The evening world., 1889-03-14
HAS THE BOY FAIR PLAY ?
An Enaiishman's Blast Touching the Drug
gist's Murder aud American Police
NVAshmIs tn Gi.

An Enalishman's Blast Touching the Drug
gist's Murder and American Poiice
Methods In General.
m the Editor u ne Ersniag World
l have been exceedingly astonished and
disguised at the insight into the American
sense Of fair play afforded me by the latest
cause oelebre-the unfortunate druggist
murder. As an Englishman, and in common
with most OF my countrypen, the
ever been looked upon with the
utmost detestation. Yet, am I confronted in
" free " America, with its Republican insti-
tutions-its government by the people for
the people-its Tin theory fair play to all
by rs gross u case of terroriZing and attempt
at browbeating into II confession as the
annals of France could tu nish.
Why, sir, i'll England. were q detective to
~cross-question q person accused of murder,
to subject him for hours to an exhausting,
browbeating series of questions. in fact, to
intimidate him into making q confession, the
press would ring with q sound that would
sweep away in one moment all such doings.
To u man such proceedings would be cruel,
wicked, unjust. But to q boy-almost o
child-words will not express the pity Of it!
What a light it throws upon the intelligence
of the police, too!
What, briefly, is the actual and legal evil
dence against the boy. Firstly, that he was
FSht vi Oil toitb uhh NiilOut
them; secondly, he was !" recognized " after
a series of leading questions by detectives.
as the individual who brought the
weapon hyiwhich this dastardly murder was
committed. But what n recognition! After
u lev teconds' cursory inspection in u
darkened ~store--a boy of ordinary appear
ance, with nothing to distinguish him lex
cept "he was dressed very neatly W from
any other boy, IL sworn to by two men.
Mark that afterwards q reporter, asking them
n few nnnHtlDna na tn np0nla antgFlnD anil
leaving their shop, Uds totally unable 10 git
them to gire, pih any certainty, euen a general
description Of those individuals.
On this evidence what should have been
done? Not being q policeman, an idiot or
insane person, l should at once have decided
TO keep the boy Swallowed" for a week or
two. Depend upon it, if guilty, either ~
accomplish or principal, valuable evidence
his arrest, one c~hance-and q good one-of a
clue is destroyed. If the boy is guilty,
and / do not express an opinion on that ques-
tion-let every fair means be resorted to to
prove the guilt. We don't employ detectives
to get confessions from prisoners. Their
duty is TO collect evidence against them which
can be produced in open court. From the
moment of incarceration in Q police cell
the arresting or responsible officers should
never be allowed to see the prisoner even.
lish officer in arresting a man on such
charge, you are not bound to do 30.
Whatever you may say will be taken dow
and used as evidence against you at your
| trial. The same formula is used by the
committing magistrate. Our English police
| are dense enough. God knows, but there Is
public opinion which does not allow them to
go very far wrong.
Does not America care for fair plny2 If &C
let the boy have q chance; don't worry him
into making q confession. II, however. you
don't care for fair play over here. why waste
time in talkingp There Is the fellow-prisonel
dodge, rs worked in France. which coul6
be tried. Failing the efficacy of this. there
are other ways Of getting at the truth ()
such as, for instance, the maiden" the
ordeal by fire. by water. or perchance the
gentle thumbscrew would commend itself.
Then the Mlkado gives q hint" Something
with boiling oil in it-or is it lead ?" Any.
how, something lingering"
But, sir, you have great power. Speak NJ
for fair play.
A. I. BowDEN. m Englishman.
IS West Twentieth street.