The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-17
FAKE POLICEMAN, CAUGHT
BLEEDING WOMEN, DEFIANT
LET Police Look Me Up" He
Says-Jeffries Would Make
Charge Serious

Police Justice Jeffries was sc
aroused, Thursday, by a recital of the
charges against Benjamin Gavord
charged with impersonating All off
Ger and preying on women OF the
street. and other women whose in
discretions made them fearful of ar
rest. that he offered to issue a war
rant charging the man with serious
crime, with life Imprisonment as the
limit, for his conduct toward Mrs
Pearl Byram, widow, living on
Adams-ave
Detectives Wilson and Black who
cleverly trapped Gavord, through his
persecution of Mrs. Byram, asked
only for warrant charging the fel
low with impersonating an officer
Jeffries pointed out that Gavord, mold
ing threats OF arrest and disgract
over the woman, forced her to accept
his advances, and that the law $500
that such conduct is the same as an
actual attack.
The detectives accepted the war
rant charging the lesser crime Gayord
pleaded not guilty. He will have a
hearing. May 81, and his bail was
fixed at $500 in two sureties.
Gavord, 30 years old, fell into a
trap set by Detectives Wilson and
Black. Wednesday night. after oper-
ating for four months on the streets
Of Detroit.
Gavord. typical parasite, who was
numerically scored by Police Capt.
Baker picked up a large amount OF
hush money" which can only be esti-
mated, by posing as a police officer in
plain clothes, and flashing a badge on
heightened women who fell into his
clutches.
For the last four months, Capt.
Baker has been receiving reports OF
the activities OF this man, some OF the
complaints coming from notorious wo'
men OF the streets. and others from
indiscreet young women who were
scared almost into Mysteries by the
pseudo officer, when caught in street
Irritation.
His method was to drag the fright
ened woman away from her chance ac-
quaintance, the latter always sneak-
ing of, habit OF the breed. Then
Gavord would start the Woman to-
ward the central station, and tell her
that he would lock her up. His offers
of settling" the case by a payment
of So or so, would always be accepted
If the woman had that much money,
and if she didn't she would give him
what she had.
The mans downfall followed his
brazen persecution OF Mrs. Pearl BY
ram, a young widow, living on Adams
ave. who paid him S.. Monday night,
to avoid the notoriety OF an arrest,
after she had met an acquaintance on
the street. He flashed a badge on tho
woman, and told her he was detailed
TO clear the streets Of women who
could not give a good account OF them.
selves.
money" he demanded the woman's
address, intending to force his atten-
tons upon her, but she moved away
to elude him. He learned her new
address, and wrote her a letter,
commanding" her to meet him at the
postoff1ce. She reported the matter
to the police and Detectives Wilson
and Black had her meet the fellow,
while they watched, few steps
distant, and pounced upon him after
he had talked with the woman for a
few minutes.
Gavord whined that he could not
get work, and needed money to sup
port a sick wife and several children.
Gavord's badge was a deputy sber
IFS badge of Kings county, n Y,
No. 291, and stamped "1908190S" He
was defiant when questioned in po-
Iica pnurt and said 81 OF the uOlicp
look me up If they think they can
hang anything on me-"
lie had told Detective Black that
he has wife and three children IT.
Bay City, and that his wife is ILL eX-
pecting to go to hospital any minute,
The police have been receiving re.
ports OF Badge No. 29l' since last
fall. Detective Black declares.