The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
A NEW SCOTLAND YARD.
The Salvation Army as Detective
Agency.

Agency
London Daily Mail.
The Salvation Army has been instrument
tai during the year in tracing no fewer than
708 missing persons. $50
The total is a large one, but Colonel Stitt.
who has charge of this peculiar branch or
the army's work told Daily Mail repre-
sentative on Saturday shat after all, IL
was but a 1.-THE OF the number who, TO quote
his own words, drop out of existence IN
the course of twelve months. For London
alone the estimate is fixed at about y0O0.
What it is for all the countries in which
the army operates, or what the percentage
of finds the colonel was not able 10 say
offhand.
The Investigation department of the Sal
walton Army is unQueStiOnably doing an
important work It's inquiries are not con,
fined to the metropolis, nor to the united
Kingdom, but, with the exception OF Kus-
sia China and one or two other countries.
il practically embraces the whole world
IT is part and parcel of the army, ana eS-
sentially international. 1t is, SO 70 spedIh'
For the department is nothing II not am
bltious. 1t undertakes to search IN any
part of the world for missing or T hrine ~
Justice men who have ruined or Wrongeu
girls or women, and to inquire into tne re-
spectability of people, houses or situations IS
possible those in ditfculty: H.
With the organization of the army at It's
beck and call, with ofncers ana Cor wot coms
mand, it is in position TO execute coiii-
missions on the shortest possible NOTICE.
And while 1t is prepared TO 90 all Inns
without fee or reward, Colonel Stitt pointed
out that lit is also prepared 10 unuelsah nc
at moderate rates, detective cases anu III
Vestigations of certain descriptions Ior lloSe
in position to pay $3.50 az Tho
''There is no end" he exclaimed; 70 lne
possibilities Of department OF tsll S, Ai nr1e
We began in a very small way. some one
lost a friend, and wrote to US asking II we
could make inquiries through our oHceIs'
we did So and the result was hlgnly sduS
led the
the investigation department. rr.o -,,as
Some of the cases were cited: Inere was
nothing romantic about them. Tney IEeISIy
bore testimony to the general use 7 t %
such an agency They were OF an SOL 5,s enu
conditions. Runaway husbands Hto .5
who have deserted their little ones, llleH !i
who have been missing for years, girls
who have foolishly left their MONIES, emu
dren of tender years who nave peeh uecoS0u
ON One case case was that of a man who had left
his wife for sixteen years: me woman 1s.
sought the help Of the department IN oI h,1s,
if possible, to ascertain whether ner nus
hand was dead or alive. The army founo
him TO be alive and in poSitlon 70 supp tut
his wife The woman Woulo nave DSen "a, go
isfed with a modest IS a week. Inc nus
han5 declined TO nav so much. The army
essisted the woman in bringing the case
before magistrate insteao s SI , % I'VE wee a
Instances of this kind could be multlpilesQ l
nv the score; also of girls VINO nave IelI
their homes to go INTO been a Completely
lost to their relatives and friends. In course
~ ri I ;nvestieation within the purview of
t me Department. The idea would be to as
sist the police and bring offenders to justice.
would make a valuable police auxiliary.
The penitent form has on various occasions
served a useful purpose in this direction,
the penitents voluntarily consenting to ex-
Mate their offenses. -.
Colonel Stitt has keen appreciation OF
the Importance of the work ne mas IN mana.
Ali he wants is to extend it. AS he very
truly observed, "A great many people, in
searching for lost friends, spend lot OF val
liable time, as well as money, IN making IN,
o,1iries that cannot lead to any practical
good whereas, il they came to u.s.. they
would have placed at their service an lnyes-
ifs nnerations' The hint is one which it