New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
POLICE COMMISSIONER WOODS,
Bv JOHN R. MMAHON.

CALLED on Police Commissioner Woods
and the new "two-headed" Detective
Bureau-which is not two-headed, you
understandable other morning.
Nv last previous visit to Headquarters, at
last the last visit which made a real print
=, nv mind. was in a prehistoric time. And
the contrast was almost shocking.
There used TO be a grim old building with
dusty windows and sepulchral corridors and
,w,sor7e. dark dens, which were the lairs OF
vso,o and Old Sleuth. Hist! What were
those scurrying footsteps? Maybe some one
I'D b.en seized with an intuition and was
uniting on a disguise. 1t might be that a
new c'ew was Matched in the Ripper case.
There were many mysterious sounds, which
s,hoed with chilling suggestions through those
dim corridors Now the tramp, tramp, tramp
Of military effect. then kissing whispers, then
n. perhaDs imagined cry of lost soul in the
rack OF the third degree. The building
seemed TO be infested with all kinds OF dark
loving vermin. including the human varieties
In the centre OF the web sat grizzled old
spider. He put a benevolent "feeler" on my
shoulder as he talked in husky whisper
felt creepy, despite his benevolence and the
sight OF equity foot, stockinged but shoeless,
and my knowledge of the fact that young
newspaper chap could not possibly tempt the
discriminating appetite of Thomas Byrnes.
Probably I imagined what would happen II
had Glanced 10 belong to the bill OF fare
SHADOWS AND GLOOM OF THE
ELDER DAYS BANISHED.
With that picture in mind I walked into
the new Headquarters.
II was as light, airy, clean and inviting as
first class banking house on Wall Street
There was nothing secretive, dismal or re-
p,lant. but instead an atmosphere OF real
hospitality II almost seemed to me that
crook might appreciate the privilege OF being
a guest here and would gladly reciprocate Tor
courteses received by leaving his prints ana
Measurements in the guest book
was quickly led from an anteroom into a
large, well lighted Office, where youngiSh
football type Of business man sat at nat
oak desk signing his name or making notes
on pile Of papers
'You must let me keep on with this while
We talk" he said with quick healthy smile
and a motion toward a chair at his right
One or two young men were in the ofhng'
smoking cigarettes and making impatient
passes with documents.
lust what did you want to know sh0'
on, Commissioner Woods with an up-siance'
interrupting my preliminaries.
haa l)EtCCtlVC
Bureau"
1T isn't sou countered the Commissioner
with startling rapidity. There is only one
head-Inspeotor Faurot. l made Captain
Cray an inspector because of the good WORK
he has done and simply let him continue IN
The Detective Bureau the work he has been
doing for the last three months. lie IS inc
executive officer in charge OF the routine
A young man with document got by in the
succeeding lull.
But, Commissioner, wouldn't you say that
there was a new idea or possibility in having
two men Of equal rank in charge of the De
'ecove Bureau, so that
EoT exploded the football commander OF
ne Police Department. Look here; haven't
Just told you there is only one head' us
impossible to have more than one head Tor
anything. Inspector Faurot is the superior
ohcer; he is in command. BY having an eX-
e'uuve officer to take care OF the routine
'surot will be free to follow up important
vases that need special attention.
For an instant the snappy Commissioner
seemed to goat over the plight Of an inter
viewer whose theory he had shattered. Then