Watson, the jail matron, be appointed as a special police officer "so that she might receive compensation for her services."
Mayor Workman said he favored the idea, but Cuddy called it a "waste of money" and opined that establishing a reform school would be a good idea but "such an institution as Mrs. Watson represented did no permanent good, but kept the boys a short time and turned them out brighter criminals than before.
[6] Of this episode, the Oakland Tribune said: During the preliminary proceedings in the Council there was always a strong hoodlum gallery which uproariously applauded every move of the Cuddy partisans.
The gallery opinion of the election of Chief Cuddy may be taken as a fair indication of the views of the criminal element on the matter.
Book, Hiram Sinsabaugh and Matthew Teed, excoriated Cuddy in its report and unanimously urged that "the office of Chief of Police be declared vacant.
with a wave of his hand [he] declared he was weary of the gang, and would have nothing more to do with them, and tendered his resignation as Chief of Police.It was accepted unanimously.
[17] Cuddy was arrested in December 1895 and charged with being drunk and disturbing the peace when he engaged in an altercation with a police officer at First and Main Streets.
[18][19] In 1895–96 rumors were printed that Cuddy was under consideration to be appointed superintendent of the Whittier State School for delinquent children, to succeed John Coffin.