San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-15
Police in Every City Even
tually Will Be in Touch
With Every Agency by
This Method.

With Every Agency by
This Method.
An achievement of science that in
its ultimate perfection will do more
than other contribution of science in
putting a stop to criminal acts of a
spectacular nature is the radio. This
is the opinion Of W. ]. Burns, di-
rector of the bureau of Investigation
of the Department of Justice, who
stopped over in San Antonio for the
day, Saturday, on his official tour
of inspection to the West Coast. He
left San Antonio for Ell Paso at
z 10 O'Clock Saturday night.
Police cars in every city will be
equipped, sooner or later, with radio,
Mr.. Burns believes. These cars can
then be directed from central head
quarters to the best advantage in
heading off bandits who are attempt
ing to escape from q city. Central
headquarters can keep in touch with
every car and at any time can di-
rest the driver of the automobile to
another point.
I'm keeping with the progress in
the science of detection and appre-
hension, the criminal has adopted
modern methods to violate and escape
the law" Mr.. Burns said. 1.-THE
modern bank robber has abandoned
the horse of old. He and his gang
steal an automobile. He robs a
bank or mint, as the case may be.
In the confusion he makes his get
away. Later. he abandons the auto
mobile.
Cut Off Escapes.
when the radio system has been
universally adopted, every police car
in the city, as well as every patrol
man Will be notified of the robbery.
Every highway out Of the city will
be guarded before the bandits hardly
have time to leave the scene of their
crime. The criminal in general, will
further be baffled by the fact that
the system of communication between
the police will be, for the most part,
not understood by them except in a
general way"
l. Not only will the radio be inyalua-
Die in catching criminals within the
confines of a municipality, but it
Will be of valuable assistance in ap-
pretending fugitives who are wanted
IN other parts of the country. In
stallation of radio system is now
In progress by the bureau of inyesti-
cation. This radio system in con-
junction with the recently Organized
bureau of Identification and inforua-
ton will enable the finger prints of
any person who has a criminal record
in any part Of the country. to he
Droadcasted by code to all parts of
the country, within six minutes after
a message that the fugitive is want
ed rs received in Washington.
Although the bureau of Identified
ton and information is NOT yet in
complete operation, yet within a few
months. the director expects tn have
the record of every criminal in tho
country on file at the bureau in
| washington. There will then be 20.
operation between peace. county and
state officers and government agents
Mr.. Burns said.
| when once an Investigation Is
started by an agent of the Danart.
ment of Justice, that case ia nevs,
dropped until a disposition is mad
of it, Mr.. Burns said. The yoyern.
ment never forgets. A bistSrv n,
every case is carried on file in Wash.
lngton.. Progress on the case is 70.
ported from time to time. Tho al,
IS never closed until the criminal 4.
either brought before the bar of ms
tice or until he dies. JUG
There is no criminal bpt ,,,h,
leaves a clue behind him STbaro 1.
no crime committed where no cIne I,
left that will lead TO the identity q,
the criminal If proper inyestigat;or
Is made" declared Mr.. Burns.
| no. Must Use Theory.
Often the circumstances are su.j
that the investigator must work nnor
La theoretical basis. He must mn,
into practice the powers of anal,s;,
and deduction. But. here is an IT,,
portant point to be noted The IN,
yestigator should not no bonnJ ~,
ms theory. He should no broad
minded enough to change his tboos,
| II further developments in tba 81,
indicate that his original thso.v :,
the crime is untenabie That H. .b,
great trouble with the invsst;s,tn,
OF ordinary calibre. He builds ~, ~,
theory and he twists each bit ~ oa,,
dence to conform 10 his thar H.
stead of changing his theory 10 con.
form with the evidence" WI"
mr.. Burns believes that A. Conan
Doyle is the greatest writer Of dc.
sectiVe stories that the world ha.
ever Known. He declared that Will,
ne was not able TO swallow all III,
Delleis OF Doyle in regard TO spiritual
I'm, yet he believed that Doyle was
sincere. Mr.. Burns admitted that h.
Deileved IN the possibility of menta
telepathy. There are many strans,
phenomena in the world. he said
that man has not been able TO un
derstand.
The theory that criminal tenden
cles are inherited was scoffed at b,
Mr.. Burns.
Environment is responsible for s!
or 90 per cent Of the criminals o.
Tho luuntrr o La Il ..rrha .-nrn