The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-01
FAMOUS SCOTLAND YARD.
Where the Fascinating Romance or
Crime Is Written but Not
Published.
A Detective, After Thirty Years
Of Service, Retires and
Writes q Book.
Observation-Disclosures by Voice
Rather Than Eye.

There il always a fascination In the ro-
nance of crime, and actual incidents given
0 n good authority come home TO the imagi-
nation more impressively than fiction.
Moreover, some acquaintance with our de-
tective system is not only interesting, but
useful, says the London Times. We never
know when We maj have recourse to police
assistance ourselves, and so great arc the
changes which have recently been made in
the detective force that the department has
been practically recognized. All that il
briefly but lucidly explained by Mr.. Lans-
downe, \ detective inspector, who was late
ly in the criminal investigation depart
ment.
A model detective should be \ genius in
his line, and men OF original genus are
rare in all professions. Many murder
GUS or burglarious mysteries have never
been cleared up, though, like the
Whitechapel murders, they created a
profound sensation, and set the whole COM
manity on the alert. What strikes us, we
are sorry to say, in reading these reminiscent
ces is that crimes may he perpetrated with
comparative impunitX il the criminal com
biues audacity with calm reflection, II he
dispenses with confederntes and can keep
his own counsel. One crime is quickly sue
ceeded by others; and the records OF
"docket," of the early one being. pigeon
hoIed, are naturally neglected and forgot
ten. Nothing seoms easier than for \ man
with money at command to lose himself
among the millions of London. The GRIM
inal ought to know how to wait, and to Sc
cure himself, as a preliminary Of the means
oil waiting. The ''clew" is in most cases
extremely slight. and hasty deductions are
likely TO be deceptive and to hurry the de-
tectives away on false scents. As Il rule the
captured offender has been the victim
Of panic and precipitation. He makes
for Liverpool, Southampton or the port OF
London, and escape by foreign steamer 10
always periIous. Or he is in haste to
realize on stolen goods at the pawnnrokers
when the attention of the shopmen has
been newly directed to a list OF articles
infinitely described. Mr.. Lansdowne WAS
doubtless a shrewd and sagacious officer,
but, by his W admissions, his most bril-
liant successes were mostly due to an IN
apiration," to patient ~drudgery, or tohappy
accidents, He does not greatly believe in
DISCUSSES, and he declares the popular be-
lief to be mythical, that the detectives of
Scotland Yard have wnrdrobes OF costumes
rs multifarious as those Of Gaborlau's
Lecoq. Unlike NJ. Lecoq. he has no great
faith in detecting a disguised criminal BY
the eye. Mr.. Lansdowne wal more in the
habit Of going by the voice, which he con
siders an infallible test of identity.
One OF Mr.. L~ansdowne's stories turns on
the familiar plotting pad, so often used II
abused by novelists, where the declphering
of the address give the necessary clew. In
that case there was a large sum at stake:
followed his man to the Antipodes.
Though the runaway was caught. it was al
most a drawn game, for he had taken the
precautiun to spend every shilling OF the
stolen money. Next we nave illustrations
Of the difficulty Of getting evidence to con-
Wet notorious swlndling firms and begging
letter impostors, for though they rec .ive
answers in shoals to the circulars they
scatter broadcast, the postoflice s%crupnlous-
Nv keeps its secrets. 'Ihe Human Birds
claw" like Goby's "Main Coupee,''
proves that a man who is either de-
formed or mutilated is bound in com
mon prudence to keep honest. On the
other hand, 1.-THE Man with the Bull Neck
was more open to temptation, for possibly
vanity whispered that his shapes were unex-
c~eptionable, and thick set men are com
mon enough. The story is interesting.
moreover, as showing how easily a detect.
i've may be misled by specious appearances
stance a near relative of the lady who had
been robbed almost exactly answered the
description of the actual criminal. "a
Clock and Table Cover demonstrates how
much may be done in a special branch of
industry by a steady and silent burglar who
works alone, or with q wife for a partner.
But perhaps the story of 'The Red Han
aided Trunk is the most entertaining of
till: the tracing it tested all the in
benuity of the detective, though nothing
thore culpable was concerned in its
n. traction than the mechanism of a
There which had got out Of order. We
otadd that Mr.. Lansdowne left the force,
on Of thirty years active service, because he
his nerves were getting unequal to
.ustees. 'tinual strain, for the detective is al
petent core or less in danger, and may have
e onwartdeath at any time. Shortly before
m which gnation he had been nearly muir
INV in thj the streets of London by a deter
ne new ~ceuffian who carried q revolver. A
one char altered during the struggle. and
tho place sdowne assures US, though it sounds
citation. lie. that for fifteen minutes not one
oinob could muster pluck to coms to
with th,istancs. Even the cabman who had
!e to Ii him with his prisoner. held back,
hers a,e was probably indebted for his life to
$50 ip.rdy WAGNER.