The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-04

the meaDWUll6 II DecOUleS tD16TlCduS 10 u6hl
fairly by both parties, and to avoid being
caught up in the fiery whirl Of the passions
of either.
THE MYSTERY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD
STREET MURDER.
From the N. Y. Herald.
But six full days have elapsed since the
most atrocious and appalling murder that has
ever Mortified New York was committed in
the very heart of one of our most populous
city neighborhoods, and already we see in
sidious and determined efforts made to mys.
tify the public mind and browbeat public
opinion. Precisely in this spell of social in
luence lies the secret of public insecurity.
If any individual can, upon this pretext or
the other, be held absolutely sacred from the
most searching inquiry in a murder case,
then what is called detective" business in
New York is simply a sickening imposture
that insults the common sense of every think
ing man. There are beings capable of
counting upon precisely this kind of impu-
nifty. ''No one would believe it possible for
me to have done this deed" has been the
language of criminal after criminal to him
self, as the elaborate records of Great Britain,
France, and Germany show. The famous
volumes of the 'Causes Celebres" pre-
sent several cases analogous to this
Nathan horror; but French justice is
nc respecter of PERSONS: it instantly
fastens the seals of the State upon all papers,
implements, articles, and depositaries in the
house of assassination; it holds every inmate
and every associate Herewith connected under
the most rigid surveillance, day and night; it
takes each man and woman apart, in silence
and in secret; it prevents their conference
and possible collision; it questions again,
again, and again, sometimes reiterating the
very same inquiry over and over, at different
and at unexpected times; it confronts, COM
pares, and scrutinizes; it accepts all sane
material and rejects nothing; its touch has
the terrible strength of the finger at the end
of the elephants trunk, which can alternately
toss aside hundred weights and pick up a cam
brio needle. Then, along with this width of
range combined with minute intensity, deli
cate science, culture, and educated informa-
ton are brought to bear in their most attrac-
tive as we'll as in their sternest forms. The
hand is of iron, but the glove is of velvet;
the contact is artistic, but the grasp upon the
throat of the felon is memorable and deadly.
Let our readers recall the processes of de-
lection in the Traupnann murder case, which
Mortified all France. What indefatigable
activity, what keen foresight, what patience,
persistence and yet what rapidity of move
ment what breadth of view and yet what
microscopic minuteness of scrutiny no testi-
mony was rejected no theories were POM
pously scoffed at by inflated ignorance; no
decent agencies were sighted no influence,
one way or the other, was tolerated for the
twinkling of an eye; all things were taken in
and sifted, the chaff only was thrown away
after winnowing, and if but one grain of fact
remained it was held precious. And the re-
suit? The soil of all Europe seemed alive
under the feet of the murderer; the very
stars watched him at night the whistle of
the locomotive when he tried to fly de-
nounced him with a voice like the shrieks of
his victims the sea alone yawned ready to
receive him at Havre in his utter despair he
sprang into its pillows and-found himself in
the clutch of the law! He was tried, he con-
fessed and was executed. This is ability,
and this is detection.
The police of New York and of the United
States have now a conspicuous and an irrevo-
cable opportunity before them. This is their
Waterloo, and they will nobly discharge theil
duty. We verify believe that to real skill ano
science, armed with adequate authority, the
solution of this so-called mystery is at the
door. The individual or set of individuals
who may attempt in the slightest degree t.
clog their progress or throw even golden o
4 common dust in their way must be regarded
as hostile to society. The sum of twenty
five thousand dollars is large, but it is no
enough for the expenses of this search. /
is a mere trihing exponent of the overwhelm
ing importance of the detection and punish
ment of the culprit. No combination mus
q be left strong enough to outbld the cry O
( justice. That would be to leave the throat
. of every banker and merchant or of any POI
q SCISSOR of a home and means exposed to tn
knife of the midnight assassin. A State @
h a natien, a commercial board or a mercantil
4 body, would better spend a million in ferrer
d ing out all the mysteries of this crime tina
: in half of the purposes to which they d
apply their money. 1t is a case of the ''put
q lie in danger" and public paid Officer
\ must now, once for all, do their dut.
Il and their whole duty, or themselves be u
J. terly undone.
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