The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-28
When the Police Think and Act.

When the Police Think and Act.
There can he little doubt that the
police have virtually solved the mys-
terry of the murder of BARNET BArr.
the West Washington Market chicken
man. 1t looks as If they would bring
the guilty parties from both ends Of
the conspiracy of assassination TO JUS
tice. The discovery of the weapons
with which the killing was done ends
all reasonable doubt that they have
competent proof against both the actual
slayers and the Suborners of the crime.
Strangely enough, the revolvers consti-
tutc n link between the two elements.
The discovery of n go.bctwcen who car
ried money to CARL RLTTICH. the main
witness as to the conspiracy. c.inches
the work OF the detectives.
Altogether. the record made in this
case is admirable. At first it seemed
to offer Il hopeless problem. The mur-
derers ana their hackers had created
such fccling of terror that thoSr who
could help the police were afraid 20
/
trable fog Of silence protecting the Grim.
inals. There was a period in New York
police history. not 80 long ago, whom
probably the authorities would have
been speedily discouraged by the diff
cuties of the case and It would have
been allowed to slip easily into oblivion,
with the result that the gunner would
have been encouraged and embroidered
IN the pursuit Of their trade in death,
But Comm sSouer WooDs has assured
the public within n few days that there
never was moment when the pursuit
Of this crime relaxed aud there was no
time when the police lost confidence in
their ability to land the perpetrators.
II looks as II the despOudcut views ey-
pressed once or twice through the news
papers were part Of the plan Of can.
paign After the first day or two. ap-
parently, the frontal attack was dropped.
The gunner and their friends, also
their enemies and those who feared
them, took courage and the usual Cos
sip and chit-chat began. In whispers
the details of the crime We're banded
about both among the guilty and the
innocent.
All the time the police outpoSts were
keeping their mouths smut and their
ears open. They picked up all sorts Of
hints. They found who would be most
| likely 70 want BAFF put away and who
would be most available 10 do the job.
| They heard Of conferences In llohokeu.
They fixed on men who must know
more or less of the Inside They
learned OF witnesses and eycwitncsscs
who could tell much If they dared, but
didn't dare with the whole story
pieced together, knowing exactly what
they wanted and what they could get,
the police began to act. There wcr'
arrests. There were processes Of de-
monStratng to insiders the inutlity or
worse Of standing in with the guilty.
! There were demonstra tons TO the iuup-
! cent that the power they feared was
! broken. The mystery was d.Spcllel
Justice and order were on the road to
vindication.
! The police have learned that the way
| 70 fight crime is to apply standard de.
! tective methods which never change In
| principle. The men who have worked
on this case. from Mr.. WOODS down are
far better policemen. far more useful
detectives than they were before the
test came. They have learned how -
do II; they have learned that sound
methods mean success. They have