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M. C. Binion

M. C. Binion, Former Police Chief, Dies

Veteran Was Pioneer in Peace Office Fork

February 8, 1941—Daily Oklahoman—One of the best known peace officers in Oklahoma, Martin Cavett Binion, died at his home, 1125 Northwest Twenty-fourth street Friday afternoon of a heart ailment. Twenty minutes before his death he complained to his wife of a pain in his side.

Binion, 75 years old, was at one time Oklahoma county sheriff, deputy United State Marshal, federal prohibition agent, and chief of police here three times. He ended nearly 40 years’ police duty when he retired June 1, 1939, because of ill health. Shortly afterwards he underwent an operation and since then had enjoyed the best health he had known in 20 years.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, M. C. jr., Chickasha; and Deale B., Omaha, Nebraska; four daughters, Mrs. C. R. Harriman, Larchmont, N. Y.’ Mrs. M. E. Newman, 2613 North Shartel; Mrs. Robert E. Cooper, Kansas City, Missouri; and Mrs. W. R. Pittinger; two brothers, Clayte, and Non, both of Lufkin, Texas, and five grand children. Arrangements are in charge of Garrison funeral home.

The first to pay tribute to the veteran officer was Frank Smith, police chief. “I regret ever much to hear of the passing of Binion,” Smith said. “Oklahoma City not only lost a fine officer, but a good clean citizen. He was a fine man.”

40 Years a Peace Officer Binion Went All The Way

February 8, 1941—Daily Oklahoman--Insurance agent, deputy United States marshal, and for many years a deputy sheriff and member of the city police force worked through the transition period in police work.

For nearly 40 of his 75 years he served as a peace officer. He began in the two gun era and worked until the scientific crime detection of the G-men had become the criterion of officers the country over. He resigned June 1, 1939, because of ill health.

At the time of his resignation he was jailer at the city clinic. Before that he was traffic arrant officer until the spring of 1939.

Big, quiet Binion, a broth of a man who tipped the scales at 200 pounds, fell heir to the job of police chief in 1921 under the hectic reign of May Jack Walton. After four months he resigned, accusing Walton of taking control of the department and ruining discipline of the officers.

Not for $1,000 a Day

Walton reinstated appointees whom Binion had fired for disobedience. When a citizens’ committee asked the slouch hated, cigar chewing chief to remain in office, he replied:

“I wouldn’t work for Jack Walton for $1,000 a day!”

During the time Mike Donnelly, city commissioner, filled out the unexpired term of Mayor Walton, elected governor. Binion served again as chief of police for four moths in 1923. His third time in the chief’s seat was under E. M. Fry, city manager, from 1927 to May 1928 when he was reduced to a detective.

Coming to Oklahoma from Texas in the 189’s Binion began peach officer work as a deputy sheriff at Luther. Later he moved to Oklahoma City and was a deputy under Sheriffs George and Harve Garrison. In 1910 he held the office of sheriff for five months when Harve Garrison was removed from office, then returned to his old job as deputy when Garrison was reinstated.

Twice Elected Sheriff

Twice he was elected sheriff, in 1912 and in 1914. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 1910 and again in 1928.

He was a deputy United States Marshal, and in 1921 was appointed head of the federal liquor enforcement group here, the job he resigned to become chief of police the first time. Again from 1923 to 1926 he was a deputy sheriff, and then worked two years as an insurance agent.

He first joined the police department more than 30 years ago, and was in the department at various times for an aggregate of more than 20 yeas service. In that time he held every rank in the department from patrolman to chief.

“Binion didn’t like to use a gun but he could if the occasion demanded.”

M. C. Binion

John G. Heep, 26151/2 North Douglas Avenue, who was a fellow deputy sheriff with Binion recalled.

Only Killed One Man

It was Binion’s boast that he had to kill only one man in his long career as an officer. That man was Otis Tillman, Negro, and a former convict wanted for a series of forgeries.

Binion and his partner, Charles York, veteran policeman, in 1933 cornered the suspect in a rooming house at Grand and Geary avenues. When the Negro fatally shot York and prepared to fire a second shot, Binion killed him.

Of the old school of officers, Binion believed a couple of good informers were worth more than a laboratory full of science. Nor was he ever sold on natty uniforms and specialization for policemen. His idea of a policeman was one who was a patrolman, traffic officer detective, or whatever the occasion demanded.

Friends recalled that he was one of the most conscientious members of the department. Often when he considered it necessary when he was traffic warrant officer, he would go out early in the morning, regardless of his hours of assigned duty, to serve papers