The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-12
wooDsrowN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER T. lsst

wooDsrowS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER Il, lsst
The statement that Howard Sullivan had
confessed to Pinkerton detective that he
was the murderer of Ella Watson seemed
at first to settle the question, and the COM
munitv breathed a sigh of relief at the
thought 1--WE have caught the right man at
last !" But as the circumstances under
which the confession was made are detail
ed it would seem to be not so great tri
unph of detective art as at first supposed,
and grave doubt arises as to its sutli-
cheney to convict the prisoner independent
of the testimony previously gathered by
the sheriff and his officers or of any subse-
quent proofs that may be presented.
That a confession should be obtained by
deceit NAV at first seem revolving to the
minds of honorable men. but it must be re-
membered that this can only affect a guilty
man. for if innocent he will have no con-
fession to make. II guilty. and 4 confess
sion is drawn from him. the enormity of
volved in the means used to obtain it. 1t
is not so much the fact that confession
was obtained by deceit that diminiShes its
value as a want of assurance that the de
ceit stops at the right point and is not
practiced also or entirely ON the other side.
If this confession had been made to a citi-
zen of our county well known to our peo-
pie. whose sole motive was to further the
ends of justice by getting the truth whether
it made for the guilt or innocence of the
prisoner and whose word could be depend
. ed upon for a truthful report of the state
ment made To him. then our people could
rest satisfied. As the ease now stands the
jury will probably be called to hear the
testimony Of an entire stranger. who is evil
IDENTIFY an adept in the art of lying Of the
witness stand. whose record for truth they
have no means of knowing and who has
professional interest i'll establishing the fact
to which he testitieS Standing alone this
testimony would be open to grave suspi-
sion. if not entirely worthless. There is
danger of placing too great dependence OH
the foreign detective agencies We appre-
bend that the main things required in this
case are good pair of eyes, quick ears, a
share of horse sense and ability tn keep the
mouth shut. Our Salem county officials
have not been lacking in any OF these quail
tiles, and indeed when the detectives ar
rived on the ground they evidently found
the clues already worked out by the sheriff
and his assistants, and nothing left for
them to do but inveigle the prisoner into a
confession, which is forthwith heralded to
the papers as another proof Of the wonder
full skill of the Pinkerton men-provided
always that the confession was actually
made. We would not be surprised if the
evidence already gathered before the de
tectives arrived were worth more standing
alone. than this alleged confession.
But whatever evidence may be brought
on the trial in this case. it is earnestly to
be desired that there may be no after ques-
ton as to the justice of the verdict whether
of guilt or innocence. 1t will be dread
ful thing if after a man has paid for this
crime with his life a reasonable doubt be
raised as to his guilt and it is equally to
be desired that if the verdict be one of ac-
quittal the establishment of the prisoners
innocence shall be complete.
The suicides of both the President and
the cashier of the National Bank of New
Ioreo,, al N,u- p,r,nu,Yi.1, oro ~ on,,r.,
the result of their shame at the prospect
of that complete detection of their dctalca-
tons which was certain under the proviS-
ions of the national banking system for in
vestigation by disinterested examiners.
There is nothing tn respect i'll the shame
which becomes overwhelming only when
crime is discovered. but even those who are
not preserved from wrong-tl0ing by a high
sense Of honor might remember occasion
ally that other sins, like murder. will
out" In the New Brunswick ease, how
ever. the directors were grossly negligent.
They were supposed by the stockholders to
make thorough examination of the bank S
affairs once year, but the annual eXami-
httS I'iii'i'ti, anu was
based on the idea of not hurting anybody :
feelings by asking questions which might
appear diseourteous. Sentimental neglect
of ones duty in a representative capacity
is at the bottom Of more than half the de
falcations that occur. 1t is all wrong.
Directors who are afraid to direct should
not pretend to do So Cdmdea Courier.
We have received from "The Courier
Publishing Association" of Camden, a
oon,, IF tba of;ciaI e1oatio,, returns of Now