The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-03-03
DESCRIBED BY ALBERT n. MO.
DRlCkER, THE OLD
HAWKSHAW,

(Mr. Modricker's next story will
tell of an incident in the career of
the famous detective, Bob Cush-
ing)
When a detective arrests a man
for certain crime he naturally be-
lieves him guilty of it unless proof
to the contrary is forthcoming =
especially is this true if the cir
cumstantial If not what may be
called clinching evidence Is
strong against him. All his efforts
are put forth to working up evil
dence to convict him. He usually
rejects-that is, some detectives -
everything tending to prove his in
| nocence. These detectives are be-
rated for doing this; and, rightly,
too, at times, and yet the prosecut-
| ing attorney, pursuing the same
| line of conduct, no criticism Is Of
fered or made. This has puzzled
me not a little during my long ca
reer as detective. However, to
continue, the prosecutor must be-
lieve him guilty in order to do his
best--the prisoners counsel must
believe him innocent in order to
do his best-then, when both sides
have pursued this line and the case
has been submitted to a jury-an
intelligent, unbiased jury - justice
can ask no more.
I'm puzzled on these points at
times, and, during my 20 odd years
Of duty as detective, private and
official, I may naturally be sup
posed to have met with some re.
markable adventures and peculiar
experiences, and to have been ask
ed all sorts of questions relative to
detective work and otherwise One
of the most frequent ones are as
to what is my favorite study and
as to what Is the most difficult task
in "shadowing."
To the first / will reply that
psychology is my favorite study-a
study that Is invaluable to a detec-
tive; to the second, perhaps the
hardest task in Swallowing" is
watching for man who goes into
a big office building. Figuratively
speaking, there must be a man at
each entrance; if he comes out my
way | must take him up, as we
say; If he goes into another big
building, with more entrances, |
must rush messenger to the Of
flee for more men. And in this
connection l would say, one of the
meanest of all jobs is to wait Is
or more hours before a house for
q man, and to learn afterward that
he had left the building by a back
yard escape IL or more hours be-
fore-which gives the other "boys"
On the force a chance to smile at
your expense - something de-
tective dislikes very much.
Speaking of smiling at others
expense, perhaps the best l ever
heard on detective Is substantial
ly as follows:
The little city had been overrun
with burglars, and it behooved the
city authorities to protect it's citi-
zens, and, such being the case, they
hired detective to discover, If
possible, the perpetrators of the
many petty burglaries, supposed to
be local talent.
The detectives individuality was
too prominent" and it took the
gang of burglars (?) about Is min.
utes to spot" him. The city paid
him So a day and expenses and
gave him carte blanche to fill up
the gang (supposed) with beer and
make them laxative.
The gang took to the beer in a
manner that was a fright-ni fact,
in manner that would have bank
rupted the little city in a short
time, and talked enough to work"
the detective" yet not enough by
any manner of means to incrimin-
ate themselves even If they were
guilty. They told of the "beer
snap and probably would have
been drinking yet at the expense
of the taxpayers had not the "sus.
poets" became so numerous that
the detective" learned that he was
being played for a sucker. The city
paid $10S50 for the entertainment
of the burglars and their friends
the detective" luckily, managed
to make his escape.