New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-31
DETECTIVE METHODS.

The prospective reorganization Of the Detec-
tive Bureau brings sharply TO the front the
question of policy to be pursued hereafter IN
dealing with criminals. Are thieves TO be
treated as one OF the recognized elements OF
society who have place in the community
which subject to certain restrictions and risks,
they are permitted 10 occupy or are they TO be
the objects of a war of eXterminationf The
difference is fundamental In the first case the
detectives and thieves have sort Of modus
yivendi They are enemies but the fight goes
on according to certain well understood rules.
In the second case the only relation which
policeman can have with criminal is that of
hunter.
The policy of limited federation is the one
which has long been followed in this city. Per
haps il would be unjust to say. as a general
proposition, that the police and thieves Of New
York have been partners. though doubtless in
many individual instances such partnership has
existed. Certainly. however the two forces
have had an understanding. The detectives
knew the thieves and where TO find them, not
TO arrest them, but TO consult and bargain with
them. The latter were not guaranteed against
arrest IL caught red handed or If police policy
required an example of detective efficiency; but
detective science consisted less in hunting law
breakers than in buying information from them.
The thieves purchased a moderate degree or
blindness in ordinary operations by helping the
police in time Of emergency. When for any
reason IL has been necessary to recover any
particular piece of stolen goods the police have
let the thieves understand that there was
mistake made and the property must be given
up on pain of trouble for the whole criminal
community. When it is worth while the police
almost always find it possible to recover stolen
goods NOT by brilliant detective work but by
negotiation This negotiation sometimes takes
the form OF payment TO the thieves and promise
of immunity In this way, It is said, the restora-
ton of jewels stolen In a recent sensational rob-
berry secured AS facilitating the work of
the police, victims of criminal enterprise are
expected TO pay the more or less innocent
holders OF stolen goods for their advances to
the thieves. A little time ago sneakthieyes
entered house and walked off with a guam
fity of silver The police were at once called
in, and within a few hours the property was
found in a pawnbroker's establishment. The
owner was asked by the police to pay the pawn
broker the sum called for by his ticket saving
that there was no legal obligation, but that If
people took stolen goods from pawnbrokers
without paying for them the police would find
IL more difficult TO trace articles. and other citi
who might be robbed in future would
suffer.
This system obviously means the practical
licensing OF crime. In theory 1t is immoral
Nevertheless 1t is defended by many detectives
as the most expedient method of keeping crime
within bounds. 1t is said that the police do not
allow crime, but, recognizing that a certain
amount OF crime is bound TO exist take meas
ures 10 keep the offenders within narrow limits
'ssS could not recover al stolen property or