290:. He spent the next three years in other poor high-crime areas using his aggressive "rough-and-ready" policing methods until September 30, 1876, when he was transferred to the West 13th Street Station. The precinct was one of the most important posts in the city, being the center of the Broadway's night clubs, gambling resorts and "disorderly houses". Referring to the increased amount of bribes he would receive for police protection of both legitimate and illegitimate businesses there – especially the many
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261:, then a dangerous and high-crime area, commonly known as "a district infested with crooks and thugs of all description". Williams quickly gained a reputation as a fearsome fighter, in a time when several police officers had been carried off in ambulances during their beat, and eventually became known as "Clubber Williams". Two days after his arrival in the
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on May 24, 1895 decided that
Williams would be retired on a yearly pension of $ 1,750. In the fall, Williams unsuccessfully ran for State Senator in the Twelfth District where he had formerly been an inspector. He later went into the insurance business where he was said to have been very successful.
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was
Williams' administration in the Tenderloin district. Claims that Williams had received money from gamblers and brothel keepers were supported by testimony from Max Schmittenberger, now a Chief Inspector, who stated before the committee that he himself had collected regular payments and turned it
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from the
Florence Saloon. In his first three years in the district, it was said that "it was a dull day that did not find him with at least one row in his hands". He was made a roundsman on July 10, 1871, and then appointed to sergeant on September 23 whereupon he was assigned to lead the then newly
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who had used his nickname "Clubber
Williams" in a derogatory fashion towards his police record. Williams issued a public statement in defense of his near 30-year career on the force. "Just ask the Mayor if he can point to a single person I ever clubbed that did not deserve it. He can't name one and
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His involvement in other underworld "interests" were uncovered during the investigation and
Williams was called to testify. He claimed that he had acted against some "disorderly houses", but was unable to recall the names or addresses, while he had allowed others to continue operating because they
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both serving as his wardmen, and was briefly detailed as
Superintendent of Street Cleaning until his return on June 15, 1881. Despite being brought up on charges eighteen times, Williams was always acquitted by the Board of Police Commissioners and remained in charge of the district until his
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Williams, 'Ex-Czar' Of
Tenderloin, Dies; Picturesque Former Inspector of Police Gave the District Its Sobriquet. Figured In Lexow Inquiry; Retired on Pension After That;-Noted for His Love of a Fight; 77 Years Old. He Never Shunned a Fight. Appearance Before
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for all I know". Williams angrily told the commissioner he could keep the job and stormed out of his office. Impressed with
Williams show of force, he sent for Williams to be brought back and was immediately given a position as a patrolman.
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among others. He was reportedly the first
Westerner to lay the keel of a sailing ship in Japan. Returning to the United States, he was employed by the government and was engaged in raising a sunken ship off the coast of Florida.
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In the aftermath of the Lexow investigation, it was widely speculated that
Williams would be charged with corruption. Williams was never brought to trial, but a meeting of the three Police Commissioners headed by
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at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters to personally request a commission as a patrolman. Bergen however, without any way to confirm his identity, pointed this fact out remarking that "You may be a convict from
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Farewell To Williams; Retired from the Police Force at His Own Request. Rumors That Byrnes Will Withdraw, The Chief of Police Will Not Discuss Rumors About Himself -- Williams's Varied Record as a Policeman
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Williams died at his West 95th Street home on the afternoon of March 25, 1917. He was survived by his wife and two sons, all of whom were with him at the time of his death, and he was buried at
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area, he picked a fight with two local toughs and attacked them single-handed. Knocking them both unconscious with his club, the fight ended when he threw both of them through a
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promotion to inspector in August 1887. In response to frequent criticism of
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ever since I've been on the force, and now I'm going to have a bit of
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