The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
POLICE SURVEILLANCE.
Protection of the People Necessitates the Careful Watching
and 'bugging" Of UncOnvcted Criminals
Nv Ex-ATTACHE.

By EX-ATTACHE-
Alarmed by loose talk IN The English
newspapers on the subjet OF the alleged
inehiciency OF the police in solving mur-
der mysteries. Tory legislator ao-
dressed. tie other day. TO the secretary
Of state for the home department. an
inquiry in the House Of Commons, as 10
how many murders had been committed
since January. 1903. and as 70 IN how
many crimes OF this kind the perpetra-
tor has remained undiscovered
No one would have been surprised 70
have learned that half the asssssins we're
stin al large. But Parliament vas both
astonished and grauhed 20 leaTa froW the
reply BY Herbert Gladstone, given 70 this
question. after careful investigation, that
during the six and a half years that have
elapsed since January, 1893. there have
been, IN al. Just ninety-twO murders IN
London. that is to say. IN the huge Brit
ish metropolis, wiki its near 100000 in
habitants. q population larger than that
OF Belgium. Holland OF Portugal, greater
indeed. than the population Of Canada
and OF the continent OF Australia OF
course, this number does not include the
crime Of infanticide. which. I am soTry
10 say. Is no longer punished as a capital
onense IN England.
OF these ninety-two murders. the per
petrators have been arrested. brought 20
Justice, and convicted. IN on less than
elghty-tWo cases. With regard 20 the
remaining ter instances. where the perpe-
traitors escaped punishment. four we're
deaths brought on by Illegal operations.
and in the other six. the police acquired
knowledge Of the Identity OF e-4e guilty
parties. but were unable, for one reason
or another. 70 obtain the Legal evidence
necessary 20 secure conviction
Tho London Bobby has been 50
much abused in connection with his al
Ieged lnferiority in education. in clever
ness. and in resourcefuiness. 20 the cop
Of the big American cities, such as New
I York. Chicago. s.. Louis, Boston. &C,
thar IN fairness 10 him. these figures
I furnished by the British government 10
/ Parliament, deserve 10 be widely known
on both sides o. the Atlantic
WHAT I wish. however. 20 point out in
/ connection with this report. is the fact
/ that according 10 the Home once (Which
is the English counterpart OF the De
partment OF the Interior IN the United
States, though invested with Ear more
extensive authority. there Sre al Jh'
present moment six persons watkins
about the streets Of London. OF whos'
! identity the metropolitan police arr
| aware. ana against whom they have ab
solute moral proof. though not legal ev
N idence. thar they are criminals guilty
OF a capital onense-
n In some Instances they have beer
arrested, and then the cases against then
have been dropped. the magistrate an'
coroner declining TO hold them In othe
\ instances they have not even been sub
5ected 10 the indiguity OF being taken int
custody. But they are known 20 be mor
derers for all that DO not these peopl
require the most careful watching on th
part OF the police? And does not the yer,
circumstance that they should have con
trived 10 escape moIestatiOn by N
authorities, Indicate a degree q clever
ness which renders them parttcularl
dangerous 20 society The police are coz
WINGED that sooner OF later these peopl
VIII make q faux pas which viii rr.n
: them within the clutches OF the law.
When Alfred NonsOn. scion Of that We
known court family. OF which Lord Mon
son IS the chief. and related 20 a nuuOe
OF the houses Of The British peerag
was set al liberty after his Trial Al Edin
burgh for the cOwardly murder of ID
ward and pupil. Cecil HsmbrOugh-a tria
which resulted, not in acQultJaL but II
verdict OF mot proven the police pre-
dicted that before many years were pas
be would once more land IN jail tn
verdict OF mot proven" meant that N
jury were morally convinced OF his gui
. OF the murder, but did not consider ina
they had legal evidence enough 70 wa
> rant their consiguing him 10 the scat
fold.
-Four years later Alfred 8Ionson wa
sentenced az the Old Baily, IN LondoI
70 a long term Of penal servitude %
forgery and fraud The success OF th
police in bringing him 10 justice on TIL
occasion was due 20 the fact that eve
since his trial for murder al Edinburg.
he had been subjected 70 thei- survel
lance. and that they had retained in the
possession his photographs. his measure
ments, and al sorts OF useful informs
ton concerning his characteristics an
habits
: In every capital IN Europe there al
+ in the same way. men who are know
/ 10 be guilty Of some more or less ser
! Gus crime. but who have succeeds
: either by means OF pull or through II
! destruction Of the indispensable evidenS
OF their guilt. in escaping punishment
? Needless TO add that they are kept und'
the observation OF the police. who car
: fully store away every scrap Of info
nation concerning them, In the bell
I that sooner OF later they VIII be brouSi
: 70 the bar Of justice for some new pies
{ OF villiany The action of the author
ties IN thus keeping track OF them,
1 hIing away their pictures and their re
e ords for future use, though unCOnvicte
e is not oniy comuenGables but even 4
= dispensable 70 the welfare Of the con
. munity. and 70 the protection OF proper
J and Of life.
u Here in the United States, the sdulini
7 tration Of justice is more difficult than
: the Old World The laws, perhaps b
5 cause OF design on the part OF the
trainers, are more easy OF cirCUmVentit
2 than those. for instance, In England az
: in Germany Moreover, with the practi
: in the various States Of electing judg
1 by popular vote. instead OF appointiE
Il them, men occasionally obtain seats {
b the bench. who possess neither the reQu
: HONORED BY RULER.