New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-13
THE DETECTIVE POLICE.

THE DETECTIVE POLICE.
Mr.. Superintendent Kennedy, in his report to
| the Police Commissioners, cOniesses that the de-
tectiye arm of the Department is far less efficient
than it ought to be- We perfectly agree in this con-
cusion and in view Of the facts, believe it ought
to be thoroughly reorganized, or abolished alto
| gether. As it now exists, it is simply an expen'
| sye machine for catching pickpockets and recov-
| ering the proceeds Of burglaries. But for the
| suppression of the grayest crimes against the
person, and the detection and apprehension of
| murderers, it is utterly valueless. SO far as We
know. its services are seldom or never called into
| requisiton in such cases. This delicate duty
| generally deyolyes upon the unskllliul Ward pa
tromen, and the result is that crimes against lfe
| as we demonstrated q short time since, go un-
punished in this city. Why the duty of finding
a stolen pocketbook, with few paltry dollars
| ia considered by our police authorities as of
greater consequence than the recovery of fugi-
tive felon, we cannot conceive yet such is appar-
emily the fact.
The detective force is under control of the
| General Superintendent and Deputy, and the
| Captain of the force; and each detective may, IN
| his discretion, enter upon any particular branch
| of duty, which an emergency may present. For
| instance, he may, as soon az the news reaches
| him, hasten to the scene of a murder, inspect
| the premises, note all the points which may af-
| ford any clue to the murderer, learn the name
| and haunts of the individual, and thus armed, be
prepared to go to work integently to bring
| the criminal 10 Justice. Instead of this, these
| detectives. who are selected and set apart on
account of their superior shrewdness and ability
| TO trace out secret crime are kept to look after
petty pilfcrers. That the men themselves find
| this business more profitable, we do not doubt,
for though debarred by the rules and regulations
| from receiving tees and rewards, they are al
| lowed to charge the persons whose property they
| 60 in search Of their " expenses" which we are
assured is generally made to cover handsome
| compensation for services. Thus, indirectly, the
| rules of The department are violated. We're these
men employed in furtheriDg the ends of justice,
| by tracking out the higher criminals, they would
OF course, have no such pecuniary incentive to
stimulate them TO extraordinary efforts.
| But, were the detectives to voluntarily enter
upon this work as the force is now organized,
| they would be regarded by the Ward patrolmen
as interfering with that which did not concern
| them, and taking the business out of the Ward
| officers hands. From this statement it is eyi-
| dent that there is great room for reform in the
management Of the detective Police and recent
events render it proper that this fact should be
| impressed upon the attention of the Police au-
| thorities.
In the ease of Mrs. Shancks, who wac SO bar
| barously murdered in her own store, in broad
| day light, on Friday morning last, in one of the
most frequented streets Of the city, the crime was
| discovered within an hour after its commission,
and the fact instantly telegraphed to the Central
| Police office. A dozen detectives were lOunging
around the fire, in the room adjoining the telegraph
office; yet not one volunteered, nor did their
superior officers consider it necessary 10 detail
single man to trace out the crime and its author.
| During the day, it is true one of the sergcants
| Of the force walked to the spot from curiosity,
! but he maintained mastery inactivity. The
| Ward police did what they could, but no efficient
measures were taken to prevent the fugitiye--the
Young carpenter, upon whom the weight Of sus.
|
] easily have been done so he remained at his
| home, within two blocks Of the scene of the
| murder, with the evidence of his guilt about his
| person, till the afternoon of the following day.
| Eventually he got away on an Erie railroad
| train, and was taken at Susquchanna three days
after by the local police on information
| derived from the New-York newspapers, i'll
stead Of in this city, where he had only
one hours start of the officers. In the case of
the Walton-Mathews double murder, the COM
panlon of Dir. Walton was taken to the Station
House, ard in very few minutes had told his
story to The captain of police and his officers.
There was then strong suspicion against
Charles Jeflerds az there is to-day, but the cap
tain Of the Ward neglected TO make any search
for him that night, or for his mother aud brother.
4 search for them was set on foot the following
day, but without success; and even when Charles
Jetierds did finally surrender himself he enc0un-
tered seriOus difficulties in getting into prison.
On the night of those murders no detective Off.
Ger was summoned To the scene, and none ap-
pGued the following day to assist in unrayeue
the mystery. After the lapse of several DAYS
their services were rendered, but before that
time all hope OF successfully tracking the assassin
had fed
in the Twenty second Ward in September last,
James farr"i VAS killed by John Fitzpatrick.
No detective Was engaged in tracing the murdor-
cr, aud nothing has been heard of him since.
The officers Of the Ward followed him closely,
bat he euded them at last Many other cases
might be eited where mudercrs have escaped
wiiIoui proper cHot iaing been made for their