The Dermott news., 1915-04-08
FIRST EPISODE
The CIutchinq Hand.

There must be something new In order to catch criminals nowadays. The old methods are all right-as far as 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 was professor of chemistry in charge Of the laboratory at the university and had n sort of rowing commission on the staff of the Star, we had continued our arrangement
 Tt has always seemed strange to me- he went on slowly. that no one has ever endowed a professorship in criminal science in any of the large colleges"
 tossed aside my own paper and retrieved the tobacco.
 Why should there be a chair In criminal sciencea" I replied argu- mentatvelv. settling back in my chair. I've done my turn at police headquar- ters reporting. and l can tell you. Craig it's no place for a college pro- lessor Crime is--just crime And as for dealing with it the great detee- tive is born and bred to it College professors for the sociology of tho thing--yes. for the detection of 1t, give me a Byrnes
 'On the contrary" persisted Ken. nedy. his clean-cut features betraying an earnestness which knew indicated that he was leading up 10 something Of importance. there Is distinct place for science in the detection of crime Today we have professors of seyerythinc why rot professors of crime sciouce?'
 st,ll. as shook my head dubiously, be hastened to clinch his point Col l.Yes have got down to solving the hard facts of life. nowadays pretty nearly all except one They still treat crime in the old way. study its statis tics and pore over its causes and the theories of how 1t can be prevented and punished Put as for running down the criminal himself. scientifically. re- lentlesslv- bah We haven't made enough psasress to mention since the hammer and tongs method oi your ssintcd Eyrncs"
 Doubtless you will write brochure on this most interesting subject" l suggested. and let it go al that
 "No. I am serious" he replied. de. -, make q convert Of me. 'l moan ex- actly what say l am going to apply science 10 the detection of crime, the same sort ot methods by which We trace out the presence Of a mysteri- ous chemical or track down a deadly germ And before have gone far l am going to enlist Walter Jameson as an aid I think l shall need you h my business"
 How do come in?" I asked.
 Well. for one thing, you Will get a scoop a beat'-whatever you call it fin that newspaper jargon Of yours"
 Fortunately. Walter" he pursued. ''the crime-hunters have gone ahead in science faster than the criminals. It's to be my job to catch criminals. Yours. 1t seems to me, is 10 show people how they can never hope 10 beat the mod ern scientific detective"
 Go as far as you like" exclaimed. convinced at last
 And SO 1t was that We formed this strange new partnership in crime sci ence that has existed ever since
 
 Jameson here's story wish you'd follow up" remarked the man aging editor of the Star to mo ono evening after had turned in an as sipnment of the late afternoon.
 file handed me a clipping from the evening edition of the Star and quickly ran my eye over the headline;