The record-union., 1894-04-12
weaknesses. 1t is the only trace Of fraud
We retain in fha hncinnSc

weaknesses. 1t is the only trace Of fraud
we retain in the business.
i had case of murder once where
some pretense and acting on my part
produced the sole evidence on which the
conviction which followed was based.
A body was found in Philadelphia in
trunk shipped from New York. 1t was
traced back to the house where it started,
here in this city. For unimportant rea-
sons. suspected three men and tried
the shadowing plan. It failed and we
were in despair. Deciding on desperate
simultaneously but separately. Singly
they were brought here and kept apart.
None knew that the others were
IN custody. Sizing them up, be-
gan with the one l thought the
weakest in character. / seated him at
window overlooking the court in front of
the cells. | tried TO make him talk about
the crime, but could not draw from him
a word. So l changed my line and told
him knew more than he thought l did,
and almost enough to convict him. When
he was shaken little in his obStlnacy
and somewhat alarmed / gave pre-
arranged signal.
Immediately one Of the mans accom-
plices was marched slowly across the
court, handcuffed and held by two offi-
GERS. | was not near the window, ana
pretended not to know what was going
on outside. l saw by the mans express
sion that he was astonished and dis
turbed, and l said as lmpreSslvely as
could that either he or another must con-
fess all that happened. In this strain
continued for about fifteen minutes more,
when the other man was marched across
the court in the same way.
Nothing is so unbearable to a crimi-
nal as uncertainty, mystery, and the sus-
picion of his friends. What this man
thought l do not know, but L suppose he
believed that the other had been caught
with some evidence, or had confessed.
Anyway he gave in, and, weeping like a
child, he dropped on his knees and
begged us to save MIN. Then l took a
tirmer tone and SAID / could not
help him; that he must make a
clean breast of it, and trust to the ad-
vantage of our good will and the mercy
of the court. He told all before witnesses
and his statement was taken down.
Armed with this statement, the detect
i've convinced the others that the first
had sold them and drew from them sepa-
rate statements. The crime was proven
and they all were convicted.
At another time man killed woman
in little room, with no one present or
absolutely no proof The Superintend-
ent enjoyed telling how he made the
murderer confess. After talking to him
for several hours and working his mind
full of fears, the Superindent gave up
hope for a while. Then he determined to
horrify the man with his own crime. tie
sent for everything that was in the little
room where the crime was committed
and arranged cell as near as possible
like the scene of the murder. The weap-
onS, the chairs, a box and sofa were put
in the cell. When all was ready the pris-
oner was put in there with everything
darkened and left alone. For three hours
he held out: then began to cry for the
guard. No attention was paid to him for
two awful hours, and when he was taken
out he asked to be conducted to the Su-
perintendent. He confessed, made a
statement before witnesses and was
hanged.
These all are instances of Byrnes' indi-
vidual triumphs. They are the work of
the detective. AS chief of detectives he
has made an excellent record. When he
took charge of the bureau he drove out
many of the men previously employed
there. He says their chief occupation
was standing in the streets in conspicuous
places. conspicuously dressed, and their
purpose was TO make themselves as well
known as possible, as detectives. ByrneS
had done great deal of difficult detec-
tive work as an officer In the ranks and as
a Captain of a precinct. He had un-
ravelled the mystery Of the Manhattan
Bank robbery. He knew good men, and
these he brought with him TO the detective
bureau. Plainness of dress and quiet
manners was required, and the men were
put to hard work studying criminals and
making daily reports.
Besides this reorganization Of the main
office, Byrnes started branch bureau in
Wall street. That part of the city was
infested by thieves, who stole bonds,
stocks and money out of offices and even
from clerks who were carrying valuable
certificates from one office to another.
As soon as the new Chief Inspectors
proposition became known to the mem-
bers of the Stock Exchange he was
offered room i'll the exchange building.
He accepted and put force of detectives
in it. with orders to arrest every crook
seen below Chambers street, whether he
was doing anything wrong or not. The
effect was immediate and bankers, brok-
ers and business men are so grateful
that Byrnes is inmovable in his position.
This effective order to make arrests
without cause, other than the suspicious
character of the prisoner, is the strongest
and worst feature of Byrnes' police pol
lev. He has applied the principle gener-
ally throughout the city, and his success
in suppressing crime is the result of this
more than anything else. He has gone
further than this, however. He has dealt
almost criminslly with criminals. Their
unscrupulousness he has watched, and
the dread of Byrnes is caused as much by
the fear of his injustice as of his shrewd-
ness. If he decides that any criminal
must leave New York, that man
goes, For he knows that Byrnes will
3send him up" on some charge
or other, no matter how low the
fated man lies. Many stories pretty well
authenticated are told of this sort of work
and there are many men, experienced in
dealing with criminals, who justify it.
They say criminals have an advantage
when perfect justice is the practice
and consequently no respect for the man
so limited. But when they know that
the Superintendent will put in operation
all his machinery and influence to make
it hot for them. they confess the inn
possibility of staying here. by going
away. Perhaps this is one reason why
so many notorious criminals, formerly OF
New York, are now operating in Paris,
London, Berlin and on the Riviera.
j. l.. S.
pOGTCE PTCKTNGS