The Portland daily press., 1894-12-22


force that Scotland Yard is recruited, and it
may be taken for granted that all men con-
nected with the celebrated Scotland Yard
are vigilant sleuth-houdns, who slumbeI not
or sleep. Men who at a moments notice
are prepared to visit the uttermost parts Of
the earth, familiar with all languages. ca
pabie of every conceivable form of DISCUS
from bishop of the highest church to a
Whitechapel tough. from provincial DUDE
to a cockRey costermonger. These various
specialties are on tap. and can be turned
out in the twinkling of an eye. Stroll WIN
me into one of the principal depots, say
Charing Cross. 1t is evening. and the
Continental express is due. observe
among the curious conglome1ation that
goes toscompose London crowd, and al
ways at the outskirts number of uri-
GUS people, invaria bly, with umbrellas OF an
Enthusiastically new and unused appearance.
These men as rule are detectives. Anoth-
er point that without fail gives the detec-
tive away besides the clumsy manner in
which he carries his umbrella, and that is
his shoes. They are of the policeman pat
tern. ,Glance a them, and with their classic
pr proportions fixed your minds eye compare
them withItne shoes of the first policeman
you meet; then observe the similarity. The
duties OF Scotland Yard are multifarious.
Political and criminal detectives are al
ways i'm demand. There is an annual sum
of money voted by Parliament TO the secret
service fund, and no doubt Scotland Yard
absoros a goodly share of it. Political
detectives are employed to follow. watch
and report at meetings of an extreme char
acter, which are generally held in Hyde
Park. Various foreigners find employment
in the yard" and receive handsome sala-
ries.
THE MUSEUM OF CRIME.
There is an interesting museum in con-
nectien with Scotland Yard. 1t is neces-
sary to obtain an order from the Home Sec.
rotary in order to visit this unique place.
Here may be found the various belongings
of the 'cracksman,' the common burglar
and assassin. On the occasion of the writ
er's visit he was, upon entering the muse
um handed pistol and a bullet to ey-
anime. do you know the case they belong
to?'' was asked. Replying negatively. the
answer came, "That pistol and that bullet
killed the infamous Carey, the arch inform
er who at the Invncible trial in Dublin be-
trayed his fellow assassins, and richly de-
served the death he met with Among the
curios were the relics of the celebrated
burglar. Charles Peace, who. after life of
daringsrobberies, closed it upon the gallows.
he having been sentenced to death for kill
inL a policeman. Prior to his execution
Peace confessed to murder which had oc-
cured seventeen years previously, and for
which another man had been arrested,
tried, and sentenced to death, and by the
merest chance royal clemency had. been
granted: other wise a perfectly innocent
man would most assuredly have been put
to death.
AN INFAMOUS BURGLARS METHODS.
Peace's burglarious implements were re-
mar kable. He had several disguises; his
fayorite role was that of preacher; he also
went about frequently one-armed vet
eran: his tools c1everly constructed; sever
al pieces of wood, about half an inch thick
and one foot in length fastened one to the
other with screw nails, constituted his lad
der; hook at one end enabled him to
catch on to a convenient cornice, and MIN.
BILE rs a cat the old man he was nearly
sixty years of age-speedily reached the prin-
ipal bedroom window. Peaoe's burglaries
were perpetrated principally during the
winter months, and when the family were
at dinner. Once in the bedroom Peace i'm
mediately locked the door, and inserted a
small block of wood. V-shaped, beneath it;
he then secured the door to the jamb by a
long screw nail, which had an effective
hook on the end, to this rope was at
tached, so that If fight were necessary.
everything was in readiness. In order to
enter a room when the door was locked.
Peace invented an instrument somewhat
like an exaggerated watch key of the class
that fits all watches. With this he caught
hold of the small portion of the door key
that protIuded on the outside; then his key
frightened upon it. so that it became the
simplest thing in the world to open s; a
locked door from the outside. Space will
not permit me dwelling upon the great nun
her Of curiosities contained in the Scotland
Yard Museum. l would advise all travellers
who can to see it for themselves, Without
belonging to the aristocracy of the detec-
tive world. which is undoubtedly Scotland
Yard, 1.-THE Bow street runners have a
hist DRY of their own, little less remarkable
and equally full of interest.