Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05

, and the value of the detectives was greatly
lessened.
, TIE STOOL PIGEONS.
Under these circumstances the detectives
insensibly fell into the method of using
- stool pigeons" For. instance, pickpock-
ct happened to be caught in the act Of ap-
prOpriating watch or wallet, and being
taken g dead to rights as the flash yernac-
ular puts it, the prisoner was used to catch
higher and more important game. The
pickpocket would be quietly locked up, and
the stolen property handed over to the owner,
and as soon as the detectives had secured
their decoy they would induce him to aid in
the discovery of burglar or forgcr who was
more urgently wanted" The decoy was
very often released and allowed to run, but
kept well in hand by the detectives, until
he was able to make the necessary Inquiries
regarding the higher criminal. The task
; set the deccy was usually an easy one, for he
could without suspicion ask for the fugitive
and obtain a hint, if not positive information,
regarding his hiding place. Thus the game
was run to earth, and the lesser criminal, OF
course, released to prey upon the communi-
ty. Sometimes the victim would insist upon
/
Then a new feature of evil tendency grew
into the practice. The officers, only too
anxious that their promise of release and
non-punishment should be fulfilled would call
in the aid of the distinct attorney, who with
the mistaken idea that he was really aiding
in the detection and suppression of crime,
often consented to hold back the wheel of
Justice. The thief being arraigned invaria-
] ,1aoI Inl 70 off . ha
oiiense he stood charged with, and either
nominal sentence would be imposed by the
Judge or suspended altogether. Thus the
detectives were placed in confidential rela-
tons with the very men whom the public
Supposed they were constantly hunting and
seizing, and out of this familiarity grew an
other evil which will be explained in its pro
per place.
THE TEMPTATION or REWARDS.
When the war begun the expansion of the
currency and the increased activity in all
branches Of business gave the criminal class
es more abundant opportunities for lawless
plunder, the result being richer and larger
than ever. Burglars found that merchants
kept immense stocks of valuable and porta-
be goods in the bonded warehouses in order
to avoid payment Of duties until they could
realize by sales to customers. The conse-
quencc was that whole invoices of costly
veyets and silks would be successfully car
ried of. much to the ehagrin of the owners.
When the case came into the hands OF the
headquarters detectives they found the de-
spoiled merchants far more anxious that their
goods should be recovered than that the
criminals should be arrested and punished.
Then began the system Of offering rewards for
the recovery Of property instead Of the con-
yiction of the thieves. Thus the true de-
tectiye sense was deadened and their ener-
gies directed entirely to. getting back the
plunder. Ten per cent. Of the cost of the
stolen goods was very often the bait
held out by the owners, and they frequently
suggested that if no other way presented il
self the arrested thief might be let off on
surrendering his ill-gotten booty. That
the detectives in those days did this
there can be no question, for sometimes
there was no concea.ment Of the procedure at
all, it being taken as a mere matter Of
course. More frequently the detectives Sc
cured the coveted reward in another way
fully As reprehensible. This can be better
explained by the narration of the facts in
single case that came to the knowledge Of the
writer in due course Of time
TWO SIDES oE A DEFECTIVE STORY.
\ bonded warehouse near the battery was
entered on Saturday night from neigh
boring tenament house, and the gang Of
burglars spent the entire twenty-four hours
Of the Sabbath in coolly selecting and pack
ing up the contents of several bales Of yalu
able silks, the property Of a leading mer-
chant of this city. The goods that were
carried off was valued at over $4,000, and
a reward Of 81 900 was offered for their
| recovery One of the detectives, who Is
| still on the force, made it i business to
work up the case but, despite all his cum
ming and experience, the burglars eluded his
| search, and the robbery was at length al
most forgotten in the presence of more recent
operations. At last the burglars believed that
they could safely dispose Of their plunder and
80 approached a well-known sneakthief
asking him to either buy the silk or aid them
in selling it. Unknown 10 the thieying fra
ternity, this man had for sometime driven a
profitable trade by acting as stoo. pigeon
ior certain detectives, and he at once set
trap for the gang. He first placed himself
in communication with the detective already
mentioned, and, acting under his instruc-
tions, proceeded to drive a pretended bar
gain with the thieves. All Of the de-
tails were satisfactorily arranged, and
a place and hour of meeting agreed
| upon. This settled satisfactorily, the detec
tive took mp his line Of conduct Suddenly
| appearing before the superintendent the
officer announced in a mysterious manner
that his efforts had proved successful, and
that he believed that at last he was on the
track of the warehouse burglars. The as
slstance asked for was Immediately granted
by the innocent superintendent, and the de-
tectiye soon found himself near the house
where he knew the burglars to be concealed.
4 Gordon of police was set, and the detective
and his partner-the New York detectives
| invariably hunt in couples-made q dash
into the apartment occupied by the thieves.
| The descent was made only few minutes
before the hour set down for the pretended
purchaser to appear, consequently the Off
GERS found the entire gang in tie room, to-
gether with the stolen silk.
What was the result? No doubt the
reader imagines that after a desperate
struggle all of their thieves were arrested
and their plunder secured. Not at all.
Whatever transpired in that room only the
thieves and the detectives know No arrests
were made, at all events. After an absence
Of two or three hours the detectives returned J
to the central Office with an air of triumph,
and exhibited as their trophy nearly all of
the stolen silk, explaining that the thieves
had made good their escape Just in time.
The story by the detective who planned the
affair was an ingenious one. He stated that
finding the men he suspected were still hid
/ ing in the city he came to the conclusion
that they would in sall probability endeavor
to send their plunder away by express lie
accordingly visited all the express Offices,
and requested the clerks and managers to
notify him if any suspicious packages came
to their care for transmission. HIS story
/ went on to the effect that at last one of the
express companies had informed him that
they had been requested to send to a certain
house for four or five trunks, giving also
description of the person bringing the order
The detective claimed that this information
gave him the necessary clew and led to the
recovery Of the goods. This narrative was
daily published by the innocent reporters
and the officer was given much credit for his
sagacity, he meanwhile getting the reward
and sharing it with his informer and decoy.
| The burglars, though well known to the
| officer, were not arrested for their crime,
/ there being no incentive besides there was
every chance that they would soon give him
another opportunity for enriching himself
| To this day that officer thinks tina. his secret
| is safe. Yet he Is trusted by his superiors
and the public and carries his badge of
Office. Such instances are common in the
history Of our detectives.
BLAcKNAILINC THE THIEVES.
The greed for money on the part Of the
detectives led to worse abuses for, not con-
tented with securing large rewards for the