New Britain herald., 1927-12-31
'AGENTS' ESSENTIAL
 IN POLICE RAIDS
Pave Way to Obtaining Evidence
 for Prosecution

If the birth Of the first person ever TO render assistance 10 an officer Of inc law for I financial considera- ton, but there IS hardly any doubt fhat whoever h. was, he would have I,en hated quito generously from Is birthday CD through manhood. Everyone is familiar with the widely circulated promulgation anent the universal absence Of affection in the relations between the general pub lc and male victim of obesity. but. according 10 a belief which appears 10 be well founded, the fat man can count his friends in terms Of hun ureds of thousands for every single enc credited to stool pigeon
 In the stiff, formal language Of the law, q stool pigeon" is an agent" Of the police, but 1t matters little whether or not he is dienified hy that designation or one many de grees higher, the general public will always want to know the identity of the "stool' and the police will always be just as desirous Of keep Ing the lnquisitive from finding it out. Tn some cases of violation of he liquor law disposed Of in local nolice cour.. II has been necessary for the state 70 disclose the source of the evidence on which prescott non was brought, while in others Y has been possible 10 prove the allegations without calling the stool 10 the stand.
 The liguor law enforcement has demanded. it seems, that the author tics resort 10 the use of stools" to obtain evidence, and the local po- ice have had the services Of sev- rral during the past few years. It is interesting to observe that some of rhem have been classified as ''very -ood' while others have been con- sidered failures, which proves, ac- cording to the authorities, that even though the work done by the agents is commonly relegated 10 a characr rization lower than that of almost any other calling. the rama has its leaders and its medi- ocre performers.
 How Police Agents" Work
 The police have several methods of deriving the maximum of benefit rom the ability of their assistance. Sometimes the agent has been sent to places where grounds Of suspicion exist, with instructions to determine, if possible. the hiding place of the liquor It would be unwise for him 10 attempt to purchase a bottle of liquor. because there are places where nothing IS sold to be taken out. Hence. the duty of an agent" is to use his wits and without at- tracting undue attention, learn the secrets and make his exit in as un- obtrusive manner as would befit the best customer Of the bootlegger. Obviously. a purchase must be made, and the agent" passes over his money, drinks his shot and walks ou'. being careful 10 20 along through the neighborhcod as though he had no interest in the surround lngs. for the dispensers of the for hidden juice have been known 10 he careful enough to check up on new cust toners.
 The information obtained in the manner described is turned over 10 he police. who inquire for a war rant to search the place. A day or lmo after the visit of the agent tha proprietor Of the blind tiger $ surprised at the sudden appear ance Of two or three policemen. He may feign an attitude Of offended innocence or he may make a dash or the hiding place of the liquor and spill the contents Of bottle or ug into I sink or other receptacle. Whatever he does. it may not dawn on him at just that moment that here is any significance to the di- rectness of the officers dash for ne snaret cache but If the raid is successful and the evidence is locat- "d with little or no difficulty, he nay well run over in his mind the rames Of the customers Of the pre- ceding week or so and wonder who The stranger WIS who dropped in only once and went directly out again.
 Evidence Taken 10 Police
 Auo'hcr successful method en- ployed by the police through the sse of agents" consists Of the pur- hase of q drink or two. and then 2 bottle Of liquor, which is turned over 70 the authorities. This is
 noNn as getting sale and is one oi the best means Of obtaining idcncc. provided. of course, that The proprietor or person in charg" of the place does not sense the dan -er and refuse to make the sale. Be tore being sent on the errand, the agent IS searched by the police md gwen q hir, the numbers Of the H')l being copied beforehand. As soon as the evidence is turned over. 'ae police rush in and try 10 find Ue hill in tn cash register or on rbe person Of someone in the place. lt sucorssful. the police havc the ad- vantage Of going into court with positive evidence Of the sale Of li- ruOr.
 Defense attorneys in court realizo hat regardless or the private feel lngs of the presiding ma eistrate rc- "tira 'n the sort of work done by
 agents the evidence procured in 'be manners described Is strong and consequently, the agents" frequent iy are forced 10 fac" q workable bar raSe when they take their turn on the witness stand. More than oncn m the local cont they have been severely arraigned by the lawyers for the methods they used and some pf them have been able to withstand fb" attacks without willing. Occa- stonallv, however, their replies 10 questions have disclosed that they h. tf ,rt a.,