From the History of the New York City Police Department A new duty was imposed on the Constables of the several wards. This was to visit every
house, and see whether the inhabitants kept the number of fire buckets required by law. Those who had not the proper number
were to be warned to obtain them under paid of prosecution. It was the duty of the Aldermen to instruct the Constables in
their several wards to "search for all inmates of the houses," they visited, "and to return the names thereof
to the Mayor or the Aldermen." The constables were required to "make a presentment of all such persons as shall
neglect or refuse to clean their streets, and of all such as in any way break the Holy Sabbath, or commit other misdemeanors."
The Aldermen were called upon to see that the Constables did this duty, and were to present the names of delinquents to the
Mayor or court of Quarter Sessions for punishment. A resolution was also adopted, providing for the erection of a cage, whipping-post,
pillory, and stocks before the City hall, the expense to be defrayed "out of the surplusage of the three hundred pounds
raised in this City, which is not yet appropriated."
The old records of this time
abound in items characteristic of the manners and ideas of the time, and the condition of the city. thus we find in 1710 the
total income of the city was £294.7s. 6d., and the annual expenditures £277.4s. Among the items making up the
latter total were: Bellmen's salaries, £36; lanterns and hour-glasses, £3; and candles for the Constable's
Watch, £3. The streets were still in the primitive fashion adopted in the end of the preceding century (1697), a lantern
being set up on a pole in front of every seventh house, the inhabitants of the other six contributing to the cost of maintenance.
Our Police Protectors Holice and Debbie
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