Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-12-14
Spoilers" and "Spotting. e"

Recent events in this state have
brought out in the strong light Of
earnest discussion the question of en-
ploying spoilers" so called, to secure
evidence as to the commission of Grim
inal offences, particularly intring-
ments Of the prohibitory law. Is it
right? Is it wise? If right, is it wise ?
What is "spotter2" Those who
believe in the "spotter'' system will
tell you that a "spotter" is a private
detective, engaged by parties desiring
to secure evidence not otherwise OBJ
tainable that his acts just as honor
able as any other detectives; and that
even if sometimes they seem trifle
queer they should be overlooked in
view of the end he is trying to attain.
Those who do not believe in the
"spotting" system point cut the very
great difference which exists between
the reputable detective, pursuing his
ordinary way, and the 'spotter," as he
commonly exists. The detective toll
lows the clues that he is able to acquire
in the effort to ferret out crime that
has been committed. Sometimes he
gets into the confidence of the crimi-
nails and secures evidence from their
own mouths. 1t is quite possible tor a
detective to pursue a noble calling in
this way without once staining his own
garments. We say it is possible, but
we will quality this by the assertion
that it is very uncommon, The pri-
waite detective system rs it exists is
rotten to the core and justly discounte-
nanced in most localities that have
had any experience with it.
But a "spotter," according to the
common understanding, is a person
who sits by and sees crime committed,
who even connives and suggests its
commission, in order that he may re-
veal his accomplices. lie goes to work
deliberately to secure the commission
OF crime. His success is measurable
only by the amount of crime he can
manage to see committed. He acts
on the assumption that the men he is
spying on are chronic criminals and
that when he has detected them he has
only revealed them in their true light.
In so far as he does anything to ZEN
courage them on in evil, in so far as
he omits TO do anything within his
power to dissuade them from evil. he
is disobeying not only human. but
divine, law. The end does not Justify
the means in this, any more than in
other, questionable ways of securing
the accomplishment of certain ends
admitted to be for the general good.
How is the spotter to know that the
man he is urging. or even permitting.
to do.wrong would certainly do it any
way Is he prepared to answer his
own conscience in every such case?
Does the ''spotter" business appeal TO
your ideas of high honor2 Do YOU see
men Of character, discretion and abiH-
| ty engaged in it2 Would You like TO
follow it. or have your som Is the
system countenanced by the public
sentiment of any community wherein
it has been tried, whatever the pre-
text
For one. we do not believe in "spot-
tiers or ''spotting.~ When any law
Is so well enforced in Vermont that
the only method of securing proof ofI
its violation is by sending men out 70
spy under the guise OF participation
to aid and abet; to temptand connive
IN order to bring about the Situation
that makes the disclosure Of legal val
ue that law is so well enforced that
the state is in no danger that demands
the adoption Of means so questionable
. For all pension busfrags s.,,, .. -