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LOT 126
Historic Documented
New York City Police
Presentation Rosewood
and Relief Carved Ivory
Police Baton with Gold
Inlay Inscribed “Presented
to Captain William J.
Lahey Hotel Astor May
27, 1908” - This early
20th century presentation
police baton or “nightstick”
measures 23 1/4 inches
long and is approximately 1
3/8 inches wide. The 4 inch
long relief carved ivory tip
features an oak leaf design,
and the 3 1/4 inch relief
carved ivory handle has
a grape leaf design. The
carved pommel is also a
foliate pattern. The shaft of
the baton is rosewood. A
gilt tassel is attached, and
a gold escutcheon inlay is
inscribed “PRESENTED TO/
Captain/William/J. Lahey/
HOTEL ASTOR/May. 27. 1908.”
Copies of extensive documentation relating to William J. Lahey’s legendary
law enforcement career are included, among which is a noteworthy clipping
from “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle” on May 28, 1908, noting the presentation
of “a fine stick and belt” at a dinner at the Hotel Astor in honor of Lahey’s
promotion to Captain in the NYPD. He had been serving as Acting Captain
in command of the Hamilton Avenue Station in Brooklyn and later served
in various areas of the city including the infamous Tenderloin district and
Chinatown, and steadily worked his way up through the ranks. He rose to
the rank of Inspector, and, in January 1918, he was appointed as Second
Deputy Police Commissioner. At times, he was accused of inappropriate
behavior, including beating people with a baton, and was indicted in 1919
for allowing members of the Automobile Squad to accept rewards for
recovering stolen cars. The latter case was dismissed and noted by NYPD
Major Hylan as the “most malicious act ever perpetrated by a Grand Jury.” He
retired in 1928 after forty years in law enforcement as Police Commissioner
Grover A. Whalen made sweeping changes to the police department. When
he retired, Lahey was Chief Inspector and the head of the uniformed forces
of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He died in April 1933 from
complications of an operation to treat appendicitis.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with crisp inscription and carving, minor
aged patina on the excellent original ivory, attractive grain and glossy finish
on the rosewood, and minor age and handling related wear. A very unique
and wonderful piece of NYPD history.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500
Hotel Astor
New York
134