Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-27

HIS WAYS ARE ALL DARK

EnrroE GnAsp RArfps HxsAIp-In
ordef fully TO sho~ up the evil influence
Charles II. Bender has exefied upoL the
police department il will he necessary 10
go back about twelve month. or 70 .
period 1t time just preceding the APP
pointment of Mr.. Eastman 10 his third
term
Then. A. nov. Bender vas . member
OF the police and fire commissioners and
Webb held his present position. Al this
date Bender wss on terms Of intimacy
with Superintendent Eastman and al
most q daily visitor. Sergeant Webb
was also sycophartic admircr Of Su-
perintendent Eastman and never neg
lected to do him honor or 10 perform
those little acts % courtesy which we all
appreciate when coming from the hands
81 friend. A sort Of triangular mutual
admiration society was fostercd by Ben.
der and Webb. and for time Superin-
tendent Eastman seemed TO he az plastic
IN their hands N molders' clay in tho
hands Of = sculptor. The trinity was
viewed with alarm by many and by none
with grayer apprehensions than Mr..
Stuart. who was elected mayor while
this friendship was ut its hight
With the good OF the community at
heart. and knowing that the good
of the community could be best
served by a police depart
ment efficient and free from internal
dissensions. he gave much thought
as to the manner Of man he should APP
point 10 succeed - -. the retiring
member 81 the board 81 police and fire
commissioners. To this end he con-
suited with his friends and was advised
by them TO select q man familiar with
the duties Of the board. A man occu-
plying SO high social and financial posi-
tion that his motives could not be i'm
pugned. and above all a man who could
not be sgayed by such one as Bender.
In L. IL. Whitney all the qualities desired
were found, and he was appointed.
Later on Messrs Bender and Webb sug-
gesfed To Superintendent Eastman the
ACCESSIBILITY OF recommending for APP
pointment on the force men who could
be depended upon. in political emer-
gency. The suggestions merged into
advice. and finally Bender resorted 10
threats TO accomplish his object said
Superintendent Eastman. Finding that
suggestions, advice or threats would not
avail him. he resorted 10 the tactics Of a
poltroon. and began in petty manner
to make Mr.. Eastman's position uncom-
Portable. To such lengths did he go
that at board meetings Bender rcsorted
not only to insult but TO inuendo.
From this time on the plot thickened.
Sheriff Mcqueen and Sergeant Webb
-.
many evenings in each others company.
either at the old station, i'm the Jail, in
the sheriif's office or.in the new police
station. Bender knew If these meet
ings. because he attended them, and he
knew that the board privately warned
Sergeant Webb against leaving the sta
ton while on duty. Under Sheriff
Walsh was also in on the ground floor.
and Bcnder's echo prided himself on be-
inc familiar with the efforts being made
10 convert the police department into a
political machine. To do this II was
first deemed necessary 10 secure East
mans scalp. then the scheme was To
hoist Walsh into Eastman's place The
decapitation OF Hurley. who had proved
himself thorn in their flesh. was to fol-
low. and IN the end Captain johnson
was b be deposed. in order 10 make
roori for Webb. Mcqueen did not an
ticipate defeat at the polls and this
calamity Ito them) somewhat upset
agreed upon plans Had Mcqueen been
successful. a little Tammany would have
been born. and Bender fully expected 10
be it's Croker. After McQueens defeat.
Billy Walsh. in speaking one
day OF his future prospects, said:
II have an offer to 60 on
the road az a travelling salesman, but il
accept IL i am afraid / williosc much
better position On being asked what
he meant he replied. Superintendent Of
the police In surprise his questioner
asked him what grounds he had for ex-
pecting the position and he answered
frankly enough: Eastman is no good.
and II he don't resign be will be asked
10. and / am pretty sure 30 get his
place At no time since Mr.. Bender
has been on the board has he ceased to
plot and scheme 10 make Of the police
department a political mashne. lie
has gone SO far as IN hint at dissensions
which existed only in his disordered
brain. II the party 60 whom he spoke
~ these nissensions seemed incrcdnl0ue.
Mr. Bender has never hesitated 70 refer
10 HE echo for veriiication. and IL in
crcdulity etill remained Mr.. Webb was
unhcsitatingly referred "a. Further
than this. every leak published in The
Morning Press which could in any way
reflect upon Mr. Hurley IL directly trace.
able To Mr. Bender. Mr.. Benders echo.
OF Alr. Webb. and evcry leak that occurs
today may be easily traced TO one q,
these three sources Mr.. Webb may do
as be Ikea providing he does not 81 ia
an extreme or fragrant length. with ina.
puniiy. well knowing that Mr. Bender
will bcfrlend him aud keep him in IL
possible.
From this sketch the slippers unctions.
deceiiful and two faced remark ~ Bon
der when he seessp.icd Mr. Whitley :
motion 10 accept Superintendent East
mans resignation takee On doutie
meaning aud reveals The ciovfn hoof II
an nncuscionsils srhcmer Il IA
not Question Superintendent Eastman =
honesty. hat De - rot oeseees'sd 20 iho@o
peculiar qualities man ~ thls heal II a
police department should hart.r Study
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