Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-01-16
The Exploits
of Elaine
A Detective Novel and q Motion Picture Drama
FIRST EPISODE
The clutehine Hand.

The clutehine Hand.
There must be something new In
order 10 catch criminals nowadays.
The old methods are all right-as far
a. they go. But while We have been
using them, criminals have kept pace
with modern science
Craig Kennedy laid down his news
paper and filled his pipe with my to-
bacco. In college we had roomed to-
gether, had shared everything. even
poverty. and now that Craig vas Q
professor OF chemistry In charge OF
the laboratory at the university and
bad a sort Of rowing commission on
the stan OF the Star, We had continued
u arrangement.
IT has always seemed strange 20
me-" he went on slowly. that no one
has ever endowed a p~rofessorship In
criminal science In any OF the large
colleges"
] tossed aside my " paper and
retrieved the tobacco.
why should there be a chair in
criminal SCIENCE" | replied argu-
mentatively. settling back in my chair.
I've done my turn at police hesdquar-
tiers reporting. and I can tell you.
Craig. it's no place for a college pro-
fessor. Crime is-just crime. And as
for dealing with II the great detec-
tive In born and bred 10 II. College
professors for the sociology OF the
thing-yes: for the detection OF II.
give me a Byrnes."
"On the contrary" persisted Ken
nedy, his clean-cu features betraying
an earnestness which knew indicated
that he was leading up 10 something
OF Importance. "thve is a distinct
place for science in the detection or
crime. Today We have professors Of
everythins-why not professors OF
crime s%cience?"
Still. as I shook my head obviously.
he fastened 10 clinch his point. Col
leges have got down 10 solving the
hard facts OF life. nowadays-pretty
nearly all. except one. They still treat
crime in the old way. study it's statis-
tics and pore over its causes and the
theories OF how II can be prevented
and punished. But as for running down
the criminal himself. scientifically. re-
lentlessly-bah' We haven't made
enough progress to mention since the
hammer and tongs method OF your
sainted Byrnes."
Doubtless you will write a brochure
on this most interesting subject" |
suggested. and let IL go At that"
No. I am serious" he replied. de-
termined for some reason or other to
make q convert OF me Il mean ex-
actly what | say. ! am going 10 apply
science TO the detection OF crime. the
same sort OF methods by which We
trace out the presence OF a mysteri-
Gus chemical or track down a deadly
germ. And before ! have gone far. I
am going 10 enlist Walter Jameson
as an aid. ] think | shall need you
In my business"
How do ! come in" | asked.
well. for one thing. you will get a
scoop a 'beat'-whatever you call
II In that newspaper jsrson OF yours"
Fortunately. Walter" he pursued.
the crimehunters have gone ahead in
science faster than the criminals It'e
to be my job To catch criminals. Yours.
Il seems Ia mo. is 10 show people how
they can never hope 20 peat the mod
ern scientific detective"
Go as far as you like | exclaimed.
convinced al last.
And so II was that Ne formed this
strange new partnership in crime sci
enee that has existed ever since.
Jameson. here's a story | wish
you'd follow up" remarked the man
aging editor OF the Star 10 me ons
evening after | had turned in an as.
sienment OF the late afternoon.
lie handed me a clipping from the
evening edition OF the Star. and |
quickly ran my eye over the headline: