Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
PERILS OF THE DETECTIVE
MEN OF THE LAW FIND THEM
SELVES IN TIGHT CORNERS.
Officer Arrests q Balloonist. Aero
naut Cuts Loose and Both Sail
Into Cloudland.

From Casselrs Saturday Journal
The notice officer who recently went to
snain TO arrest a man In connection with
the ID. s Windell case had the exciting
experience Of sailing in an open boat
from a Spanish port along with his pris-
oner. The idea was to avoid international
combinations. for the man in custody
was Of Dutch nationality and he could
not be conducted through French terri
tory. And SO the English detective OFFICER
underwent a unique experience ana one
fraught with great danger.
Oficers Of the law are placed In ex-
traordinary situations at times A French
detective was sent to arrest some coiners
only a few days ago When he arrived
at the appointed place he found great
dog, which had been left in charge of the
suspected building by fellow-omcer. me
animal thought the newcomer was one OF
the criminals and it Immediately pinned
the policeman to the ground, holding MIN
fast and allowing the real criminals TO
escape When rescued the officer was In
a serious condition
Arrested In Midair.
More nerve-racking was the rate OF an
English detective who was In the act OF
reading a warrant for the arrest OF
MISUNDERSTANDING in the basket of the bal
loon at the time-when the owner severed
the rope. and away both men sped into
the air Fortunately. the first law OF
nature-self- preservation-saved the life of
the officer, though he had many anxious
moments during the first half hour when
his CAPTIVE threatened to take the balloon
into the clouds. Somewhat similar was
the incident Of the detective and the stee-
nletack The officer was ordered to ar
%l. e4lI Ava ~
ing the visit, and so he remained at his
post, which was about $50 feet from the
ground. The detective determined to
reach him. and he began climbing up the
fragile-looking ladder. the steeplejack In
yitinz him to approach with many jeers
The invitation was accepted, but when
the officer came alongside the prisoner 1t
was only to find himself perfectly help
less because he could not get down with
out the aid Of the steeplejack. who. OF
hours the two men remained perched in
midair. until the arrival of couple of
experts released the detective.
"a Hours in a Cupboard.
The writer of this article. in conversa-
ton with a detective. discovered that the
greatest risks run by officers are during
the times they have to chain themselves
to their captives. A case was quoted
where promising young officer. who was
sitting chained to a prisoner in q. railway
carriage. was dragged to his death by the
fellow suddenly jumping from the train.
Both prisoner and captor were killed.
The late Detective Superintendent Van
Helden of the Birmingham police, who
was Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain's favorite
personal detective. once remained for
twenty-four hours crouched in small
cupboard while obtaining evidence
against gang Of forgers. When he
emerged from his uncomfortable position
he thought he was par>lyzed for life. but
his psysique pulled him through-he had
not tasted food during his vigil-and
he had the pleasure of bringing all his
men into the dock. The same officer was
fond of recounting the story of a con-
tinental colleague who arrested a party
of six anarchists in their own bomb fac
tory by threatening to apply a lighted
match to the explosives il they showed
any resistance.