Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-03
AWFUL TALES
Women Take Part in the Police
Investigation.
NIGHT CAPTAIN GRAVELY ACCUSED

Mayor K 40 and the Committee Hear Sem
sstional and Kepulsive Stores Concerning
the Conduct Of Capt. Bender Behind
Closed Doors.
More stories rejecting n the char
acter CT Night Captain John Bender
were related to Mayor Knox and the
health and police committee last
night. Some of them we're told by
women and are too revolving to per-
nit OF publication.
The investigation is being held in
the chief executives Office On the Sec
ond floor of the city hail, the inter-
Tor precincts of which one not di-
rectly interested in the affair is not
allowed to invade. The investiga-
ton is being held behind closed
doors, while the lights in the ad join
ing hallway are lowered while the
committee is listening to the reveia-
tions, that the outside world may not
know what is going on in the affairs
OF the city OF Rock Island. New. =
paper reporters are prohibited from
invading the sanctity Of the solemn
conference. The occupants of the
sauctum last night were Mayor Knox,
Aids. Kennedy, Foss, and Winter,
composing the health and police
committee. Chief OF Police E,zel, ex-
Officer Richard Carne-. Maj j. NJ
Beardsley and William Ulam. 1t Was
about IL O'Clock when the commit
tee had beard the stories of four peo-
pie who accuse the night captain Of
different oifenses-but mainly Of ex-
torting money from them under
threat Of incarceration.
| Maj. Beardsley was before the
committee representing Carnes. Mr.
Ulam WAS there to corroborate an
accusation which Carnes made
against BENDER in his statement To
the city council few weeks ago. as
a result of which the investigation
now on was ordered. MIR. Ulam said
a woman named Minnie Munsou had
been arrested one night and that
Bender came to him and asked him
to hand over $40 ant he would re.
lease he. Uism said he would give
IS, and the money was paid over,
Bender making him promise that he
would tell no one of the transaction
Then the woman was released.
Stories of Three Women.
Sworn statements from three
women were read to the committee
Emma Stikes stated that Bender
met her at the corner of Third ave.
nue. and Seventeenth street one
night shortly before midnight and
asked her if she had any money
She claims to have rep id that she
had IS 50 and took the amount from
her pocket aud showed il to him,
and that he took the IS.
Clara Alexander stated that Ben
der also made her dig up IS once un.
der a threat Of arrest; and that he
asked her for money on several diff
ferent occasions and when she would
inform him that she was financially
EN- barrsssed he would tell her to Oct
out and hustle.
Maud Miller accused Bender OF
still more scandalous conduct at the
station.
The statements - the three be.
0"Oih W
were submitted by MAJ. Beardsley.
The alleged robbing of an old gen
tleman who had fallen in the river last
winter was also brought up. Chief
Etzel said that the man had told him
that Bender had given back his dol
lar before he left the station. All
these alleged offenses are claimed 10
| have haan IN n, m;ffoI xpb;la uo,Iox
was night captain. The committee
adjourned until Friday evening.
We propose 20 60 down 10 the
bottom OF these matters" said the
mayor. land investigate them thor
oughly and impartially. Any Off
Ger, it makes no difference who he is,
who is proven unworthy Of the posi-.
tion by reason OF improper conduct,
shall be dismissed. But not until
lall T..