The Alaska citizen., 1911-10-02

DOG DETECTIVES
 "Bloodhounds have been the means of greatly diminishing the depre- dations of thieves on railroad prop erty." said an official of the Long Island railroad, adding that during the past two years they have success fully trailed and brought 10 justice more than enc hundred such ma rauders.'
 Three years ago Long Island was 1 invaded by band of dangerous criminals whose operations included dynamiting station safes and burg larizing private residences In their efforts to capture these yeggmen a number of railroad patrolmen were killed and others severely injured. Automobiles and teams of fast hors- es aided the bandits in making their escape. The Long Island railroad equipped it's policemen with motor cycles. and also employed several bicyclists to assist in running down the plunderers, but the robberies continued.
 Recalling the good results obtained by German, English French and Belgian municipalities through the employment of highly trained police dogs, Superintendent Robert F.. Ker- partment, purchased two English bloodhounds, which were immediate ly trained for service. From this pair six pups have been bred. One of them died last year, leaving pack of seven.
 Thieves Run Down.
 A few important cases in which the dogs have lately taken part were narrated by Superintendent Kerkam. Copper bond wires were being cut on the Manhattan Beach division, putting signals out of order and seriously affecting train movements. Taking the scent from the cold steel rails the dogs followed the trail to there to the thief's residence, thence Ito a junk dealers, and finally to the Italian foreman of gang of laborers who had committed the theft
 A station on the east end of the island was broken into and the con- tents of a ticket box stolen A trace of blood was found on piece of win dow glass that the burglar had smashed with his hand. He walked about mile and half and then secured rig. The bloodhounds trail ed him and he was captured, although he had l2-hour start and was driving hard when Cvertaken. I thieves the dogs have assisted in clearing up many burglaries and other crimes in various Long Island communities. One interesting in stance was that of a little girl ab- ducted by an Italian at Huntington. The entire surrounding country was searched, day and night, by residents and local policemen without result. Someone telephoned to the Long Island police headquarters, and three hours after starting the hounds had located the girl and her abductor. | Burglary Mystery Solved. store at Rockville Center was robbed several times in a way that baffled detection. Instructions were given not to disturb any of the evi- dence left by the thieves with the result that when they made their next visit they were arrested, the dogs having followed the trail di. rectly to the burglars home.
 When the Catholic church at West bury was robbed the hounds tracked the burglars to their hiding place, where the stolen church vessels were recovered
 Test cases are continually pro. vided for these sleuth dogs by an expert trainer to keep them in train
 ing for service at the shortest pos sible notice. That they are feared and hated by the criminals who work
 on Long Island is proved by the
 fact that efforts have been made to
 poison them. All such attempts have
 failed because the hounds are never let loose and are taught not to take
 food from anyone but their keeper One man and well-schooled
 bloodhound are worth more thar six ordinary patrolmen in country work" maintains the superintend'
 ent. and cost less than two patrol men. Good bloodhounds are expen sive, but the excellent service they render brings back large returns or the initial investment"
 r Autographed Stock Certificates fer sale at Citizen office.