The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-05
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
DEFENDS HIMSELF
R. E. Brown Replies to Critics Who Find
Fault with Expenditures in His
Department for Detective
Service.


Service.
| Editor Barre Times, Barre, VT:
Preliminary to statement regarding
the purposes for which money has been
used for detective service" and the re-
suits obtained, it seems proper that the
people of the state understand just what
is covered by the term detective serv-
ice" under the present law of the state.
In various newspapers of the state
this matter has been served up to the
public under such attractive headings
as "The State Scandal; Estate Pays
Undertaken, Civil Engineer and Pho
tographer"; Zone Agency Gets S24,45lo0
Home Grown Detectives $500 to 81 300
piece; women Sleuths Also Used;
Attorney General and Sleuth Money"
| From the manner in which this sub
ject has been treated in some of the
articles referred to, it might well be as
sumed that the writer's knowledge OF
detective service" had been obtained
solely from a perusaI of the detective
stories written by "0ld Sleuth," which
| for several years have been published
in certain so-called "story papers, and
circulated broadcast over the country in
the form of yellow covered literature.
Prior TO 1908 the sole provisions for
the use of detective service" in this
state We're embodied in sections 3,4O2,
3,403, and 3,404 of the public statutes.
Under the provisions of section 3,402
when felony has been committed by
person or persons unknown, the states
attorney is authorized to direct sher-
if or constable to search for and pursue
such criminal or criminals and for that
purpose a sum not exceeding twenty
five tS2500) dollars in any one case
may be used.
When one thinks seriously for mo-
ment of the difficulty in many cases
in securing the arrest of murderer,
rape fiend, or even a common thief, the
absolute inadequacy Of this provision is
apparent,
Under the other sections noted, appli
cation may be made to the governor for
detective service" and if granted the
governor must fix the maximum amount
of expense authorized in particular
case That this provision is inadequate
is apparent because, il for no other rea-
son. when serious 'offense has been
committed and the identity of the Grim
inal and his whereabouts are unknown,
no one can foretel the necessary OK.
pense of a proper anil efficient investi-
CATION.
If crime is 10 be commercialized and
the proper investigation thereof is to de-
pend solely upon the cost; it may be
said that this provision is sufficient. IL
would not seem good Judgment, however,
to start the investigation Of a homicide
or other serious criminal offense and
spend goodly sum in such investigs
tion and then for want of funds be
obliged to abandon such investigation
when perhaps the expenditure of an adj
ditional sum might result in a successful
prosecution.
In 1904 the legislature created the Of
flee of attorney general and elected to
that office Hon. Clarke c. Fits of Brat
tleboro. Mr.. Fits held the office from
December /, 1904, to December |, 1908,
and performed its duties in a most eff
cient manner and TO the entire salts
faction of the people. His experience
in the office convinced Mr.. Fits that
detective service" was absolutely neces-
sary to an efficient administration of the !
criminal law and also that the provisions !
Of the law for furnishing such service |
were entirely inadequate.
MIR. Fits also seems to have recog- |
nized the fact that crime is on the in
crease. In his report to the general as
sembly in 1905 he says;
1.-THE increased number of criminal !
causes demands attention to the prime |
eonsidera ton in the administration OF !
the penal laws, that is that punishment !
for crime be speedy ami certain" This |
language was used by Mr.. Fits in con
neetion with his recommendation regard |
ing the jurisdiction OF municipal courts. |
In this same report under the head OF |
Detective Service and Search" Mr.. |
Fits said, There is no adequate provi |
sion in the law for the search for Grim
inals. Under section 3403 public stat |
utes, the states attorney may apply to |
the governor for leave to employ de- ,
tectiye. The contemplation of that law I
is not to provide for search for a Grim I
inal whose identity is known. Section |
3,402 authorizes the states attorney to |
incur an expense not exceeding twenty |
five tS25.00l dollars in the search and |
pursuit of criminals. Within my term /
of service il has, in a number of cases,
been necessary to resort TO the statute
for detective service to procure means
for pursuit OF known criminal. II is
not desirable that such practice further
continue. | urge the enactment of a
law authorizing the attorney general TO
employ such persons as he may choose
anil without limit of expense in the pur
suit and search for persons charged with
crime"
II seems that it may fairly be inferred
that Mr.. Fits intended to convey the
idea that it was necessary to use more
money for detective service" than he
had been able to use during his term OF
office and that he meant to urge upon
the legislature of 1908 the advisability
of authorizing the attorney general to
use such sum as seemed necessary to a
pronar and afiiciapt onfnrcamant of fhp