The Detroit times., 1910-08-04
SAYS BRITISH LAW !
HAN0|cAPs sLEUTH
Capt. Mcdonnell Comments on Pro.
vision That 0fioeu Warn Prisoners
Against Confessions.


Chief Of Detectives Mcdonnell likes
the law of the United States better
than that OF Great Britain when II
comes to making an arrest OF import
ance. The chief gave voice to his
preference while commenting on the
arrest OF DR.. Crippen, wanted In Lon
don. Eng. on the charge OF murder
ing his wife, Belle Elmore. the actress.
The British law may be all right
In regard to Furnishing criminals" said
the chief, but don't like the feature
which provides that the oflcer max
ing the arrest shall say TO the pris-
oner, Remember, now, whatever you
may say will be taken down In writing
and used against you at your trial.
That provision undoubtedly prevents
the officers from getting many con-
fession. noticed that Detective Dew,
Of Scotland Yard. warned DIR. Crippcn
as specified by law In regard to any
thing he might say. In view OF that
provision In the law, 1t would be hard
to get a confession from any criminal.
or course. II protects the criminal, but
at the same time 1t handicaps the
officer.
do you suppose we could get con-
fession from any of our criminals II
we were obliged TO repeat that Britiol
law warning to them when they are
arrested? Not q bit Of 1t. They would
shut up like clam. Some lawyers
in Detroit seem to think that the warn
ing provision OF the British law applies
to the United States, but they dDd out
their mistake when they get into
court. / have often had an attorney
ask me on the stand II / warned the
prisone-, In cases where We received
a confession, that what he said would
be used against him at his trial.
WOULD then explain to him that there
was no such law In the United States
Furthermore, we are careful not to
hand out any inducements to pr,s
oner for q confession. We always 90
cure 1t without any force. intimidation
or promises of immunity"
Chief Mcdonnell has the reputation
of being unusually successful In worm
ing confessions from murderers, but
some OF them have been known tc
prove OF no avail for the prosecution
IN court. For instance, In the case Of
Percy Bowen, the self-confessed muir
derer of "Qld Mother" WEIGH. tbs
confession proved boomerang to thf
prosecution. Bowen claimed In cour1
that the confession was lie. and thai
1t had been secured by improper
methods. He was acquitted, and thu
foreman Of the jury afterward stated
that the jury threw out the confession
because of the belief that young Bower
had been browbeaten and bullied int
making the admissions Of guilt.
Another case where the confession
also failed was that Of Mrs. Victorii
Cimbalowski, who admitted shooting
her husband. This, too. her attoyne,
maintained, was secured improperl!
and the jury didn't consider it. sh'
was acquitted. .
On the other hand, however, thu
chief has made good many times witt
his confessions. Among his triumphi
I'm this connection was the case o.
Harry Johnson and Harry Parker, now
serving life Imprisonment for tbs
murder of Joseph Meyer, the Monroe
ave. pawnbroker. who was slain IN
his store in broad daylight. One OF
the pair confessed after much ques
tioning by Chief Mcdonnell.