Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-12
wanted-A Good Detective System.

We have frequently ALLUDED to the I'M
pleasant fact that crimes can be COM
mitted in this community with an i'm
punity which seriously threatens our
reputation and general welfare. The
past year has been prolific OF Of
fences against the law, and we
regret TO say that the perpetrators
thereof have, in the majority of cases,
gone unwhipt of justice. The Ia
mented Harvey was brutally murdered
in the faithful discharge OF his
duty, yet to this day his assassin
is breathing the pure air OF lib
erty with naught to modest or
make him afraid. A few months ago an
unfortunate seaman of the British steam
er Imbros was found lying dead in the
streets one Sunday morning with MS
throat cut. and as vet the man who COM
mitted the dastardly crime has not been
arrested. Michael Shea was found dead
under the bluff but a few Sunday morn
ings since, and so far no clue has been
obtained to his cruel taking of.
And it is vet fresh in memory
how a short time ago one negro boy
deliberately killed another in our streets
in broad daylight, aud yet is now Sc
curelv reveling in the delights afforded by
other scenes and pastures new. These
and the two recent willful and atrOcious
murders committed within the past week,
when again the murderers cOolly walked
away and are now secure from any i'm
mediate chances of disagreeable restraint
upon the freedom of their actions, all com
bine to tell a serious story of how easily
crime may be committed with compare
tive safety in our city.
Such a subject as this is an exceedingly
delicate one upon which to touch, as 1t IS
calculated to work irreparable injury to
our community, especially when the true
facts are not sufficiently understood.
Savannah itself is not a disorderly city.
To the contrary, its police force is excel
lent and vigilant, and its citizens are
peaceful and law abiding. In the city
proper disorders and crimes are in as
small, if not smaller, proportion than in
any other city Of its size in
the Union, ard so remarkably quiet
indeed is it as a city that stran-
gers in our midst must be surprised
at reading accounts of the murders which
we, as faithful chroniclers of events, are
required so often to report. What then.
it must naturally be asked, is the cause
Of this frequency of crime and immunity
from punishment of criminals?
The answer is plain. In the first place.
as q general rule, the crimes which reflect
so discreditably upon our reputation are
committed in the dead of night, and on
the outskirts Of the city, in disreputable
localities, over which it seems impossi-
bic TO exert proper vigilance. In the
next place, the swamps of South Caro-
lima are so near and convenient to the
city that a criminal can readily elude
pursuit and place himself at once be-
yond the reach of our civil and State
authorities. In the third place, there is
no standing reward offered for criminals,
so as to induce detectives to make extra
ordinary exertions for their capture,
while the duties and smallness of our
police force prevent it from always act
ing as promptly and as effectively as is
desirable.
This last mentioned is undoubtedly the
main reason why we are afflicted with so
many criminals and so little punishment
follows their misdeeds, and a remedy
therefor should be at once devised. 1t
would, we doubt not, prove a sure pre-
ventive Of crime, if criminals were made
to feel that their chances of escape were
slight, and that swift and stern punish
ment was to follow their misdeeds.
This can be effected if sufficient rewards
are offered to detectives to risk the dan
gers and spend the time necessary to
bringing fugitives from justice within
the reach of the law. And if, in addition
to this, We had a corps of salaried pro-
fessional detectives attached to our police
force. to be under the orders of and % re-
port regularly to, the chief of that body,
then we feel safe in predicting that it
would not be long before We should hear
of more prompt arrests, and, in cOnse-
quence, less frequent violations of law.
Our State, county and city authorities
should seriously consider this important
matter. 1t will not do for them longer
to close their eyes to the existing state of
affairs. Unpleasant as it may be, still it is
our manifest duty to ventilate and com
ment upon facts as they are, even though
many might perhaps regard such COM
ments as impolitic, and it is
equally the duty of our
authorities to see to it that we are not
called upon to perform so disagreeable g
task. A sum set apart for rewards for
the apprehension, with proof to convict,
of perpetrators of villainous deeds, and
a sufficient detective force at the COM
mand of the city will bring about a con-
summation so devoutly to be wished,
especially if, after arrest, malefactOrs feel
convinced that the courts and juries will
promptly visit their offense5 with de
served justice.
The Prospect for Investors.
The New York World thinks that this
is the best opportunity which will be
fl ;rr-nrAn,. e. q Lana Tina 70 rn,1r-