New Britain herald., 1917-03-14
OFFICIAL SECRECY.

( In official investigation or reform
 movements. publicity may be of the
 utmost importance in bringing about
 the destrcd results while the lack of
 1t Is likely to spell failure. The de-
 tective or reformer of fiction main-
 tafns an air of profound wisdom and
 secrecy. Keeps the public from his confidence, but always solves the mys- tery or brings about the cherished
 ends. Not so the detective in real lffe. His success depends in a large meat
 ure upon the cooperation of the pub-
 lie; In receiving the advice and sups port of folk from many walks of life those whose opinions may be widely divergent but in which there
 may be wisdom of the highest order.
 An instance of official reticence that arpears likely to be costly can be noted here in New Britain. It has to do with the invcstigation-of the mur- der of Charles A. Taft and the hunt for his slayer. For several days, or soon after the tragedy was discovered. tho authorities had the revolver in their possession. They have admitted its importance as | clue. They expect to be able to trace its user through the factory number. It has remained for the factory officials to give out the number after days of costly de- lay. For some unknown reason the authorities have refused to do so. al- Though admitting that identifying the Purchaser would undoubtedly go a long way towards solving the mys- teiy and bringing the guilty ope to trial for the crime.
 Attempts of the authorities have proved futile in locating the one who sold the revolver and where 1t was sold. If. at the start, the public had been taken into their confidence there is great possibility the desired in formation would be in the hands of detectives long before tRis. As it is. there has been a costly delay. delay which may allow. the slayer to reach place of safety and elude capture for all time.
 secrecy. There arc details making 1t undoubtedly unwise to give them pub 1icity. There are some things that, if known in advance, would defeat the ae nS.. ~A- tery, rubber soied shoes and "quick Watson, the needle" have never solv- ed a crime in real life and never will.
 In other cities. the press and public have been as instrumental in solving crime mysteries and bringing crimi- nals to justice as have the authori- ties. There has been a spirit of CO., operation that has worked we'll and harmoniously. It has resulted in suc- cess for representatives of the law and protection for the public.
 There is no doubt but many crimes which today remain unsolved mys- teries would not be so if judicious CO., operation of the authorities and pub N ! a lie had been followed in time.
 Detectives. whether state or local, have no objection to the public being taken into their confidence when their efforts are successful. This Is but nat ural. They are only human and 1t is well known of the human family that praise is not unsought. They owe 1t to the public, their employers, that proper information be given out at other times. Especially is this so so when proper publicity will hasten success. Official secrecy has no place when proper publicity would hasten otherwise remain 2 mystery can be brought about by publicity.