The San Francisco call., 1895-11-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
A WORD FOR THE POLICE DEPART
MENT

To the Editor Of the San Francisco Cdll-SIR:
Now that the Durrant trial is ended, and peo-
pie are talking about the causes which led 10
the result that has been reached, more or less
praise being bestowed upon different persons
who were engaged in the case, 1 wish to speak
word by way of giving credit where con-
slider it justly due, but in a direction which the
public in such cases are too prone to overlook.
Judge Murphy, whom I have known for gen.
Grafton, undoubtedly honored his position by
the able and impartial manner in which he
presided. Mr.. Barnes has apparently covered
himself with glory by his management of the
case for the people, and by his brilliant and
mastery address at the close; and the jury has,
py the promptneSs of the verdict, won the ap-
PROBATION and applause of good citizens gener-
ally. | wish, however, while not detracting
aught from any of these, TO direct attention to
the importance OF which is liable in great
measure, to be ignored, yet but for which the
result OF the trial would in all probability have
peen lar different from what it is.
To the detective force of our City believe is
largely due the 1act that Theodore Durrant
now lies prisoner in the County Jail awaiting
sentence OF death for the murder OF Blanche
Lamont. 1t Is not only in tracing the murder
TO the accused, and in collecting and supply
ing to the prosecuting attorney the evidence
which he used to secure the conviction that
the force proved of such value, but the expert
ence OF Captain Lees and his thorough knowl-
eoge OF criminal affairs qualified him to assist
ing and weighing the evidence in show
ing the bearing of its different parts and
In calling attention to the Importance of por-
tlons that to an ordinary person would perhaps
nave seemed trivial, as well as in pointing out
the weak places in the defense and suggesting
the best way of attacking them, thus enabled
him to render the department OF which he is the
mead Invaluable service as an auxiliary TO
the prosecution, which Mr.. Barnes no doubt is
as ready to acknowledge as any one.
have been for thirty years a close observer
OF police and criminal matters in this City,
having for large part of that time been SO
engaged as to be brought in continual contact
with them. 1 have known Captain Lees during
the entire period, and Chief Crowley ever since
he was first placed at the head OF the depart
ment. l have watched the growth and de-
velopment OF the police force from the handful
OF crudely organized, politically controlled and
frequently changing men that formerly con-
stltuted the force to the splendid, powerful and
efhclent organization that it now is, and OF
which we certainly have reason TO be proud.
L LOOK upon it as almost if not quite the right
arm OF our City government l regard it as
the chief protection OF our wives, our daughters
and our sisters, we'll as of ourselves. Il con-
slider the detective portion OF the force our
great reliance for protection against the worst
and most dangerous class of villains. l look
upon Captain Lees as Nestor among his kind,
and the part borne by him in the late trial l
set down as one OF the great achievements OF
his career. JAMES WooDwoRTH,
Secretary California Prison Commission.