Evening star., 1934-06-19

minimum set for police in the larger
American cities and of principal State
constabularies.
Scotland Yard accepts men from
20 to 27 years old, the Italian national
police take them from 18 to IS Cthe
average age of the Italian police is
but 2D. the Vienna municipal and
Austrian federal police admit appli-
cants from % to "a, the Berlin and
Prussian police applicants must be
from "a to 30 and the Royal Cana
dian Mounted Police receive recruits
as young as 18 and as old as 40.
Entrance ages for American police
vary as follows: Chicago, 81 to %;
ST. Louis, % to 80; San Francisco,
81 to IS; Washington, Y to 80; Mil
waukee, "a to 80: New York City,
81 to %; Connecticut State Police.
% to 80; Maryland State Police. Il
to 81 Michigan State Police, % to
30; Virginia State Police, 81 to IS;
Pennsylvania State Police, 81 to 40
and New York State Police, 81 to 40
There are few lines of endeavor in
the fields Of industry, science and
sports in which at least one or more
justice agents is not qualified. Down
in the Southwestern country there
are former ranchers, Texas Rangers,
cowboys and Indian experts. In the
Northwest section are stationed for
mer lumbermen, cattlemen, railroad
workers and miners. In the East may
be found agents who have had expe-
rience in nearly every conceivable
kind of vocation.
Indian Murder Solved.
1t was an agent familiar with In
dian dialects and ways who solved
an important murder mystery on an
Indian reservation several years ago
An Investigator who once was a me-
chanic made good use of his past
experience in tracing sabotage by q
riveter who worked beside him on q
dirigible. An agent who did *. P.'
duty in the Army was assigned to
peel potatoes in a restaurant in ar
extortion inquiry which sent colorec
waiter to prison. A Federal who
could fiddle like real hill billy won
the confidence of mountaineers anc
they aided him in capturing a long
sought fugitive.
The division at present has no air
planes. but its force includes half q
dozen aviators and parachute
jumper.
Three agents were chauffeurs, six
were carpenters, three were camp di-
rectors, one was an oil gauger, one
cable splicer, three were truck and
tractor drivers, one was bother,
eight were electricians, fifteen were
mechanics, seven were lumber camp
workers, three were miners, ten were
newspaper reporters, four were paint
ers, five were printers, ten were rail-
road workers. twenty-seven were
statesmen, three were storekeepers,
four were seamen, three were telegra-
pliers, one was a baker, one ware
house foreman, six were hotel work.
ers, two were hospital workers, two
were radio operators, one was a cook.
one boilermaker's helper and one
deckhand.
40 Were Teachers.
Approximately 40 were teachers in
colleges and high schools of subjects
such as economics, law, English, bot
any. mathematics, physics. chemistry.
history and foreign languages.
About 80 have had banking expert
ence and 8 were in the insurance
business.
All agents must pass a rigid phys
ical examination upon appointment
and must remain in good physical
trim. Many of the men are veteran
athletes and some have excelled in
professional or collegiate sports.
Five agents have made names fol
themselves as wrestlers, one Of them
being former intercollegiate cham
pion. Five are expert boxers, one OF
these having been boxing instructor
and one a State intercollegiate cham
pion.
Half a dozen agents have played
professional and five semi-profession-
al base ball, three have been base ball
coaches and many were varsity play
ers. Six agents were foot ball coaches
four played professional foot ball and
seventeen were on varsity grid teams
Six agents have been basket ball
coaches and ten were college quint
stars.
twenty-five are expert swimmers,
of which four were life guards and
two swimming instructors. Fourteen
are experienced in handling all kinds
of water craft.
The personnel study, in short, fails
to sustain the claims of few critics
that the Division of Investigation is
manned with boy detectives"
Looks, sometimes, are deceptive.
One of the smallest and quiesest men
on the divisions staff has killed three
criminals in gun battles, the records
show. This same man has sent TO
prison several Of Americas most no
torious swindlers.
A number of the hoy detectives