The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-10-23
THE REGULAR DETECTIVE,

THE REGULAR DETECTIVE.
what He owe. tn society and How He
Pays the Debt-Some Intere~fInx Inrt
dents-
correspondent of the World, writing
of the detective system, gives the follow
ing interesting incident:
1t Is very hard to make the detective
understand that he owes anything to so
ciety. His moral sense is never cultivated.
He quite as often prevents a criminal
rom reforming, as he prevents Justice
from overtaking him. Captain Young
once told me of several cases where the
stupid indiscretion of the. officer: had
loaded society With outlaws. One was
that of the well-known one-eyed Thomp-
son, who, early in his career. was saved
from the clutches of the law by some
friends, who raised a sum of money for
him and sent him out west. He settled
In thriving town on the border, and
changing his name, made most praise
worthy effort to become a useful member
of society He opened store won the
respect of the towns-people, was actually
made selectman, and was in fair way to
live long and die honored for his many
vi when suddenly he turned up on
the streets here again.
Halloi" says Captain Young. "I
thought you had squared it and was
out west?"
Eyes; 1 thought so too,Y says Thomp-
SON But it was no use one of. your
men did my business for me!'
1t seems that this detective, sitting on
the varanda of the new hotel, opposite to
the store which the reformed man had
opened, spotted him." well, Pm
blessed il there isn't 'one-eyed Thomp-
son." Some of the peopIed guessed not.
oh, no! that was Mr.. Simpson, a respec-
ted and prominent citizen.
"Oh no. it was, Ell? If that isn't
.one-eyed Thompson the burglar, then
I'll go back and join the church,
for. Here LAM captain. 1t was one of
your men that fixed metz
And so well fixed. was; he that he be-
came the most noted :law-braker of his
day.
1t is the easiest thing in the world to
hunt man down when he is trying to.
be honest with his own record against
him.
There Is n case on record of a Young
man in a prominent dry goods house in
this city who, in moment of temptation,
forged check on his employers. It was
a peculiarly painful affair The lad was
well connected, and>when the detectives
made the discovery it almost broke his
parents hearts. However, after some
trouble the matter was compromised.
The father paid the money, and some
mitigation of sentence was effected.
With the stain upon him he started out
to redeem his character, if he could.
Alter wandering about for some time he
obtained situation in New Orleans as
entry clerk, and ut the end of the year
saw fair prospect of achieving success.
HIS employers had confidence in him, and
ne had made numerous reputable ac-
One day, while on the sidewalk super-
intending the shipment Of come goods,
one OF There New York men came along.
Halloo y0u here ?"r : "a
Yes, said this young man with his
heart in his mouth. -
." What are YOU doinE9"
Trying to earn an honest Iiy;ro, -, =
1t seems incredible, but 1T Is true.
The officer went straight into the store.
One week later the young man was in
New York. 90 -
"God knows" said he, al tried as
hard as anybody could to be honest, but
it's no use ="
OF course detective who had the
slightest notion of his obligations AZ a
man to society, to say nothing of his
duty as an officer would not have made
this mistake -
And that reminds me of another case
which ought to teach even police officers
that discretion and kIndHess are not
without fruits even in this business.
Everybody in the force remembers
Johnny Mas. He-w a apickpocket,
and belonged to mob that worked ON
the west side. How he got into the
company Of these people it would he
hard to tell. But he was an sdroit and
rather amiable thief that scarceIysever
caused the force any troubIes It.. was
customary in the dsyssofzthe, metropo1-
tan Po..ice to lock up all the pick pockets
ana gums" when there was to- be.
great celebration or procession. They
were merely ordered to the centrh office,
and there kept until. the cityswas re-
stored to its usual quiet. Johnny Mas
only needed to be told to 90 to head
quarters to report himself there promptly.
He was young man, rather slight in |
build, and somewhat taciturn.
To the surprise of the superintendent.
he came to the Office one afternoon andJ
inquired when all the special men would |
be in. He was told he could see them in |
the morning. When the morning came !
he was there. After the. roll was called |
the superintendent said: "Now, JOHNNY. |
the men are all here if you want to speak
10 them"
He got up from the corner in which he
was sitting, and wringing out his cap
With his two hands, proceeded TO address
hem in faltering and abashed manner:
We'll, You see, I've concluded to
square it, You've been pretty rough on
m TOR some time, and I've got sister
.nat got the heart disease, and she's
LOOK 1t inter her head at...she'd live
bit longer if as how I'd do the right
thing, and told her I'd make a trT "a
it; and If you men II gimme hand
why don't mind maxim It 90. d"n,t
want to get the cholera no more. and
if the gail live a bit longer on nv ac-
count ( am within"
All the men went up and shook hands