The Detroit times., 1917-04-16
POLICE SPY
IS HELD As
GUN T0TER
X. ID. Williamson Is
Arraigned in
Police Court
SENT REPORTS
TO COMMISSIONER
COuzens Admits This
But Denies Hiring
Private Sleuth

r. d. Williamson. private detec-
tive and professional strike-breaker.
known TO union men OF Detroit as
Snake BYE" Williamson. was ar
raigned Saturday morning before
Police Justice Sellers on a charge
Of carrying concealed weapons.
Williamson. arrested for threaten
ing a man with a pistol Friday even.
ing at Michigan-ave. and Sixteenth
ST.. startled police circles by declsr-
ing he was the paid agent of Po-
lice Commissioner James Couzens.
engaged to spy on members Of the
Detroit police department
lie dared officers 10 lock him up.
and threatened them with dismissal
from the force. declaring he would
bring the wrath OF the commission
cr upon their heads
Justice Sellers fixed bail at $500,
two suretles. when Williamson
pleaded not guilty He set the date
OF the examination for April 90.
Williamson was ordered under ar
rest by Assistant Prosecutor Sid A.
Erwin. after he had stated In the
presence OF numerous officers that
he was police spy, and that he
had the goods" on several Iieuten-
ants and plain clothes officers He
said the commissioner promised
him $40 n day for his work and
that he already had submitted q bill
for 1870 10 the police department
for his services.
Did you get money from the
commissioner or from the depart.
ment7" he was asked Saturday.
Welt rye never done any work
for nothing yet" said the strike
breaker detective.
While Williamson was being VAR
rsigned Commissioner CouLens was
busy denying that he had promised
any money To the private sleuth.
AtN AuNlAAffh AihNNNFNt AuAA " AAltaAh-
son had sent Ia or 20 reports. re-
suits OF his Investigations. TO him.
~ never promised him any mon
ey." said Couzens. He came TO me
about .hree weeks ago and told me
lot Of stories about some of the
highest officers IN our department
including even Supt MarquardL |
told him 20 bring me in the proof
told him / did not want him 20
shadow any OF the men in this de
partment. ! made Il plain that
Was concerned with nothing but the
conduct OF officers since the time |
became commissioner
lie began sending in reports
about gambling operations. Yes.
did make use 81 these reports in a
way. read them and then | asked
Lieut. Hayes OF the cleanup squad.
abour the places referred TO in VII
hanson reports.
But only on one occasion did
williamson turn in report about
the personal conduct OF an officer.
That vas a piece OF second-handed
gossip and could not be proven.
when | saw all these reports
come In began 10 grow suspicious
/ aid asked Williamson the first
dine I met him what he wds going
to charge. He said. Whatever YOU
think It's worth Yesterday. after
he was arrested. asked him in the
presence OF Supt. Marquardt, Chief
of Detectives Fox and others wheth
or or not had ever promised him a
penny. showed him the bill his
company, the Metropolitan Detec-
tive agency. had sent to me.
"He said no agreement had been
made. and he said could tear the
bin up N wanted 10, and that's
about what propose to do, for he'll
not get a cent
Oficers OF the Metropolitan Detec.
tive agency Saturday morning de
MED that their firm had any connec.
ton with the operations Of Friday
afternoon and they admitted further
that they had no agreement with
Mr. CouZens.
Williamson was general manager
OF the detective agency. His ser.
vlees With this concern will cease
as soon as arrangements can be
made, according TO statement
made Saturday by r. T Sesberr
secretary-treasurer OF the agency
seeberE called upon Mr. Couzenr
md repudiated any connection with
Williamson's actions He admitted
he had forwarded the bill but SAID
that he did not authorize William
con TO do the work
Williamson says he pointed tn