Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-04-23

take this case, young mani Oh, see,
you are young yet. Well let me
teach you semething. Never put Amy
reliance OH government detectives
They are the worst, most unreliable
men III the business. No first class
man would throw away his talent and
experience in the-geverhmett service.
Thsy may nab eeunterfeiter when
he almost gives himself up, but |
would not have one ia n1y seryieeJ II
he worked for nothing. Don't you
think Of wasting your time In that
direction T. Advice from a man of
his vast experience must be appreeiat-
ed. With all due respect to the broth
erhoed, it is safe to say that there are
more incompetent, worthless, ignor-
ant men in the profession than any
other.
THE DISTRICT DETECTIVES,
who have been detailed ON govern
ment eases, frequently, were extensive
ly published during the crisis that re-
suited in ali entirely new force. It
may never be known whether these
men were guilty, as each and every
eIlal NdH q GOIH PfSL9 laliaIe. ~ may
not be admitted that aequittal il
equivalent to innocence in these cases,
but the ancient precedent already
mentioned must clash with the gene
raj impression of guilt. All were
ousted for dishonesty and abuse Of of
fee, yet not one has been proven
guilty. 'Again the ancient precedent
strikes the conscience, and leads to an
inquiry regarding reparation. The
committee Of citizens which undertook
to ex pose the methods Of the force
failed in everything except the dis
missal Of the detectives and supply
ing newspapers with food for various
sensational articles. If these men
were guilty, they abused most ad-
mirable experieace. All were COM
PEELED to seek livelihood in different
paths of life, and several, let US say
with pity, sought in vain. One is
head Of restaurant, which was once
famous, but which he has made in
famous, being the resort, today, Of the
most accomplished pickpockets and
cut-throats in the country. Another
has assumed the onerous duties of 8
private detective-one that perhaps
possesses the worse features of the in
competency, worthlessness, and ignor-
ance that mark the entire profession.
The committee Of citizens employed a
! private detective, or at least he was 50
called. The man proved to be the
proprietor of gambling den which
surpassed resorts of that character in
depravity, inasmuch SIS its chief feat
ure was the admission of boys. This
man, with vice and rascalitv follow
ing him wherever he went, dared even
to breathe his viperous breath into
the face of society and chase, frighten,
aye, hound respectable citizens. The
latest robbery of tho government
is what has been termed the
NAVY DEPARTMENT FRAUDS.
In this case, we see the same evils that
existed in other cases. A man takes
advantage of the imbecility and indif
ference Of his chief, and boldly robs
the Navy Department, not on impulse
but deliberately, daily, hourly. The
naval officer whose subordinate he is,
does not even "sniff the air. In this
robbery, it was alleged that the man
had the assistance of several promi
nent Washington merchants, who com
bined and manufactured false vouch
ers which the government, unsuspect
ing, as usual, promptly paid. Requi
sitiens for supplies were frequently is
sued, regardless of demand, and vouch
ers made to correspond, no matter
what was furnished in return. 1t is
unfortunate that the names of these
merchants, who have stood trial sue
cessfully, were drawn into the case
because the public is permitted to en-
JOY its first impression, which, as ex
Senator Blaine once politically re
marked, is always the strongest. Th
public is queer individual under an,
circumstances. 1t read the first &C
counts of the case, and eagerly looked
for conviction. But when the trials
began to show that the morbid expec
tation would not be realized, the pub
lie lost interest or failed to follow th
] dry details of the case. The public i
a miserable human being, and lik
misery, to borrow an expression,
, cloves company" The naval officer
under whose vigilant eye these fraud
} were committed is undergoing cour1
} martial amid considerable legal ez
: element over the possibilities of tn
case. He tried to escape by way {
: habeas corpus, but failed. If it can b
} proven that the frauds occurre
through his negligence, he will los
the position in which he has SO Ion
luxuriated rather than ohciated. Du
+ ing Republican regime, the crimini
4 neglect of public officers was too ofte
3 overlooked. Indeed, had carefi
: watch been kept fewer robberies woul
: have taken place. The penalty
criminal neglect has too often bee
= suspended on grounds purely part
{ sans. Public officers may reali
4 President Cleveland's view on th
, subject from the grand Democrat
!, precept in his inaugural, "Euery citist
9 otues TO the country vigilufat scat
q and close scrutiny Of sts pubic sea
! ants. SHADOW.
Fl Are They Convicts Now