Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-18
LONDON DETECTIVES.

San Francisco Chronicle. =,
/ am personally acquainted with
several of the leading London detectives;
1 know many more of them by sight, and
as ramble around London frequently
"spot" q detective las L have often
proved) with unerring certainty. No
matter how these men are dressed,
whether they wear full boards or are
clean shaven, I only want to see them
walk block to be satisfied of their call
ing. There is certain poise Of the body,
a certain measured tread, which, to the
practiced eye. reveals the English
detective under any disguise he may
assume. This all comes about through
the men having for years acted as patrol
men, for a policeman who has been on
duty for few years, acquires deport-
ment which he unconsciously retains to
the last day of his life. Of course, there
are few notable exceptions to the rule.
Hardly any one would take dapper
Inspector Llittlechild, as he strolls along
the Strand with a flower in his button
hole and cigar in his mouth, for one of
the most lynx-eyed detectives of the
London police. Inspector Lansdown,
big. robust and genial, gives one the idea
rather of prosperous farmer than an
astute detective. Inspector Shore, with
his dropping mustache and inevitable
umbrella, looks like q prosperous
manager of travelling circus, while half
a dozen of the city detectives, including
Flewster and Randall, would pass any,
where for prosperous city merchants.
There is little "hop-'o-my thumb" of a
fellow, too, who looks about II and
always wears spectaclee, whom I saw the
the other day promptly arrest virago
who was busily engaged in smashing in
the windows of large public. house,
hard by Bow street police station.
ABLE AND SUCCESSFUL OFFICERS.
Inspector Chamberlain, one of the
cleverest theif-takers in London, looks
just as detective should. He is q quiet
man, of medium heigth, with
nothing particular about him to attract
but he has before now unarm-
ed captured desperate men who have
not hesitated to empty few barrels of q
revolver in his direction. Elk Sergt. Ham,
who was allowed to leave the police,
very unwisely, as I think, on his CON-
pletion of fifteen years service, will not
be offended at me when say that he
looks like an overfed bucolic, all fresh
from the plow's tail. This officer during
his period of service in the police was
perfect terror to the burglar fraternity.
Again and again he was complimented
by the magistrates and ordered rewards
by the judges. He knew every nortor-
ious cracksman in London, and believe
l am correct in stating that during the
fifteen years he served on the police he
brought more offenders to justice than
any other officer ever known to during a
like period of service. Notwithstanding
this, when his term of service expired no
material inducement. was offered to
him to remain in the force, consequently
in the prime of life he retired with the
handsome pension of S. week. He has
since organized special staff of detect
ives of his own, and is now responsible
for the maintenance Of order and the
exclusion of thieves and other unwelcome
members of the predatory class at many
of the race meetings throughout the
country.