The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-20
OUR DETECTIVE SYSTEM.
History Of It's Growth
and Influence.
THE PAST AND PRESENT.
How Crime FloUrishee in
This City.
THE PAST AND PRESENT.
DETECTIVES USING DECOYS.
Interesting Revelations Re-
garding Our Secret Police.
FACTS VERSUS FICTION

That radical reform Is needed In our police de-
tcctive system Is fact too well estaolsneu 70
need extended remark. 1t has become settled
convection in the public mind that the present.
plan OF hunting down criminals by special detec'
ttves is not what II was originally INTENDED 10 De-
and II 10 now quite evident that even the bosro Oh
Commissioners are satisfied that the present force
OF detectives must be overhsuled and remodelled.
That there are honest and faithful sfhcers among
the detectives there can be no question. but they
are associated with others who'll all that Is said
about them be true-are no better than the
tnieves they are supposed TO watch and capture.
The fact Is that many evils have grown In the
course OF time into our present system OF detec-
tive work and although these evils have been OF
slow growth. the abuses have been so multiplied
that the entire fabric has become rotten and
offensive TO the public eye, 30 much so that q
general cutlery has gone out against them and
the Board seem at last TO have awakened TO
realizing sense OF their own duty IN the premises.
In order TO hasten the reform greatly needed
we propose 10 lay before our readers few facts
that Will. no doubt enlighten them. and explain
the causes that have led to the present state OF
AFFAIRS
ORIGIN OF THE SQUAD.
In 1851, when the Metropolitan Police act went
into operation, the Commissioners found that the
Old municipal police had IN Its organization what
was styled special service squad.n The men,
bers or this little body OF officers were al picked
men, and 10 become one of the squad was deemed
q decided promotion. Patrolmen who in any way
distinguished themselves by bravery in making
arrests OF desperate criminals or who displayed
peculiar TALENT in detecting the authors OF crime
were transferred TO the squad the first va
cancy, and as many OF the promotions to higher
grades OF RANK and pay were made from the squad
It grew IN Importance. The result was that tue
heads OF the department brought to the surfc ce
whatever real police talent there happened
to be IN the ranks. This was one Of
the few good features that existed IN
Mayor Woods police, and II Is best known, but
she sy stem OF permitting every MEMBER OF the
Common Council 20 have voice in appointments
of course Weakened The morale Of the force, aud
tne department became a necessity. Nearly
every prominent member of the present police
force, whose date OF service extends oack .nose
early days OF ununllormed policemen, mem.
Der OF the squad The present superintendent
Walng, was Tor some time one Of It's leading
men, aud the experience gained by him IN the
SQUAD at that time laid the foundation FOR the
brilliant reputation be has since made :or himself.
John Jourdan, who also rose 10 the rank OF super.
intendent and who was in his life one OF the best
detectives IN the country, was also a member.
Joseph Downing, the well known ex-police magis-
srate, likewise graduated from the squad Cap
sain Jeremiah Petty, and many other old officers
who rose 70 high rank. or stif retain It, came
rom this celebrated body. Some OF the older de-
sectives In the headquarters squad at the presen,
time were once enrolled therein, and there can be
no question that had the system been carried out
ever since we should not hear so much scandal
about the conduct OF our detectives as Is now SO
commonly oruIted abroad.
THE DETECTIVE BUREAU.
In their endeavors 10 introduce new features
and obhterate all those OF the extinct department.
the Metropolitan Police Commissioners decided 10
organize a detective squad, which was to De under
the eye and personal control OF the Superintend.
ent. The purpose was 10 make this detective
body efficient aid In the detection
OF crime Consequently all important cases
were given TO these men for calculation.
AZ the powers OF the police were
EXTENDED the detective squad was placed under
she command OF a sergeant, and when the late war
broke out the name OF John Young grew into
prominence as the chef In those antebellum
days the detectives did good service and the rcpu-
tauon o! the squad was most excellent one.
Each man became expert IN certain lines OF de-
tectlve duty, and the efficiency Of the force was
q source OF pride to Their supern tendent, the late
John A. Kennedy, and his assistant, Daniel Car
penter. One or two OF these men devoted their
attention 20 that annoying class OF thieves known
~ .sneaks" and so familiar were they with the
features Of these thieves ana their peculiar modes
OF operation that victim had only TO describe
she mannerin which he had been robbed 70 enable
the detectives to decide almost on the spot
who had committed the crime. In the
same way other detectives devoted them
selves TO burglars. others 10 forgers,
others to pickpockets, each class OF criminals
being watched and hunted down by men whose
whole energies were exercised IN that one drec-
ton. One specially clever IN investigat-
ing mysterious cases OF murder, and ne made
headquarters de tecHve; but ne mas been pushed 10
the wall by the rings tnat now control tue bureau
In those days detective was JUST what the word
implies. He was called IN by als superior and set
to work on new case lf 10 was ROBBERY
The man most familiar with that class o. crime was
summoned. ali the facts Al hand clearly narrated,
and ne was directed 30 WORK Il up" Frequently
the clew was very amt one. yet rom small De-
glnnings THESE detectives nearly always sue
ceeded IN building M fabric OF evidence that led
to the arrest and convicuon o. che criminal.
WANT or SECRECY.
But there was one inherent fault in this system
OF specal detectives and mat was the absence Of
SECRECY as 30 the personnel Of TIE squad. Each
ce5ecttve, being merely detailed patrolman,
made his own arrests, 20 that, when an orncer nad
run down three or lour burglars, forgers sr pick
pickets, a. the case might be, ne naturally became
known 20 nearly every member Of the criminal
class ne was engaged In hunting down. This act
leo insensiby 30 tne origin Of the srouoe that cow
exisS regarding our detectives. BY the time the
men had made themselves valuable as
thief takers Their efnciency was impaired by
the familiarity gained " PROFESSIONAL lawDreakers
~ 20 their names and features Even then care
hi students OF our locai ponce system we're a.
ready aware that ~ permit thieves 70 know VINO
we're their greatest enemies was 70 rob the detec-
ffves OF much VI their rover. fhe resul; was tnat
when a CRIME OF a certain class lad been commit
ted the detectives who usually looked alter such
offences we're narrowly watched by ali classes
OF thieves snd timely warning OF tber approach
Qfvpn TO the guilty PERSONS 1neN 1etecfOu and
arrest grew difficult, and the value OF sne oeteC.
Gves wassgTeatiy iessened
IHE STOOL PIGEONS
CndeY these circums rances tue detectives In
eensibly fell INTO tne method OF using "stcol
pigeons" For instance, pickpockei happened
10 be caught IN she act OF apprOprdtinx satcn or
wallet, and being taken dead 20 rients," az the
fasn yerDaculsr puts IT, the prisoner was useG
70 catch higher and more important game. Fhe
pickpOcket would be qulebly locked up and ,he
stolen property handed over 10 tne owner ana as
coon as the detectives had secured tnetr decOy