Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-08


date. And every Journalist is aware that if a
great crime is committed, say at pm, the
newspaper which closes its columns at 8 am
next day will. ninety times out of hundred
contain more information concerning the affair
when it reaches police headquarters at a. m
than is known to the police at that hour. The
late Henry Pawing Ross president judge of
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. had q muir
der case before him last year. and during the
examination he threatened to commit two
private detectives-whO had the case in charge
AS accessories after the fact because they re
FUSED to Jice Information to the reporters.
On being asked about the matter he
said to me that reporters had come
ton OF crime than the police, and that he held
II principle OF law that no ore should be al
lowed to place obstacles in the path of justice.
SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS.
Objections will at once be offered to my ideas.
SNAIL be told that ''the reporter, already ne
cessary nuisance, if given legal license in addi-
ton to that he now assumes. will ruin every
man in the community; that he will become the
terror of the town: that all kinds of villainics
will be practised for the sake of sensations and
in the contests Of rivalry; that social blackmai
OF gigantic proportions will follow any such
social innovation" Such objections are not
worthy Of serious G.en. The commOnest most
dissOiute reporter will compare favOrably with
the average policeman. and in comparison with
some of 1.-The finest the reporter is revelation
of civilization But the trusts of the Bureau of
Criminal Investigation would be in the hands of
gentlemen and the best reporters Place one of
these beside any police commissioner or chief of
police in the land and the newspaper man will
double discount the other in every quality
that makes useful citizen and man. The in
accuracy of newspapers to-day in regard to
criminal matters is not the inaccuracy of
the staff editors, but of inexperi-
enced reporters denied official infor-
nation, or furnished by the police with false
will come from those who have something to
cover up, who fear publicity. who are afraid
to let the light of day fall upon the shadoWy
pages of their own story. 1t is. however, an
axiom of our everyday life, an axiom that has
been fashioned by the grinding of facts. that
publicity never hindcred the course of Justice
Publicity is the only thing crime fears. With
out question, publicity in uncompleted police
cases Will generally interfere with police opera
tons as no,c cO,sducted! But the fiercest light
that beats upon throne. if turned full upon
any case of criminal procedure properly cen
Quoted. will not cast so much as shadow upon
the path of justice. | defy proof to the con-
trary. No one knows better than the journalist
when to publish and when not to. Every day
some case Of rascaity is disclosed that was dis
covered. worked up and exposed by the news
paper. from the very columns of which the pO-
lice receive their first intmation Of the ''crook-
eGneSS."
As opposed to these empty and any other OBJ
JectionS are the great Over-matching advanta ages
that bureaus of criminal investigation would
confer upon the community. They are many
and appreciate. True and full! testimony con-
cise!y given in court have mentioned Then
bribery. the garrotcr of justice. would be impos-
sible. What tremendous step forward this
would be. If criminal should succeed in
sllcncng single bureau he would have as much
to fear as before. He could not silence all the
bureaus. and even suppOsiuG every bureau was
pulchaSabie. it would not be possible to do SO
before some one had printed the rascality. And
no reporter would dare accept BRIDE for some
one else would get the news. Bribery impossi-
BILE. the chief gate to freedom would be ineXor-
ably closed TO the criminal Further. the police
would be compelled to attend to their duties in
se'i-detense. Politics could no longer interfere
10 save the reputation of villain and cheat the
prison of its due. Testimony would be freed
from the handouts of dishonesty and would ap-
proXiGate to what it ought to be. The false
incarceration of criminals would be put stop
TO- as every mans case would be inpartially
presented. No one would dare interfere be-
cause he would read of it the next day. The
cause OF detection would be SO materially adj
Vanccd that punishment Urcrme would acquire
a measure OF certainty ard if punishment were
a certainty crime WOuld be lessened One-half
Inc country districts would be furnished with
the best detective TALENT not that routine intelli-
eence that now goes there in the guise of city
officer, and who proceeds to Wort. out solu-
ton by the Old-estabiished rules but that talent
which brings energy ability and common sense
together to effect a result. The city victims OF
the criminal would more readii, DO their whole
duty when victinlized and more generously ad-
vance the cause of law and order for they
could trust where now they fear. The publica-
ton OF criminal acts would be more accurate
and less sensational. and the machinery to de-
tect yi!lainy now in existence would be trebIed
in efficiency, force and purpose. The newspa-
per would realize more nearly part of its mis-
sion. and the community would attain more
healthy progressive growth.
will not argue further nor touch on more of
the many of the mushroom iniquities that stand
between the people and the blessing Of honest,
respected law. have advanced an idea that in
some Office like that of the New York Herald.
where there is both courage and money. NAV be
mcided into force for the benefit of the people
Though have presented the matter somewhat
sketchily, 1t may perhaps be taken up, for it de-
serves serious consideration, and trust at no
distant day. bureaus of criminal investigation
will be matters of American history.
WILLIAM RALSTON BALCH.