The record-union., 1895-04-24
AN UNsoUND CONDITION.
Sensible Comment on the detective
(TsaZa
From the san Francisco CALL

craze.
From the San Francisco Call.
Nearly every resident of the city seems
to have been transformed into theoret-
lcal detective by the recent awful and
mysterious murders, for the officers and
newspapers have been overwhelmed
WITH theories. 1t is natural for the peo-
pie 10 have opinions, but when it comes
TO serious Celebrations of theories they
nave comparatively little value except in
q purely literary way, are rarely of any
assistance IN the actual work of running
down the crime, and when undertaken
by persons not specially trained in this
dlthcult line OF literary work are inVari-
ably foolish, annoying and superfiuous.
All this voluntary detective work pro-
ceeds from two causes. One is that
species of vanity which nnds expression
otherwise in shrewd guesses al the in
volved plots of stories and dramas.
Another Is popular misunderstanding
concerning the actual work OF terreuing
out crime. That word ''ferreting" eX-
plains the whole case of the real detective.
naturalist, if asked to give the best
method OF bringing rat out of its hole,
Will apply his scientific knowledge to the
case, and by an elaborate course of rea-
soning devise some ingenious scheme
wholly theoretical and more than likely
impracticabIe. But a ferret turned loose
upon the same business viii pursue the
rat bodily and bring 1t forth. II is well,
therefore, To leave the hunting OF rats to
terrets and the discovery OF criminals to
men qualified both by instinct and special
training to do the work best.
The popular tendency TO interfere in
this dreadful case shows that the average
mind is given over TO its contemplation.
This is a vice, and as such is deplorable;
and its encouragement by the news
paper publication OF private theories is
vicious. The law has machinery of its
own for such cases; and when il is evil
dent, as in this case, that the most careful
and intelligent work is being done by the
machinery OF the law, there is no excuse
whatever for interfering with its opera
ton.
To what extent the press in deCency
may 60 IN such case in organizing its
reporters into a detective corps is a mat
ter 10 be measured by the publishers 8
sense OF his responsi bility to the pu blic.
II his independent detective work ham
pers that OF the police and inflames the
public mind, then clearly his course is
not taken either with view to assist the
law or to contribute a healthy element to
the moral tone of the community. 1t will
not do to say that newspaper should
give the news without regard to all other
considerations. That would mean TO say
merely that the publisher is willing to
cripple the law ana degrade Lne moral
sense Of his readers if by SO doing he can
sell a few more copies OF his paper.
Let every sensible person, therefore,
drop the case from his mind. The law
now has it in hand, and that is sufficient.
All the real and reliable news of the case
will appear in the Cali hereafter as for
merly, and there it will stop. This is
great city, noble State and great coun-
try, in which important things are hap
naming every laV Ar turn now n
this wholesome record, and thereby drag
our minds out of the noXious depths into
which they have fallen, and turn our
faces to the great throbbing world which
is passing in the full light of heaven be-
fore US.