The Washington times., 1894-10-07
WASHINGTON'S DETECTIVES
Men Skilled in Tracing the Criminal
to His Lair.
ALL GOOD-NATURED SLEUTHS
Sut That Doesn't Prevent Them From Con-
stituting One of the Most Effective Bodies
Of the Kind in the Country-something
About Their Individual History.

The welfare of every community largely
depends upon the character Of its police or
CARNATIONS, and that in turn must rely TO a
considerable extent upon its secret service
bureau.
It's a popular fallaey that policemen are
hired solely to arrest persons, to apprehend
and take into custody every individual who
may be so unfortunate as 70 make himself
amenable to the law by violating, often IN
intentionally, some petty ordinance. Never
theless. and it is to be regretted, there are
too many policemen who have Just such
conception OF their duties
How different is the private on the force
who regards his vocation as OF broader scope
and invested with opportunities which, if i'm
proved, make him distinguished operator in
a skilled profession. Such man will exer-
else more than ordinary intelligence and dis
cretion in disposing Of subjects which call for
his interference. How often might the un-
fortunate. whose ofrense is intoxication for
the first or second time, be guided few steps
to his home rather than be provoked 10 dlsor-
der by being thrown into patrol wagon TO be
conveyed 10 a cell. A responsible business
man might often be saved uncalled-for morti-
fcatiOn ana chagrin, and be made the staunch
adherent OF the law by notifying him TO aI-
pear in court TO answer ior some mlsd9-
meanor. instead OF locking him up. The
same forethought and judgment that would
warrant policeman extending such consid-
GRAFTON IA such instances would induce him to
use his baton only in self-defense ana 10 dis
perse crowd before breach OF the peace or
crime was committed.
A man Of integrity on any police force who
realizes that il is as much his duty 10 prevent
as il IS to detect crime viii gam a foremost
position in his profession. because the op-
portunity viii present itself when iltelli-
gence will assert itself and be recognized.
From this class Of men should be selected
the material for the detective bureau Of a
well-regulated police department. Once there
a conscientious performance Of duty viii
keep such member constantly employed,
if not in analyzing motives and methods aud
connecting them with individuals to whom
they relate. in searching for the characters
whose identity has been established or who
stalks abroad IN the community with evil in
tendons.
The detective service Of the District OF Co
lUmbia now occupies the first suite Of rooms
upon the ground floor Of the police head
quarters building. with all the equipments
ton and operation Of a detective corps. The
inspector in charge has his private Office with
books for ready reference and gallery of
rogues at his right and on his left.
Contiguous 10 this Office is the apartment
set aside for the use of the members of the
corps. Desks for correspondence. handouts
for emergencies. and circulars and reward
offers Of every description acorn these quar-
ters.
Adjoining is a waiting room where those
who NAV have business 10 transact are per
mittcd 10 sit. IN front is the detective office
proper. The detectives whose duties are in
doors as assistants TO the inspector have their
desks, files and correspondence properly ar
ranged in the room. Nearby is the curious
Maltese cross. with its lineal measurement de-
vices. against and under which the criminal
is measured according to the Bertillon
method. The length of foot. size Of head,
nose and ears, marks and color Of eyes, and
various other details enter into this system.
which has proven OF far greater service in
prison than police use.
There are kept in this Office the full quota
OF records which might belong to a well sys-
tematiZed bureau. The reports Of the detec-
tiyes are complete synopsis OF the officers
labOrs for the preceding tWenty-four hours
Each day pawn and junk reports and each
weeks deadly weapon sales are cared for by
a detective assigned to this duty. who COM
pares the lists thus received with the reported
losses IN search of lost and stolen property.
Gases OF crime which have been reported are
assigned in regular order 10 the several men,
bers Of the corps. who are expected TO work
each separate case TO the courts and compile
ton. The apprehension Of the thief is held
paramount 10 the recovery Of the property
The courts and district attorneys require
much of the time of the detectives.
PrOmptness in disposition OF cases and in
returning property are two requisites in this
bureau, and the whereabouts Of members of
the staff is always known 10 the chief Prog
ress in all matters is reported to him, and re-
wards for service are eschewed, except in
rare cases, when they are forwarded TO the
superintendent upon receipt, and by him sent
to the District Commissioners for their dis
position.
The detective corps is composed of twelve
privates, detailed for their special qualifica-
tions, and who receive an increased annual
allowance of S240 over the ordinary pay. is
an intelligent, energetic. and honorable body
Of men. They do not claim TO be as skilled
as some others in the country but their
knowledge Of local criminals is excellent, and
an experience of years with Inauguration
and convention crowds has given them more
than a limited acquaintance with outsiders.
Lieut.. and Inspector Lewis A. HolIinberger.
who i IN 81 1F an