The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-29
BENEFITS BREAK.
He Attempts to Arrest
Napoleon Wells.
The Trouble the Outgrowth of Past
DifficuIties-The Prisoner Released
on His Own Recognizance.


on His Own Rec0gnizance.
Charles r. Bennett, the special officer of
the Society for the Prevention of Vice, is
again in trouble, and this time he will in all
probability be requested to shed the star
behind which he has heretofore sheltered
himself when called to book for his acts
Yesterday morning Bennett attempted to
arrest Napoleon Wells. a commercial trav-
eler, at the ferry landing, but Wells denied
his authority to do so and Bennett then
appealed to Officer DOwd. who was on duty
al the ferry, and with whom Wells will
insly went to the old City Hall station. At
the station Bennett put charge of using
vulgar language against Wells, claiming
that while coming over on the ferry boat
the latter had called him vile name. Wells
denied the charge and then Bennett de-
manded that the prisoner be searched.
Wells at once signihed his willingness to
submit TO any rules OF the regular police,
but warned Bennett to keep his hands off
his person and then took revolver from
his pocket and handed 1t to the desk ser
geant, saying. Il am travelling man and
entitled 10 carry pistol
Bennett then began to buster, and de-
manded that charge OF carrying a con-
cealed weapon be placed against Wells.
This the desk sergeant refused TO listen
To. and Bennett rushed upstairs 10
Clerk of Police Hall. 10 whom he said that
Wells had threatened his life. WAS a danger
Gus character, etc. and persuaded Mr.. Hall
into ordering the man detained on the ad-
ditinnal chargs of carrying a concealed
weapon. Bennett left tile station chuck
ling, and Wells prepared 10 submit to I'M
prsOnment until he could send word to
friends and get bail, when word came from
Judge & nian to release him Oh Ills own
recugnizance, which was done. In other
words, the upstairs Office Investigated mat.
tiers. and when they found that Bennett was
the alleged officer making the arrest his
prisoner was turned loose.
The police are indignant at Benefits &C
ton in abusing the privilege granted him to
wear special" star, aud say il is not the
FIRST time he has used 1t illegally as badge
of police authority.
As soon as Wells was released, and that
was in ten minutes after his arrest, he asked
the reporters and others the privilege OF
making statement concerning Bennett
and the arrest, which he wanted them TO
verify before using. His statement, cor
TO bOrated, Is as follows:
The trouble between this man Bennett
and myself dates back for more than a year.
Some time ago | was unfortunate in having
domestic troubles ending in a separation OF
myself and wife. Later on | became con-
viuced that my wife was not the proper
person to have the care of our little boy,
and | took the child on the street in De-
trot, Mich, one day, and brought him to
California with me. Ny wife employed
detectives TO follow me here and III
some way Bennett was hired by
them TO do the dirty work they
were unwilling to undertake. A suit
for possession of the child followed, and
finally, after being carried TO the Supreme
Court of this State. | was ordered to return
the child to Its mother. which | did. l
thought nothing more about Bennett, sup
posing Of course that be, like the others
engaged by my wife. would let me alone
alter she had won the suit
But Bennett wasn't willing to do that.
He has been bounding me ever since, and
TO avoid trouble aud notOrety | have made
no complaint, being satisfied to let the peo-
pie Judge between the statements made by
man bearing Benefits reputation and
those of reputable business men who know
me we'll. Bennett went TO Wellman, Peck
& Co.'S and tried TO get my mail, telling
them | had sent him for IL. lie went TO
friends OF mine In OAKLAND and tried TO get
them 10 admit i was an immoral man, and
when they denied 1t told them that he had
visited d sreputable houses with me, which
was an Infamous lie. He went to Captain
Peterson of Oakland and DETAINED my char
acter. He tried to blacken the char
acters of two well K known young la
dies at whose homo | had visited
with my little boy, aud l am willing 60
swear that two purer, better girls DO not
live. He logged me about and even iostled
me 10 try to draw me into trouble, but
failed. All this | have stood from Bennett
because ! nm going TO commence a suit
in Cincinnati soon, and / knew his object
N mn Il
possible, to send back East.
This morning Bennett came over on the
boat with me. AS soon as he spied me be
began his old tricks of running against me,
stepping on my heels, etc. AS usual paid
no attention TO him. / intended taking the
train for San Jose, where | was going on
business, and | had my revolver in my
pocket. AS the boat approached the city
Bennett came up TO Inc and said: You'll
go with me- No, | won't | answered.
4 would consider myself forever disgraced
if | was seen on the street with you'
These were the first words spoken between
US, and when | replied Bennett showed his
star, said he was an officer ard
that | would have Il TO 90 with him.
told him | cared nothing for his star, that
he might have come by it dishonesty. but
that | was willing to accompany any reeu-
lar officer to the station. As we got off the
boat he called Officer Dowd. and / at once
submitted to arrest. Bennett saws called
hun vile name and threatened his life.
Neither statement is true. | never use vile
language OF any kind. and so far as threat
ening him with my revolver. Why If wanted
to kill miserable wretch like he is would
take a darning-needle or a safetv-pin aud
not waste powder and shot,
What do you propose to do about the
matter2" was asked.
Il intend to arrest Bennett for false i'm
prsonment and also bring his case before
Gomnl oaEi
special star be taken from him."
1t is probable that in the latter matter
Wells will receive some support from the
Police Department, with whom Bennett is
anything but favorite, a mum Der of detec-
tives openly stating that his possession of a
star at all is Il menace TO the work of the
department.