The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-06

1t is probably the ambition Of seven out
of every ten American boys. before they
have grown out of knickerbockers, to be a
detective. The fame of "Old Sleuth" and
other imaginary heroes of the yellow
backed novels arouses in the youthful
breasts an enthusiastic desire 70 emu
late them. The lightning-like DISCUSSES
brave rescues of beautiful girls. and thrill
ing arrests of famous criminals by the de-
tectives in the stories are delightful to the
boys. and they wish they could go at once
into the detective business and win glory,
like the people in the books
Without going into a consideration Of
the harmful effect of such stories upon the
minds of boys, we wish to bring to the at
tention of the boys themselves and to the
attention of their parents, an incident IL
Illustrating one phase of detective life as
1t actually is, and ask them to consider It.
During a notable murder trial in the city
of Buffalo, n. Y. only week or so ago,
the following dialogue, between an attor-
ney and detective who had worked up
the case, occurred
How often have you lied since you be-
came detective?"
Very often"
How long have you been a detective?"
For twenty-nine years"
And you have lied all that timer"
whenever it was for the interests of
the people. l never was under oath when
/ told lies to criminals in order to get
them to open up"
DO you remember lying 10 the newspa-
pers while the Robinson investigation
was on?"
Yes l lied whenever I thought it was
to the interest of the people. l consid-
cred it justifable."
Under the most favorable construction
that the detective himself could put upon
his occupation, it was one that required
him to tell faisehoods. For twenty-nine
years he had been telling untruths to the
people through the newspapers whenever
he thought it "in the interest of the peo-
pie" Would it be surprising if he had told
falsehoods whenever he thought it to his
| own interest? Is it to be expected that
man who tells lies habitually as a matter
of business will keep an unwarped con-
! science. which will direct him Alright in his
private life?
! that he not only told lies when he deemed
| it expedient to further his purposes, but
/ his powers of mendacity were exerted to
make friendships in order that he might
betray them. He told lies to criminals in
/ order to get them to open up"-that is, tell
/ him about their crimes. Unless he is an
/ infallible mortal. during those twenty-nine
! 10. l,,1 . IL
/ great many suspected persons who were
not criminals. Presumably he tried to en-
trap them also, and told them falsehoods
in order to get them into the tolls of the
law and win his salary or fees. It is pos
/ sible that a mentally and morally sound
| boy should wish to engage in such a bust
ness?
The detectives Office, in itself, is honora-
BILE. But it is nightly degenerated.
/ There must be somebody to hunt down
criminals and bring them TO justice. If
/ 1t were not for the honest detectives. the
law would be seriously hampered But
/ all detectives are not honest, and the bus
mess of the detective is not at all elevating
/ or refining. On the other hand, the infiu-
! cnCtS SulfOuliNilS the utleCliNe are ue-
grading, and it requires an extraordinary
moral constitution to resist those infu-
ences.
The assertion by inference OF the Buffalo
detective. that Il is necessary for a detec-
tive to tell falsehoods and that such false
hoods are justihable. is an open question.
/ However that may be- right minded
J -.
/ become detectives. when there is a possl-
bility that falsehood and deception may
] become The chief qualifications required.