Smyrna times., 1857-05-27
Original artttle,
THE SCIENCE OF DETECTION.

A SOLUTION OF THE NEWBURG MUIR
DER.
There seems to be connected with the human
mind, certain faculty-separate, distinct and
disconnected from all other faculties and organs
OF the brain--denominated by phrenologists
Secretireness. 1t has the pecuIarity of being,
in some of its operations. independent of all
other organs. II requires not the aid of other
faculties in the execution of deeds pertaining
to its province. The action of this faculty of
SecretiVeness is required, to constitute a man
u til EFF For instance, a man may be so de-
PRAYED or necessliated as to appropriate the
property of others to his own use but the mere
act of takin9 this property does not constitute
hun Il tibet Ia the fullest sense Of The word.-
In taking this prOperty--in the mere act of TAX
Dg it-he is not necessarily obliged to exercise
this organ Of Secretveness, and hence he is
not a thief, bot rObJer. In thls, he makes
use of other faculties, but the organ of secre-
tiVeness is allowed to remain inactive, and he
does not become a thief until, in the desire to
cOnceal this property, and prevent its rightful
owner from discovering the person who depriV-
ed him OF it, he exercises this organ.
We have said that this organ acts indepen-
denlly. But we DO not wish 10 be understood as
declaring this independence to be always atten-
dent upon its action, or that, by calling in the
aid OF other faculties, this organ is not strength
Gned aud made more effective. If man steals
coat aud conceals il, the desire to conceal il
originates with this organ. Here is its indie.
pendent action. We will here make four de-
CIarations in regard to this subject, which it is
necessary, Tor a deiectoc of secret crimes, to
understand:
lst. This organ or faculty exists in the brain
Of every man.
2I. lis Independent action (Which we have
iustrated) in the case Of all individuals is ex-
hclly the same and cannot be otherwise.
81. Its dependent action is totally different;
and is, in two cases, the same; fer no two men
possess other faculties exactly the same; al
Oh ugh this organ is the same in all-the aid
iag action of other facilities constituting the
dependant action of this.
An. To ascertain its dependent action in any
given case, We must measure what Phrenolo-
gisis would call the "capacity Of the brain,"
considered abstractly in each case; or, TO be
plain, if we wish to discover the stolen and
concealed prof. erty. we must measure the thief
that is, the supposed thief-as if he were
not a IhieG--we must look at his mental capa-
ely from which his organ of secretiyeness de-
rives its dependent action.
Now. we will suppose man stealthily ap-
PrOpriates the property of another and conccals
it. 10 hiding it he uses the same means and
conceals it in the same place as any other man
wi b precisely the same mental development
and organization would under precisely the
same ecircumslances-use or select. Well, now,
suppose again that the man from whom the pro-
periy has been stolen, is a man of the nearest
possible similarity 10 the thief, and wishes to
discover the place where, and the means by
which his property is eoncealed how does he
act! or, rather, how should he act! The an
swer depends entirely on his knowledge of hu-
man nature. lfhe is aware of or believes, OuI
first proposition, that il" the organ of secretive
hess exists in all men," and our second " thai
its independent action is precisely the same ii
all men," he will ask himself the question
What would do-how would Iact-if had
stolen this property from the man who stole il
from mel Aad the answer that will, ultimate
Iy if not at once. suggest itself 10 his mind
will lead directly to the recovery of his pro-
perty. For inst as he, the assumed thief, viii
aei, so also it is probable the real thief did act
just where he will conceal the property, il
where the real thief concealed it. If the thief
on getting possession. had put it into his boot
to conceal ii, the rightful owner will find. OF
attempting 10 discover it by assuming himsel
30 be the thief, that the FIRST idea that enter
his mind after supposing himself 10 have takei
the properly will be the idea Of cOnceaIment
Aud this, Of course, was the first idea that en-
tered the mind of the real thief! The mex
flea will be the manper and place of conceal
meat Surrounded by the same circumstances
and Of this there must be certainty-as tn
real thief was. the same place and means wi
suggest themselves TO his mind Now, if th
assumed thief will examine the real thief
boots and stockings, he will, unless the fea
thief had Aime TO transfer it--and this. q
course. will not be overlooked by the deiecio
find his stolen property tberelqsig0t
lHo rtqf