Evening star., 1954-12-19
|WorId Is Stage for Supersecret Detective Force

1t was sheer coincidence that |
the World Secret Service Associ-
alton held its recent interna- !
tional meeting at Reno, New. ,,
The members Of this far flung |
organization. though popularly |
designated private eyes," not |
only frown on that appellation, |
but are somewhat ethically re- |
moved from the popular concept |
of divorce sleuthing.
1--WE don't like to be confused
with the police-type criminal de- |
tective, and the expression 'pri- |
vate eye Is abominable." said T. |
Walter Bradford Of Washington.
just named to the associations |
new Liaison Committee.
But gumshoers or not, the life |
Of the elite new-style investiga-
tor has enough true-life drama
to keep TV sets bristling forever. |
Take the recent case of the miss |
ing debutante, which showed OF |
the super-secret boys at their |
best.
Wealthy Girl Missing.
For two days the daughter of |
the wealthy { Massachusetts, ave-
nue. family was missing from |
school. When the distraught |
father finally was, notified, he
went to see Mr.. Bradford.
Three hours later the big clue
was unearthed. In another hour
Mr.. Bradford telephoned World
Secret Serviceman "X" in Paris,
who lost no time getting O. call
through to Switzerland. Six
hours after the investigation had
begun, the missing girl was
found.
How was 1t done? A couple of
simple facts were put together:
Cd The girl recently had re-
turned from abroad and still had
a valid passport; (2) she was in
love with somebody overseas.
The close working relationship
between VISA associates gave
the Washington office quick en-
tree to London and Paris, and
finally to Switzerland. But it
didn't end there. The service
also included the delicate break
ing of Of an undesirable court
ship. For this the investigators
employed the understanding
parents Of the boy in the case,
and three weeks later the girl
was back home.
Background Cited.
World Secret Service evolved
from predecessor groups like the
World Association Of Detectives.
When detective" got to be a
horrid word. and some of the
members just as deplorable,
those striving for q higher level
founded VISA in 1899.
The boast of VISA Is that its |
members stand a rigid screening
test for efficiency as well as high
ethical standards. The members
agree the public they serve
shouldn't be rocked by those try
ing to save them.
There are about 20, 900 licensed
detectives in the United States,
most of them one-man organi-
cations whose Offices are on the
courthouse curbs. VISA has
only about $50 members in this |
country and an equal number
throughout the rest of the world. |
Former Justice Department |
and FBI agents. one-time mill |
tary intelligence men and others |
with solid academic backgrounds
make up the VISA.
.Blackmail is high on the list /
OF cases they solve. Only about |
one of every Is cases comes to
the attention of the police. And
Tor every blackmail reported
there may be $50 locked up for
ever with the skeleton in the
closet.
Criminal Action Avoided.
The Investigators aim is to
drive out the blackmailers with |
out calling in the police. Rea.
son? To defeat the very public |
exposure the blackmailer is
threatening. VISA investiga-
tors believe justice is served
thus more completely than |
through a scandal-making trial. |
But comparatively simple
criminal cases occupy a small |
part of the secret service men, |
bers' time.
There are many other more |
complex cases dealing with busi-
ness conspiracies. international
intrigue, patent infringements, |
and matters Of prime political !
consequence that reach some
times to the White House.
VISA investigators are en-
ployed here and elsewhere to
check up on foreign agents.
custom that began long ago
when Mr.. Bradford's father, the
late Morgan Bradford. jr.
worked for President Taft and
once turned up 81 Japanese
spies at Hampton Roads.
1t isn't easy to gumshoe ones
way into the VISA. which con-
siders itself the Blue Book"
Of the profession.