The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-20
"CLUBBER" WILLIAMS.
Why the New York Herald Abuses the Best
Police Officer on the Force.

Why the New York Herald Abuses the Best
Police Officer on the Force.
Leander Richardson in ST. Paul Pioneer-PIess
Every now and then pick up a paper con-
tanning some sort of an attack on Captain Will
iams-"Clubher" Williams, these enemies Of his
delight to call him. 1t always makes me iudig-
nant, not that have any particular aversion TO
seeing people prodded up little, Journalistic
cally, now and then-for haven't. This shows
that appearances are deceiving, because nobody
would dream that liked to folks hauled
over the Goals now and then. But this attack
on Captain Williams is played out. 1t has made
him celebrated in New York, and. indeed, pretty
that kind of celebrity wouldn't be very wei
come, perhaps. But Williams is one OF
those chaps who are moved by the sublime
spirit of dOn't-care-a-cuss; and the more he is
sailed into the less 1t worries him. He is uniFer,
sally held up to the public gaze as a ruian Of
the deepest dye, always going around with the
body to thump over the head with it, In reality
he ls-well I'll tell you about him.
A few years ago James Gordon Bennett full
OF animal spiriIs, and alcoholic spirits as well.
was going down Broadway about O'Clock one
morning in a carriage. The horses were run
ming at the top OF their speed, and Bennett was
yelling at the apex of his voice. You have
probably heard of men doing such things in
mining camps, but yOu probably share the popu-
lar prejudice against Introducing similar Gus
toms into civilized life. Well, Captain Williams
then an unknown officer, heard the racket and
stopped the horses; Bennett pushed his red
face out of the window, and when the Captain
told him o go quietly home like respectable
citizen, he swore and shouted that be would do
just he pleased. Captain Williams said he
guessed not, and Bennett replied that he was the
owner of the Herald aud wouldn't he dictated
TO. Williams SAID he didn't give "a darn who lie
was; he must go home or TO the station-house.
There was a brief fight, and James Gordon Ben
nett, limp as rag from of the best thrash
1ngs ever administered to anybody spent
the night in cell He sw0re he
would "oreak' Captain Williams. and
with the help Of the Sun he began his
crusade. Williams had the worst work in New
rto 10
men would always be found in the front row
Consequently, If anybody got hurt. the Herald
or Sun We're mighty careful to give Williams the
credit OF having done the clubbing. After a
while they got to crowding williams pretty
hard, and one day he retained as his counsel, a
notorious lawyer who was on the staff of the
Sun. IL is an odd coincidence that the Journal
istic luminary Immediately ceased to attack
Capt Williams About this time he was trans
ferred to tue street department, as q complO-
mise; and the Herald let up on him, too.
He remained in the street department one
worst In New I ork, was placed in the hands of
another captain, and the rOughs ran
wild all Overt. 1t soon became evident fhat there
was only one man on the force who was cana
BILE of managing that section of the city It was
a pandemonilm during the whole year of Will
Jams absence. The authorities were glad
enough to put him back, and YOU NAV be sure
all the newspapers of New York eouldn't root
him out again. He has theory that. to man
age criminals, they ought to be punched as
much as possible. SO he has not discouraged
certain classes from settling within hs own
reach. He knows they can't be STAMPED out al
together, and he would rather be able TO lay
hands on them when they are wanted than 10
nave them diffused through the whole city.
He is big fine looking man, strong as an
OK. ana as full of courage the pluckiest ma n
that ever walked. He is never off duty but al
ways stroliDg about in ciuzen's clothes, keen
ing sharp eye on things in his precinct. His
men are the best disciplined of any in New York
aud they think HIM "a sort OF deni-gOd As for
clubbing, nonsense! When a man can strike =
blow with his fiat that ia like the kick of null
ticharge mule, what's the use of a clabl Will
Jams Is the best officer in New York. and there
isn't an unmauly item in his makeup. He has
atfronted Bennett again while in the pursuit of
duty since returning to his post This know
But Bennett hadn't the nerve TO go after him
again. Men who are steadily abused in the
newspapers usually have good points. Williams
fairly bristles with them.