Judge — August 19, 1882 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic from *Judge* magazine mocks the New York Police Department's self-designation as "the Finest." The narrative follows Officer Mulholland's struggle to capture a belligerent goat belonging to Mrs. Mulcahey in Shantytown (a poor neighborhood, likely Irish immigrant area). The humor contrasts the police's grandiose reputation against the absurd reality of an officer battling a farm animal—suggesting the NYPD's actual competence falls far short of their boastful claims. The sequential panels show escalating chaos as the goat outwits the officer, undermining the force's prestige. The "strategy and final success" caption is ironic, given the comedic disaster depicted. This reflects contemporary skepticism about police effectiveness and class-based satire about working-class neighborhoods.