Litchfield enquirer., 1869-10-14
toned without even a pretence being made

- - SA-~ SAAJ O,1AsO CdoND VA tA3 6dLuS crimes disposed of in all the courts during the same time. There seems enough here to make credible the assertion of the Su perintendent of Police. made during the heat of the last election canvass. that there were 10000 indictments quietly laid away in the office of the District Attorney: but whether that be true or not, there is Ger tainly sufficient in these unrelenting fig nres to warrant every official in New York. having to do in any way with criminals, in rising to personal explanation.
 These charges are of such serious char. upon UmcIai repot Gs, Cdty soetn Uo,sotnauu some specific cases as illustrations. All that used are of recent date, and are cnlled from 3 long list of similar cases. with view of showing not only the relations existing be- tween criminals and the authorities, but al- so of showing the audacity and adroitness of thieves as we'll as the general lack of conscience in dealing with one of the gray est matters of public concern.
 One of the latest cases on the books shows very clearly the enterprise of burglars and the methods of detect ives. A bank in Maryland was entered by burglars, and robbed of securities to the amount of $120,OO0. In due course of time, and by means which of course, have never been divulged, these securities were traced to New York, and to the possession of two notorious burglars. In it's prelimi- nary stages, the Case promised to be a praiseworthy exception to the rule in mod ern detective work, for the New York off cers schenied in an entirely legitimate way for the recovery of tine bonds and the cap ture of the thieves. No criminal was used as decoy, and no promise of immunity was made to any one. The burglars were patiently ''shadowed,' and by the employ ment of a regular broker their desire to sell the stolen securities was ascel tained. A suitable office was prepared, and the burglars finally invited to last meeting with the broker for the purpose of closing
 the transaction. They came according to and the officers, who were secreted in an adj joi ming room, spraag in upon them at the moment they were about to pass over the property. Thus far, the case was the first dawn of coming purity, and there was especial cause for congratu- lation, in the fact that honesty had proved the best policy. The capture of the burg lars with $99, 800 of the stolen bonds in their possession at the moment of arrest, afforded reasonable presumption that at least two of the great bond-robbers would now find their way to prison. But it was only presumption. and by no means a realized fact. As first step, the identity of the burglars was vigorously concealed by the officers under false names, and matters
 were then speedily arranged to the satis-
 faction of all immediately concerned. The success of the New York officers had divert ed from the Baltimore detective firm, first employed in the case, large reward offered for the recovery of the bonds; but there were still $2O,OO0 outstanding, and the Baltimore firm clutched at this rem nant with sharpened, because disappo1nt t. ed appetite. . A farce was then played by the adroit detectives, whereby it was made to appear that the burglars had waved their legal rights, and consented to return to Maryland for trial without the interven- ton of requisition from the Governor of that state; and the New York officials hav- ing taken a receipt for their bodies, Bal timore officer started with the captives for that city. The journey must have been ex- peditiously performed, and trial of mar veilous dispatch followed by a speedy for the ink was scarcely dsy on the New York receipt before both men had snapped the leashes of the law, and were promenading Broadway, unfettered and The apparent mystery is cas- lily solved by the Knowledge that the $20,- OOO had been recovered and the affair con- cluded to the satisfaction of everybody, ex- cept, perhaps, the public. whose laws had been outrageoously cheated. The robbers
 were couteut, for they had escaped the penalty of their crime; the detectives were hilarious, for they had pocketed over $16, 600 in rewards, aud thy bank was assured. y satisfied, as 1t had regained nearly all of It's property at reasonable price.
 As anotner instance of detective work
 may be cited a case where no q lestioa of money was involved, but the officer entor- ed into a covenant with a thief merely to oblige friend. A gentleman having lost his watch, reported tue fact at the Central F 'iice Office, and expressed great anxiety to regain It, as it was an old famlly posses slon. Tnereupon the official in charge sent for noted thief, stated the Case Tn detail, and asked him it he ''could get it. J
 The thief did not know, hut would try, and started out upon the special detective duty
 to which he had been assigned. But pres. ently he was brought in before the official who had sent him forth. He was now in custody of a verdant patrolman, who had found uim proving about the streets iu $ suspicious way. and, knowing him to be a thief, had taken him in charge Matters
 were explained, and the thief again went out upon his mission; but having occasion to visit different part of the city, was again captured and taken in by an oficious patrolman. This time the thief desired
 written authority for his movements; but while this was prudently declined, he was told that if again arrested he might use the officials name. Finally, the watch was recovered, but the man who stole it was never molested. ''Set thief to catch a thief is 8 precopt the New York Police cannot obey. even if so inclined; for al- though the thieves are always ready, as a matter of business, to assist In the recov- cry of stolen property, they will never aid Tn efecting the arrest of "paf:' 2-
 Sometimes the authorities prove relent- less when they have malefsctor 'dead to rights'-as, with a keen sense of satire, they style having conclusive evidence against him-and are pressed by public clamor for rigorous enforcemsnt of the penalties of the law. But even when the malefactor encounters this extremity, he is by no means in immediate peril. He may delay the crisis indefinitely, and hope for eventual succor from the laws delays. Some months since, one of the most noted and adroit of the New York pickpockets was thus got 'sdead to rights and unfor- t1nately for himself, fell into the clutches of a patrolman instead of detective. As the public mind was, just then, greatly ex.