The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-27
THE DETECTIVES STORY.
How He Once Transcribed His Duty
and Caught the Thief.


Although the law protects police of
ficer in the execution of his duty" said
one of Mr.. Byrnes's detectives the other
day, ''yet there are occasions when the
officer makes himself personally liable by
arresting a citizen. l have had several
experiences which left me in doubt for a
long time as to my personal responsi-
bility, and l remember particularly one
case where it looked as though | would
get myself into heap of trouble by re-
fusing to take the advice of my friends.
That was very peculiar case, one that
will not forget.
Il had become interested in trying to
work out the solution of mysterious
case of theft, and had become so absorbed
in my work that my curiosity and desire
to come to some definite conclusion i'm
PEELED me to 90 beyond ordinary bounds.
| had nothing but suspicion and sort of
intuitive feeling to act upon, and had
against me threat of suit for personal
damages and the opposition of all those
persons who, were interested in the mat
ter in one way or another The facts
were simply these:
"A wealthy family living on the west
side, not far from Central park lost
number of valuable articles in the most
mysterious fashion. | was acting as the
detective in that precinct at the time,
and the captain sent me around to ferret
out the thief. / found that the people
lived in a beautiful house, which was
Just full of valuable articles that could
easily be stolen by person who had &C
cess to them. On the other hand, it was
difficult for burglar or sneak thief to
get in, as the place was not only guarded
BY good locks but had also burglar
alarm, which was set whenever the fam
lily and servants retired. During the day
and evening there were enough persons
about the house to spot any thief that
might effect an entrance.
THE family consisted of husband. wife,
and. baby, and there were four or five ser
wants; Including nurse. The latter had
it about as easy as any servant could
wish for Fer employers were Calilor-
mans, had lots Of money, dotted on their
child, and were liberal to its caretaker.
They had been absent for about a week,
and it was during their absence that the
thefts became so alarming as 10 cause
them to complain TO the police when they
returned. ,---
II was so well satisfied, after short
preliminary examination of the house
and surroundings, that the thief was in
side and not outside, that devoted all my
time to watching and cross-examining the
servants. l had no difficulty with any
except the nurse. She was very uppish
and short and acted as though she con-
sidered my questions insulting. In this
attitude she was supported by her en-
ployers, who said that there was no rea-
son in the world for suspecting her, while
they we're not so certain of the other ser
wants The latter. however, were so di-
rect and frank in their replies TO all my
questions that became convinced that
they were innocent. | therefore turned
my attention to the nurse, and watched
her whenever / went TO the house.
Although / could get no evil
dence against her, l became thoroughly
convinced that she was the thief Try
as would, however, l could not find any
thing TO support my belief. Finally, my
ardor led me into formally arresting her,
although her master and mistress pro-
tested against my doing So took her