The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-14
THIEVES AND DETECTIVES.


yet.
THIEVES AND DETECTIVES.
From the N. Y Sun.
The method upon which the municipal de-
tective service is conducted in the principal
cities of this country requires a thorough
overhauliDg and an immediate reform; for at
present it is utterly demoralizing in its ten
dency, and in many instances affords protec-
tion and encouragement to the most hardened
thieves and transgressors. From the first in
PRODUCTION of the infamous 'stool pigeon"
system the service has been going on from
bad to worse, until now its practical opera
ton has become simply intolerable. We do
not say that there are not honest and we'll
meaning men engaged in the vocation of de-
tectives, although it is a wonder that any
such are to be found under the system now
generally in vogue.
Those who form their idea of the American
police detective from the Hawkshaws of the
stage, or the accomplished protean actors de-
scribed in novels, know little of the actual
facts. The American detective of to-day is a
fashionably dressed gentleman with a propen-
sity for diamonds, who is known to all the
thieves and on the best of terms with the
whole race of them. Philadelphia has the un-
enviable reputation of supporting detectives
who are on more intimate relations with the
criminal classes than those of ANY other city
but neither Boston nor New York is much
behind in this respect, and it is not an un-
usual thing in either of the three named
cities to see the detectives drinking and
assocating on terms of intimacy with the
most notorious criminals. The result of
such a course must be evident to all. The
detectives will almost inevitably become
more or less contaminated through their
social intercourse with criminals, while the
latter, finding themselves treated with fami-
liaritY and consideration by the official repre-
sentatives of the law, grow bold and reck-
less in their operations. Thus they are en-
couraged to think that thieving is pretty
respectable occupation after all, and come to
look upon robbery as alegitimate speculation
in which they take certain chances, fully ex-
pecting to lose their liberty in case of failure,
unless their friends of the detective force are
able to help them out of their difficulty in
return for money, valuable information, or
other satisfactory consideration.
This intimate association of detectives and
criminals leads, and is expected to lead, to
mutual condolences and the former, anxious
to handle liberal rewards and achieve repu-
tation for smartness in their profession, fire.
quently enter into agreements with the latter
through which adroit and skilful scoundrels
are guaranteed immunity in their nefarious
pursuits, in consideration of information
given in relation to the misdeeds of other
and perhaps less dangerous rogues. Worse
than this, it is not an unusual occurrence for
innocent parties to be seduced into the COM
mission of crime for the express purpose of
being betrayed into the hands of the police;
while the experienced criminals who lay the
plans and tempt the victims escape scot free,
with full liberty to plunder the public with
out fear of molestation. 1t is known to all
familiar with police matters that it is not an
unusual occurrence for thieves to divide their
sybils regularly with detective officers in con-
sideration of being allowed to pursue their
occupation unmolested; while as a rul. it is
the detective who acts as, go-betwesn in the
work of compounding felony in cases of bond
robberies and other depredations where thieves
come into possession of property which they
cannot safely convert into money. 1t will at
once be seen that with such a state of things
the honest detective who seeks only to do his
duty stands no chance beside the corrupt
officer who, while stuffing his purse with the
spoils of crime, by his double dealing and
cunning contrives to be brought continually
before the public as a Jealous and efficient
officer in consequence of the frequent arrests
that he makes.
Thorough reform is imperatively demanded
and the sooner it is done the better for all
concerned. No detective, known as such,
should be allowed to associate with criminals
on terms of equality; and the fact of detec-
tive being guilty of such association should
be considered sufficient proof of a corrupt
! completely, and should entail his immediate
dismissal The employment of known crimi-
nails to entrap others of their own class
should be entirely prohibited. When the ext
gencies of a case require that the confidence
of suspected or known criminals should be
gained, outside parties should be employed
to do the work under the supervision of ex-
perienced detectives, unless the circumstances
are such that regular detective can accom-
plish the matter himself without exposing
his identity. And under no circumstances
whatever should detective or other police
official be allowed to have any part or lot in
the recovery of property by compoundine
felony.
The detective service, properly conducted
would command the respect of all and be o.
inestimable benefit to the community. Will
continued toleration of the abuses which
have become engrafted upon it, the thieves
alone will have any great interest in its per
petuation.