Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-23
DETECTIVE BURNS
TALKS IN MADISON
Speaks on Tracing Criminals
and the Dangers of Mu-
nicipaI Corruption.
Especial to The Newark start

MADISON, Jan. 23.-Madison folk
turned out In full force last night at
the eighteenth annual meeting Of the
Thursday Morning Club in James As
sembly Hall. The feature of the at
fair was an address by the prominent
detective, William J. Burns.
Chief Burns spoke mainly Of the
manner In which the San Francisco
investigation was carried on and
enumerated some of the various ways
Of catching the criminals of today.
He stated that the slick, cannot-be-
caught man ia usually the easiest 10
trap. In his sickness he usually
walks confidently into the snare set
by the sleuth.
"One Of my main objects in lee
turing IN various places throughout
the country" began Mr.. Burns, us to
shed the light of publicity upon every
parasite Of society. I do not come
with the idea of entertaining people
with stirring detective stories, but to
point out the result Of municipal cor
ruption, which is the greatest OF all
evils. Nearly all evil is due to the
fact that vice is allowed to flourish
in cities. It uniformly happens that
In order to arouse the public con-
science It is necessary to sacrifice
human life. The Titanic disaster and
the Rosenthal case of New York are
striking examples of this rule
The inspector then pointed out that
the taking of human life is not at all
confined to such men as "Gyp the
Blood" and Lefty Louie" but that
the man higher up will not hest
tate to take a life If 1t will extricate
him from the difficulties which he
often incurs. His policy has been, he
declared, to prosecute the big one
who induces the little fellow to COM
NIT the crime, but who is mainly
responsible and should know better.
The inspector spoke very highly of
wonan's influence for good in the
community, and stated that he was
in favor of equal suffrage
San Francisco" he continued, els
a striking example of how low a
municipality can sink In crime. The
political boss there had established
a systematic form of graft, and 1t
was stated that 1t was impossible to
land him. He sold the right to pick
pockets to plumber and in general
break the law"
The story of the graft investiga-
tons in San Francisco and the land
frauds In Oregon were related In a
facinating manner. The detective
credited Theodore Roosevelt with
| being the first one to arouse the pub
lie conscience in the matter. In re-
ferring to this the inspector blamed
the citizens of the municipalities more
than the crooks for not having the
moral courage to buck the bosses.
Mr.. Burns's opinion of private de-
tectives is not very fiattering. "Pri-
vate detectives, as a rule" he said.
ARE the greatest pack of blackguards
that go unwhipped of Justice. They
! use the name of detective in order TO
better blackmail. graft and double
cross their clients. Every criminal
leaves a trail without exception, and
where the guilty party is not caught
1t is because the case is not handled
properly"
The detective spoke mighty of the
detectograph and a new instrument
which records the human voice on
small wires as a means OF detecting
criminals. In closing, he urged his
| hearers to take note of his remarks
on municipal corruption, as they may
have to meet the same conditions at
lany time. He considered 1t the duty
of every citizen to take an active
part In the government of his town,
stating that 1t is not sufficient to go
to church to be a good citizen.