Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-26
RANK AND FILE
GETTING PEEV|SH
Signs OF That Tired Feeling in
Evidence al Police Head
Quarters.
BLIND BECKSTEAD'S REWARD
Sergeant who Could Not See the
Stockade. Promoted over Several
Hcads---Two Detectives Resign.

Belle London. who In private life
seeks 10 Doe known as Mrs. Dora h.
Topham. the Jealous ruler Of SAL
Lakes underworld and the mistress Of
the police department last night dis
pensed her queenly favor and disfavor
through the city council and the CHIEF
of police
Police Sergt r. NJ Beckstcad, who
few weeks ago was given total OF 4l3
warrants % arrest 20 serve upon in
mates Of the stockade. but who after
nights Of dreary searching In tho APP
pointed hour OF darkness could find
nothing but the bare walls and empty
rooms OF tho stockade was last night
promoted to the position Of chief Of
detectives-this being his reward for his
activity In the stockade affairs
Detective p. c. Howell, who was defe-
llct in his duty Of driving negro wom-
en- into the cribs and houses controlled
by Belle London followed the path Of
former chief Of Detectives George A.
sheets-he was given the opportunity
TO resign.
The near upheaVal occurring within
the ranks Of the police department hrst
lnauc pubic through the ACTION OF iHe
council last night upon the recommends
alton OF Chief OF Police $. NJ. Barlow
this morning caused a shock OF surprise
within the departments rank and file
that gradually simmcred into spirit
that, unexpressod, yet means dissensiVn.
WITH SUBMISSIVE MEN.
As In the case OF the resignation OF
George Sheets, no one viii speak and
the chief Of police Is the most reticent
of ALL bearing the air OF the submits
sive servant who has simply done what
he was ordered 60 do, and withou;
question.
while former Sorgt Beckstead now
chief of detectives, has been an eff-
cient and faithful officer, II Is wondered
why he was promoted to be chief OF the
detectives. He entered the service OF
the police department as patrolman
Marsh 49, 1906. and was promoted to
be sergeant Sept ?s 1908. His duties
have always been that of a street Of
ficer. and he has never been looked up
on In the light OF a detective, HIS
latest duty. and the one that brought
him into the favorable notice OF the
department was his failure to be able
20 serve the ii3 warrants issued against
the inmates of the stockade. During
city Atty Dininnys crusade against
Belle London. and the daily Issuance
OF patches Of 10 and 20 warrants, sergt
Bcckstead was entrusted WIN their
service. and always strangely enough
between the hours Of 10 and III o'clock
at night found the stockade closed AZ
all other hours of the day and night
the stockade was wide open.
CARELESS MIR. HOWELL.
Detective +. c. Howell was less for
tunate In the graccs OF Belle london
and the chief OF police. Mr. Howell
Ia
circles had been a little too negligent
in forcing colored fallen women to
abandon their uptown homes and live
within Belle London's police protected
stockade After short conference win
the chief OF police yesterday Mr.. How
ell. like Mr.. Sheets, handed In his resig-
nation
Detective Harry ]. Curran was also
too inactive TO suit the fancy Of the
police department as dictated TO by the
within OF Belle London. and he too
handed In his resignation.
So far no appointments have been
made TO MI the vacancies. II was IN
timated today that the successor TO
SerRt Beckstead would not he an
nounced until Monday. when the name
will be given to the council for ap-
proval. The names Of the mon 20 be
de,aII.a from the uniformed force to
the plain clothes squad will also not
no announced for few days. These
DAYS viii give Belle London and Chiet
OF Police Barlow sufficient time to
pick the men.
BUT WHAT'S THE USE.
In the meantime the best men. ana
tho real strength OF the department
are getting discouraged To the out
slider the system Is peculiar While
Sergt. Beckstead has been an ethcient
ofncer. vet there are others who have
given more service 10 the city. Sergt,
] ]. Roberts patroled beat 20 years
ago. entering the department. Jan :,
iaO0 He has been sergeant TOT tne
past seven years and Is now tho RAM
inr duty sergeant Scrgt. j. IL John-
atom outranks Beckstcad. having oeeh
ON the force FOR over 10 years IN tne
detective department, the men whoil
no win command Mr.. Beckstead IS al
most a stranger among such veiors an
as George Chase, Ed Janney ana oth
ers In the ranks there are uniiornleu
natrolnen who have served years ne
Tore chief OF Detectives Beckstead on
tered the service of the citN-hut men,
thev didn't have the chance OF avoiding
The closing Of the stockade under war
of arrest