to making this ward a better place for all people.

I look forward to continuing to serve this wonderful community.

____________________

Sincere thanks to all the alderman candidates for submitting their statements. The Democratic primary is this Thursday, September 10. Democrats in the First Ward vote at St. Mary's Academy, on the corner of Allen and Third streets. Democrats in the Fourth Ward vote at 401 State Street, on the corner of State and Fourth. The polls are open from noon until 9 p.m. Vote yourself and encourage your friends and neighbors in your ward to vote as well!

COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Déjà vu All Over Again . . . Again

Saturday, May 18, 2013--The 300 block of Warren Street is closed for an auto show.

Saturday, September 5, 2015--The 200 block of Warren Street is closed for a birthday party.

COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

The Scandal of 1922: The Conclusion

When the decision of the Commission of Public Safety was announced in July 1922, finding Chief John Cruise guilty of dereliction of duty and demoting him to the the position of sergeant, Cruise appealed the decision to the New York Supreme Court. It was predicted at the time that getting a judgment from the Appellate Division would take six months. In fact, it took a bit longer. On March 7, 1923, the Appellate Division handed down its decision, and it was reported in the Columbia Republican on March 13, 1923.

The action of the Public Safety Commission in removing John Cruise, Jr., from the office of Chief of Police of Hudson, was unanimously affirmed in a decision handed down by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court at Albany, Wednesday afternoon. The opinion, written by Justice Van Kirk and concurred in by the acting presiding justice Henry T. Kellogg and Associates Justices Kiler, Hinman and Hasbrouck, expressed the unanimous opinion of the court and has the effect of preventing any further appeal to the Court of Appeals except by permission of the court. 

The decision is a sweeping victory for the Public Safety Commission and for former Corporation Counsel William J. Delamater, who argued the case before the court, and for Samuel B. Coffin, who was associated with Mr. Delamater on the trial of the case before the commission. 

The case is one of great interest to the citizens of Hudson and elicited considerable interest in police circles thruout the entire State. About a year ago, after a series of investigations by a private detective agency, a squadron of federal agents swooped down upon the city and made a number of sensational raids. As a result of these raids the resignation of Chief Cruise was asked for by the Commission of Public Safety. The Chief refused to acceed [sic] to the request and he was removed from office by the Commission pending the hearing and determination of the charges which were preferred against him. City Judge John J. Moy and R. Monell Herzberg were retained to defend the Chief and then followed a lengthy trial before the Public Safety Commission, the record of which covers over 600 pages. During the progress of the trial public interest ran high and great crowds surged around the Common Council chamber in which the hearings were held.

So voluminous was the record that considerable time was required to transcribe the stenographer's minutes, after which the Commission spent considerable time in examining the testimony and arriving at their decision. During the autumn [actually, it was July] the Commission reached a determination of the case and filed their findings, which removed Chief Cruise from office and demoted him to the position of sergeant.

His attorneys then procured a certiorari order from Judge Howard to review the determination and the matter then went to the Appellate Division for its decision. The case came on for argument before the court at its January term and was argued by Mr Delamater for the Commission and by Mr Herzberg for the Chief, and Wednesday's decision was based on a review of the entire case.

Chief Cruise refused to abide by the decision of the Commission demoting him to Sergeant and failed to report for duty pending the appeal of his case to the Appellate Division and has ever since failed to perform police duties as directed by the Commission. Whether or not he will report for duty now has not been ascertained. Some weeks ago the sale of his property on Glenwood boulevard was reported and it is said that he is now in New York, where he has been for some time past. . . . 

[Cruise] had been upon the police force in the city of Hudson continuously since 1889. A part of this time he served as sergeant and on December, 1917, he was appointed chief of police, in which office he was serving at the time the charges herein were presented against him.

According to the U.S. census for 1920, Cruise's "property on Glenwood boulevard" was this house at 90 Glenwood Blvd.

Cruise lived in this house with his wife, a brother-in-law, an adult daughter and her husband, and an adult son and his wife and their two children, one of whom was, in 1920, almost 3 and the other 8 months. There was a mortgage on the house. 

In 1920, when the census was taken, Cruise was 64 years old. When the judgment of the Commission of Public Safety demoted from his position of chief of police, he would have been 66.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Also on Lower Warren Street Today

When the party's over at the Savoia this afternoon, and Warren Street between Third and Second is reopened at 6 o'clock, there are two exhibition openings--one on the party block and one farther downstreet--which should not be overlooked.

Energy #1, 2003

At FRG, upstairs at 217 Warren Street, the exhibition Zen Dot Energy opens today, featuring the Zen Dot paintings of Merrill Steiger. Steiger deploys pointillism, scale shift, color harmony, and spatial involution to give the viewer a sense of hallucinatory vibration. "The obsessive detailing of the paintings emanates a universally understood electric current felt across cultural boundaries. The work seems to be in a continuous state of generative unfolding sustaining the eye and mind."

Three Totems, 2000

Experience these paintings for yourself at FRG tonight, at the opening reception, which takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition Zen Dot Energy will continue through November.

Farther down Warren Street, at Jeff Bailey Gallery, 127 Warren Street, there is an opening reception for the exhibition Eat a Peach, featuring the work of Jim Gaylord, Douglas Melini, Loie Hollowell, and Carl D'Alvia. The paintings, works on paper, and sculpture that make up the exhibition "are linked by saturated color, textured surfaces, and replication of forms. Mirroring, symmetry, and tactility suggest both growth and abundance."

Jim Gaylord, Mermaid with Cowboy Boots, 2015

The opening reception for Eat a Peach is from 6 to 8 p.m. today. The exhibition continues through October 18.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

The Scandal of 1922: Part XV

As Gossips reported earlier today, Chief John Cruise was found guilty of dereliction of duty by the Commission of Public Safety on July 26, 1922. On the same day the Columbia Republican reported the decision, August 1, 1922, the newspaper published an editorial with the headline "A Just Decision." 

The decision of the Public Safety Commission which removes John Cruise, Jr., from the office of Chief of Police and demotes him to the rank of Sergeant was unquestionably a great surprise to those intense partisans who attributed the most sinister of motives to the members of the Commission and denied them any credit for honesty of purpose or fair dealing. These partisans urged that as prosecutor, judge and jury the Commission would ruthlessly railroad Chief Cruise out of the police department and gather in his official scalp. That this course has not been followed is undoubtedly a keen disappointment to them for their thoughts were not for the welfare of John Cruise, but only of the political hatred that could be stirred up thereby. 

It is not the intention of The Republican to pass judgment upon the fitness of John Cruise to continue in the office of Chief of Police. That is a subject upon which the public mind is fairly well made up and has been for some time. When the Public Safety Commission came into office Chief Cruise found himself in an awkward position and he was entitled to considerable sympathy because the fault was not all his. For several years the administration of police affairs had not been aggressive except in spots. The discipline of the force had reached its lowest ebb and whatever morale it may have had had disappeared completely. Some laws were enforced, others were disregarded, and a very unsatisfactory condition had come to exist. All these things were well known to the people of Hudson who find out many things even tho they may not be published in the papers. 

Then came the Public Safety Commission, composed of men of unquestioned integrity and ability, who insisted upon efficiency in the police department, and demanded that the laws be enforced, irrespective of what they were and whom they effected. A change so sudden and so exacting was somewhat embarrassing to the department and the rut was hard to get out of. 

After several months trial, conditions within the department did not improve and it became evident that the fullest co-operation was not forthcoming. Then came the charges, the trial and now the determination. The Commission has taken sufficient time to enable it to study the evidence very thoroughly and to consider the case from every angle, that it might do justice to all and injustice to none. Their findings are exceptionally fair and their action is much less drastic than they might have taken under the testimony as adduced. Instead of dismissing John Cruise from the force, the Commission has been very lenient with him. In reaching their determination in the matter, it would appear that the Commissioners have taken into consideration his advanced years and the difficulties which might confront him were he compelled to seek other employment at this time of life. 

In all respects it is a fair decision and one in which justice is tempered with mercy.  

Cruise, understandably, did not agree that the decision was just. When the Commission of Public Safety announced its decision, Thomas L. Conners, who was the acting chief, was sent to Cruise's home to inform him of the outcome and to tell him to report for duty two days later at 8 a.m. in his new status as sergeant. The Columbia Republican reports Cruise's response.    

John Cruise, Jr., who was, by the decision of the Public Safety Commission, given Wednesday, demoted from Chief to Sergeant of the Hudson Police Department, did not report for duty at 8 o'clock Friday morning. Following the announcement of the decision, the Commission ordered that he report for duty at headquarters as Sergeant Friday morning. 

This became known Thursday when it was learned that the case had gone to the courts as the official's counsel had intimated at the close of the hearing before the Commission. Former Chief Cruise would have nothing to say Thursday pointing out that "he was in the hands of his counsel." The greater part of Thursday afternoon he was in the company of Judge John J. Moy and R. M. Herzberg, his attorneys. While no official word had been received here to Thursday night it is understood that counsel for the former Chief appeared before Supreme Court Justice Howard Thursday and made the first move toward appealing from the decision, taking the case before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for a review of the testimony. A writ of certiorari is said to have been issued by Judge Howard calling upon the Commission of Public Safety to furnish a copy of the trial minutes within twenty days. 

Thus the case goes into the courts and it will probably be all of six months before the case can be argued and a decision handed down by the Appellate Division. In the meantime former Chief Cruise will not resume his new duties, as ordered by the commission.

Gossips will report the outcome of the appeal in the next installment of "The Scandal of 1922."
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

The Scandal of 1922: Part XIV

When the trial of Chief John Cruise before the Commission of Public Safety came to an end on May 26, 1922, the members of the commission decided that they wanted to have the testimony transcribed so that they could study it carefully before rendering a decision. Exactly two months later, on Wednesday, July 26, the commission announced its decision. The Columbia Republican, which was published weekly, reported the news the following Tuesday, on August 1, 1922.

John Cruise, Jr., was on Wednesday afternoon, found guilty by the Commission of Public Safety of certain charges made against him, and was removed and dismissed as Chief of Police of the Hudson Police Department. In the decision of the Commission, however, he is appointed to the rank of Sergeant in the department, and is to receive back salary at Sergeant's pay from March 9th last, when he was suspended by the Commission, pending a hearing and a decision. 

The Commission's decision was made and filed at a special meeting. Following the decision Acting Chief of Police Conners was instructed to notify former Chief Cruise of the decision and to notify him to report for duty at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. 

By this it was taken to mean that the former Chief had been made a day Sergeant and that the appointment will not have to do with the night patrol where the Night Sergeant is in charge. The difference between the Chief and Sergeant salaries in the local department is said to be only about $10 a month. 

Last evening when apprised of the decision, ex-Chief Cruise said that he did not have anything to say at that time. He wanted to first study the decision in full. It is believed that he will report for duty Friday. Whether he contemplates any further action was not known.

The Columbia Republican also published an editorial about the trial and the decision, which will have to wait for another time. A disaster has occurred. At FultonHistory.com, the server is down!
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Mass Gathering Policy: Hudson's Catch-22

Back in 2012, without warning to the other business owners on the block, Joe Fierro of American Glory shut down the 300 block of Warren Street on an early spring Saturday for an auto show. When the event was repeated the next year, the Common Council Legal Committee was motivated to revise the mass gathering permit process. The goal of the revisions was to prevent one business owner from inconveniencing other business owners without there being adequate notice and the opportunity to voice objections.

Last summer, the Council passed a law amending the part of the city code (Chapter 199) that has to do with mass gathering permits. Mayor William Hallenbeck vetoed it. The Council overrode the mayor's veto, and the amendments were enacted as of June 17, 2014.

Even after his veto had been overridden, the mayor continued to agonize about the new requirements for mass gathering permits. Responding to the mayor's concerns, Alderman John Friedman (Third Ward), chair of the Legal Committee, who drafted the amendments, stressed that the amended law contained the same mayoral discretion that existed before the law was revised. Council president Don Moore pointed to this sentence in the law: "Exceptions to this application process may be made for good cause shown upon petition to the mayor."

It seems that in the intervening year, the mayor has gotten comfortable with his mayoral discretion when it comes to granting mass gathering permits. Yesterday, he granted a mass gathering permit for a block party that will close Warren Street to vehicular traffic between Second and Third streets for six hours--from noon to 6 p.m.--this Saturday, the first day of the last holiday weekend of the summer.

The first three hours of street closure are for set up. The party, which celebrates Savoia owner Jake Walthour's 74th birthday, begins at 3 p.m. The mayor himself will be there to present Walthour with a "Life Time Achievement Award."

The news of the mass gathering permit for this event reportedly caused quite a stir at the Common Council Arts, Entertainment & Tourism Committee last night. It was the first any of the committee members had heard of it. It also seems that the owners of several businesses on the 200 block of Warren Street were unaware of the plan to shut down their block. The amendments to the mass gathering permit process were made with the goal of preventing businesses from being blindsided by such events. They require that applications be submitted at least 120 days prior to the event and that the public be notified. Chapter 199-7 of the city code states:

If the parade or special event requires a street closure(s), the applicant must cause to be posted in the newspaper of record notice of such application within seven days of submitting an application for a special event or parade to the City Clerk. Said notice shall be published for two consecutive days. . . . Written public comments regarding the special event or parade application may be submitted to the Clerk within 10 days of the first publication of said notice.

Curious to know the history of this mass gathering permit, Gossips went to City Hall this morning to "inspect the application." I discovered that it was submitted on Wednesday, August 12, just 24 days before the event not 120 days. But the law states that exceptions can be made "for good cause," and there was a handwritten note accompanying the application explaining a reason that the mayor had obviously accepted as "good cause." There was also documentation that notice had been duly published in the Register-Star.

The notice appeared for the first time on Saturday, August 15, and would have appeared for the second time on Tuesday, August 18. Comments had to be received by August 25, but the city clerk reported that no comments had been submitted. One can conclude from this either that no one has a problem with shutting down a block of Warren Street for six hours on Labor Day weekend or that no one saw the notice in the Register-Star.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

For Democrats in the First and Fourth Wards

If you missed "The Primary Show" this morning on WGXC's @Issue, you can hear it online by clicking here. Hosts Debby Mayer and Rob Bujan speak with Democratic primary candidates Michael O'Hara, Nick Haddad, and Rick Rector from the First Ward, and Rich Volo and Alexis Keith from the Fourth Ward. Lauren Scalera (Fourth Ward), who couldn't be present, submitted a written statement.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

What's Happened to Marina Abramovic?

Photo: Chad Weckler

This question has been asked more than a few times in recent weeks. Last week there was even a totally unsubstantiated rumor getting limited circulation that the Rock Solid Church was looking to buy the old Community Theatre. To satisfy your curiosity and allay your fears, Chad Weckler went out to Abramovic's home in Malden Bridge yesterday and recorded an interview with Abramovic. The interview can be heard tomorrow, Thursday, September 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Weckler's WGXC radio show The Art of the Hudson Valley. WGXC is at 90.7 FM or online at wgxc.org.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Playing the Angles

In the First Ward, the Democratic primary on September 10 will decide who represents the ward on the Common Council. The two Democrats who win in the primary will be unopposed in the general election in November. No other party has fielded candidates in the First Ward.

In the Fourth Ward, things are more complicated. No matter what the outcome of the primary, there will be a race in November. Derrick Smart has been endorsed by the Republicans, and Lauren Scalera, who is challenging the two candidates who were endorsed by the HCDC (Hudson City Democratic Committee), is also hoping to get on the ballot as a Republican. Following her father's example, Scalera is trying to get her name on the ballot as many times as possible. She already has the Independence line and made an unsuccessful attempt to secure the Conservative line. Rich Volo has a fallback, too. In addition to being endorsed by the HCDC, he's been endorsed by the Working Families Party. The only person in the Fourth Ward Democratic primary who will be off the ballot in November if she doesn't win in the primary is incumbent Fourth Ward alderman Alexis Keith. Perhaps for this reason, Keith is trying to cover all her bases. 

Her name appears with Rich Volo's on signs provided by the HCDC. Her name also appears with Lauren Scalera's on signs that Rick Scalera was positioning around the Fourth Ward last week.

With the exception of one sign stuck in the ground in front of the newly renovated house at the corner of State and Short streets, all the Keith/Scalera signs appear to be positioned on property owned by the City of Hudson or the Galvan Foundation.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

The Primary Show

For all those who missed hearing @Issue this morning on WGXC, Gossips will be posting the link to the show, called "The Primary Show," as soon as it is archived. In the meantime, here is the statement submitted by Lauren Scalera, candidate for Fourth Ward alderman, who was unable to be a part of the show in person. During the show, the statement was read aloud by host Debby Mayer.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to attend your radio show. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule I am unable to be there in person. Running for 4th ward Alderman is proving to be an exciting, yet challenging endeavor. I hope to meet as many residents of my ward as time allows to hear their concerns and ideas as to how to make our ward and the City as a whole a better community. Much work has been done in Hudson, but it is clear there is still much more to do. Alderman Ohrine Stewart will be missed, but hopefully voters will give me the chance to follow in her footsteps on the council.

This Just In

Gossips just received word that, if you are a resident of the First Ward or the Fourth Ward, you can call in a question to be asked of the candidates running in the September 10 primary election--all of whom, with the exception of Lauren Scalera, who I am told has submitted a statement in lieu of being there, will be on @Issue on WGXC this morning at 10 a.m. 

Questions should be submitted before the show begins, so you have about 40 minutes to call and ask your question and then listen for the answer at 10 o'clock. The phone number at WGXC is (518) 697-7400. WGXC is heard at 90.7 FM or online at wgxc.org.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

More Primary Prep: Turn Your Radios On

Sayre's law, named for Wallace Stanley Sayre (1905-1972), a political scientist and professor at Columbia University, states: "In any dispute, the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." He was talking about academic politics, but it could as well apply to Hudson. This year, in the primary election that takes place in just nine days, on Thursday, September 10, Democrats are vying to be the party's candidates for the two alderman positions in the two wards--the First and the Fourth--with the smallest populations and hence the least powerful votes in the Common Council's weighted vote system.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., on the WGXC radio show @Issue, Debby Mayer and her co-host Rob Bujan will be speaking with the candidates in the Democratic primary: Rick Rector, Nick Haddad, and Michael O'Hara from the First Ward; and Alexis Keith and Rich Volo from the Fourth Ward. Lauren Scalera, the third person hoping to be one of the Democratic candidates for Fourth Ward alderman, is reportedly unable to be part of the conversation.

WGXC is heard at 90.7 FM or online at wgxc.org.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK

Out on the River

It's the first day of September, but summer isn't over yet and neither is the Hudson Sloop Club's sailing program. On three days this week, there are opportunities to go sailing with the Sloop Club, to learn the basics of navigation and sailing or just to experience being out on the river.

Tonight, from 5:30 p.m. until sunset, the Sloop Club is offering a class called Intro to Navigating the Hudson, which teaches the characteristics of the river and how to navigate your boat safely. During the same time, there is the Tuesday Sail by the Hudson-Athens lighthouse, Middle Ground Flats, and Athens, to get a feel for sailing on the Hudson.

On Saturday, September 5, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Sloop Club is offering a four-hour course in Sailing Basics, which will demonstrate how to rig a boat, sail at different angles to the wind, and maneuver and teach basic sailing terminology. There is also a Saturday Sail, from 5:30 p.m. until sunset. 

On Sunday, September 6, from 2 to 7 p.m., the Sloop Club is offering free Community Sails on the Hudson for two hours or less leaving from the waterfront. 

Sailing classes are open to anyone aged 14 or older, and sliding scale pricing is available. Check out the Hudson Sloop Club website for more information about fees and to sign up.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CAROLE OSTERINK