Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-03-18
STATE DETECTIVES.

There is one measure before the Legis-
ature, which has already passed the Sen
ate, which We hope will become law
and be given fair trial. We allude to
the bill for the creation of State detect
i've force, In q State so large and so
sparsely settled in places as is ours, it is
frequently impossible for the local police
to ferret out the perpetrators of crime,
and even if they are known, it is matter
of equal hardship to succeed in accom-
plishing their arrest. This rarely arises
from the lack Of will on the part Of local
officers, but it is due, in great measure,
to the workings Of our political system.
Men aspiring in county to the position
of Sheriff, are not always chosen by rea-
son of their superior skill or fitness for
the pursuit Of criminals. In high state
of political feeling it frequently happens
that the candidate of the dominant party
is chosen simply because the side which
he is on is in the majority. This should
not be, but we have to recognize the fact
that such is the case and deal with it ac-
cordingly.
1t may be said that the pursuit OF a
detective is a calling of itself. Certain it
is, that it requires peculiar talent-such
as does not fall to the lot OF every man.
Added to this talent should be the quality
of personal courage, and when the two
are combined, it is difficult matter for
crime to be committed and the criminals
escape justice where such men form a
part Of the police. 1t is interesting to
read the exploits Of some Of the famous
detectives of this and other countries.
To note from what slender clue fla
grant crime will be traced up and its
perpetrators be brought to the bar of
justice, with the proofs Of their guilt fas-
tened upon them. The efficiency of these
detectives is due to the fact that none
but those who show the best qualifications
are retained upon the force, and these
having been manifested, they are then
above the danger following political
changes. Such is the kind of a detective
force that is sought to be established in
this State, and that it is needed none will
attempt to deny. The penal law makes
very slight provision for the expenses of
an officer who endcavors to arrest Grim
inal, in fact, in nearly every instance his
reimbursement is contingent upon his
success, and even then it is a matter sub
ject to the arbitrary will of others. The
establishment of State force, with power
and to call in the assistance of local Off
GERS whenever needed, will go long
way toward securing to the people of this
State immunity from crime. Especially
should this be the case in reference to
higl way robberics, thing which has of
late become alarmingly frequent. The
stage is stopped, the passengers and treas
ure box plundered, and in twenty -four
hours, before the local police are fairly in
possession of the facts, the robbers may
be n hundred miles away. To attempt
verifying the old adage of "hunting a
needle in hay-stack." But let a State
force have control of the facts, with
sources of information in regard to the
persons and habits of this nefarous class
drawn from sources known only to them
selves, and the public will be justified in
looking for a more prompt arrest, and
speedy punishment of the criminals.
We, who live in those counties away
from the lines of railroad travel, have n
deep interest in the success of the pro-
posed experiment. Our situation is such
that we know not what minute we will
hear OF some outrages upon some Of our
own people. We receive great accom-
modations through the agency of the
Express Company, and unless that can
receive better protection than it has been
receiving Of late years, we cannot expect
that this accommodation will be contin-
ued. They have already drawn off their
lines at other points, and will have to
from this direction also unless they are
assured of safer transit than heretofore.
We cannot blame them, for their losses
during the past three or four years have
been enormous. But if there is II remedy
in the establishment by State law, of II
body Of men whose duties will be chiefly
to take cognizance of such cases, it would
bo the part OF wisdom to apply it.