Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-21

down. He is obliged to begin at a particular
end, and visit all the parts in prescribed order
so that the sergeant may know where TO drop
on him at a given moment. He is bound to eX-
anime the tasfenings of every shop, factory, and
other place of business, and see that all private
houses are duly secured, and all basement win
dows closed, and he must report any instance OF
negligence he may find. This is an arduous
duty, for which he gets little thanks. fla crowd
gather on the pavement, it is his business 10 90
straight into the centre and send TO the right and
left the disputants. In case of resistance he
must take somebody into custody. He is partic-
ulary instructed never to walk round about a
crowd, or appear TO hesitate before taking ac-
ton. Decision and self-asSeTtiOn are impressed
on him as sacred duties.
The detectives form a class apart in the po-
lice. In addition to the arrangement of beats
and fixed points, each division sends forth a
certain number of plain-clothes men, whose duty
it is TO supplement as detectives the efforts of
the constables in uniform. They go out dressed
up as sailors or laborers, or others, and were it
not for the cleanliness of their faces and the Sc
we're cut of their hair, 10 say nothing Of their
methodical tread, they would pass very well.
As it is, any thief worth his salt is able TO dis
tinguish one of them at glance; but at little
distance even thieves sharpness may be de-
ceiyed. To be detective is, in the eye of the
ordinary policeman, not only to be cassed as a
sharp and responsible man, 'but to be a lucky
two brancneS-the divisional detectives, and
those of Scotland yard. The latter are, in a
measure, the staff of the force, and form in some
sort connecting link between headquarters and
the various divisions
II murder be- committed, the inspector ofthe
locality details a couple of his plain-clothes
men TO make inquiries. The men chosen have
generally some knowledge of the place and the
people about, and they learn what they can rela-
tive to the matter, a report is sent up to Scot
land Yard, and if the case be important it is put
into the hands of one of the crack detectives
there. He goes down TO the locality, and puts
himself into communication with the divisional
detectives, who have been talking to apple
women, examining pot-boys, and sounding cab
men, with commendable industry. He requires
them to yield up all their knowledge, laborious-
ly acquired, and they do so, with the best grace
they can, inwardly cursng him and the COM
missioner who sent him. For although they have
the pains of making all the inquiries, and have
stood the eXpense attending the getting of clue
which may ultimately lead TO the desired cap
ture, they will now have none of the glory of
success, and only small portiORo OF any reward
which may be offered. Sometime the divisional
detectives, who do the work, get only .e10 out of
a reward of e200, which is generally offered ON
the occasion of great crime. A swell detcc-
tive, if be gets his name into the papers, and he
generally does, will get the lions share, not only
of public applause, but of any substantial re-
ward the case may bring.