The New York herald., 1921-08-08
FRENCH DETECTIVES
TERRORS TO CROOKS
Efficiency Now as Great as in
Days Of Rossignol, Bishop
or GOrOw.

Special Gable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. Aug. Z.
Despite the severe criticism of the
lower branches Of the French police,
Frances sleuths to-day are proving
just as efficient in tracking down
criminals as in the days of inspectors
Rossignol or Bishop. who were veri-
table terrors to foreign crooks and
spies operating here, or Gorow's most
brilliant exploits as chief of the
capitals surety police.
With Bertillon records furnished By
most Of the civilized nations as well as
several rooms filled with samples of
handwriting photographs and finger
prints of French criminals their work
has become more or less mechan1cai,
and In lass than twenty-four hours after
criminals leave the scenes of crimes the
surety as we'll as the judiciary police
usually are in possession Of the fullest
details as TO their identity
During the last thnae months they
have proved exceptional ability in four
sensat tional cases The first was when
they caused the arrest of Hira Mirtel,
better known as Nine. Besserabo. for
the murder of her husband and shipping
his body in a trunk to Nancy. a few
days later the police rounded UP gang
Of daylight jewel robbers.
There has been some comment on
their failure to arrest burglars who
lt.xi,A G,. -. lltrn nt.l
St Martin after obtaining 1.000, 600 francs
in jewels, but THE NEW YORK HERALD
bureau Is Informed the responsibility
does not altogether rest with the
French. as certain OF the burglars
escaped over the Spanish border while
their identity was being telegraphed to
Spanish officials to prevent their entry,
Last week a three day chase. usnic..
ended in a roundup OF trai' bandits
provided new light on the Wrench meth
ods, as within forty-ei-nt hours every
police agent in Pstis and the suburbs
had been provtaed with photographs
and descriptions OF the three men. maxi
ing the. capture inevitable.
prefect Leullier intends Immediately
10 effect a greater coordination between
policemen whose role Is preventive and
detectives attached to the crime tracing
personnel. In crowded districts police
have been armed with revolvers and
clubs and have abardoned the dressy
but useless short swords which have long
amused foreign visitors.
The prefect intends 10 compile a regis
ter giving detailed information of the
identity and career Of every alien resid-
ing in the capital. and has suggested that
a special staff be appointed to visit the
homes and interview the conciergcs ~
garding their habits, Just as in the eigh-
eenth century when the concierge played
a vital role in Frances protective sys-
tenn.
The fact is even the Parisians have be-
come alarmed by the increase IN crime
and are stressing in letters 10 the news
papers Senator'S and Deputies that pro
vention should be the primary policy
with efficient detectives merely ready -
arrest in cases where the preventive
police failed to suffice.
Special attention IS 70 be paid 10 the
Bofs de Boulognc Immediately. There
are so few police agents there now iSaf
It Is possible for 4 murder to be cAln-
mitted az noon with a minimum,
chance Of arrest. This was proved tnis
week when two cnterprising French
newspaper men staged fake murder m
the lake which borders the Bois &c Bou.
logne Although they fired five shota
and the supposed victim howled for hcln
for more than ton minutes. nobody iator.
fored.