Wichita eagle., 1888-10-30
LONDON DETECTIVES.
THE ORGANIZATION OF WHICH
SCOTLAND YARD is THE CENTER.
Management of tho Detective Force
Which Has Been Made Famous by
Writers of Sensational Fiction-Iiraited
Extent of Their Supervision-The Force.

Extent of Their Supe-vision-The Force.
The London detective force is, as at pres
ent constituted, the outcome of a scandal and
a reform. In 1877 three members of the
force were proved to have heen in league
with gang of swindlers, and there was an
investigation by a con.misSson, which re-
vealed such q state Of affairs that the report
was never made public The recommended
tons of the committee led to a complete re-
organization of the force. which formsrly
had consisted of several detectives in each
district under the absolute direction of the
superintendent or captain Of the district, and
Of thirty men at Scotland Yard, which was
the central Office. There were, therefore
nearly twenty different and almost entirely
independent attachments of the detective
force, and the work was without harmony or
unity.
Tie reform which went into effect on
April s, 1878, aimed to consolidate the force
and centrahze the authority, and succeeded
to a certain extent, but more in theory than
in practice, fer matters have gradually
drifted back toward the old customs, until
now 1t is said that so far as unity and isar-
n2ony Of action Is concerned, the force is
the detective force under the reformed re-
gime was placed in new department, That
of criminal investigation, over which pre-
sided fhe director at Scotland Yard. In each
division of the ciry there Is local inspector
in charge Of the detectives, and theoretically
the personal representative Of the director,
although actually subordinate to the SUPER
intendent or captain.
THE THEORY OF IT.
The inspector is supposed to take his IN
structions direct from Scotland Yard, and to
report directly there. Practically this theory
does not work, and detective work is carried
On pretty mach on the DAD divisional basis.
The fct.on Of Scotland Yard being the ODD
ter OF all detective work is still kept up to
the extent that the inspectors are required
TO meet there from tune to time with the as
sistant commissioner, which is tho present
title Of the director and presumably to con-
suit together over their work. The local
superintendent are also required to send each
morning 70 the central office reports of the
crimes that have come under their notice in
their divisions during the preceding twenty
four hours, and the assistant commissioner b
supposed TO issue instructions Is to what shall
be done about them In fact, the whole matter
"a SIMPLY renacded TO the local authorities,
except in case of some notorious affair ike
that sc Whitechapel, where regard for the
looks Of the sning conpels the assistant CON-
missioner and other chiefs Of tho force to
make a state visit TO the locality, solennly
gather points, hook duly mysterious, and th.l
90 away and lea-s the matter just where It
hsd been ali ahae
There are now 400 of these detectives dis
tTibueed about among the different DIVISIONS,
as tbs needs ct each seem 60 require. Th&fs
are 800 Others Pot On duty during the winter
season, ADD known as the winter patrol
Detectives are appointed frem the Ordinary
uniformed policemen, frve On the winter
patrnl aud then On tbs permanent force. Sc
gard being hsi, norainaliy a. any rate, for
the shrewdnss< and ability shown By the Esn
n the lower grades Of work
IAMoUs II y1crIoy.
The regular SeossaSi Yard detectives.
famed In fssspn Il no~hsse else. make ~
low body Of ssSaty men, Yearly al Of tbsm
ranking 6 inspectors, and forming .6iv1Soo
uy themselves nader shs dirc<$ command Ct
the assistant eoznnisieDer. II l. thasS bass-
ness 70 Investigate ncsabbe cT1naes of % sn>s
anywhere IN the CRY. b<.s f9-yeEsea egsoszxss-
aen.s and similar AMIR OF financial nature
are most directly IN ter Inc Besides shs
they have an ifnnanse azaoaus OF business 10
dc for the guvern-orGt ezd for foreign gov
ernussats and pof,ce departments. and -eeF
mist investigate ali applications Tor nAirrxi-
.EazsQa and UuG. assxni UsA&=nnna1ar