Year: 1875

some scoundrels are punished, while others
are tolerated, upheld, and licensed. The grand
ot fraud of this character is the detective system
IN the United States. Precisely by what author-
i,v II exists, we are unable to say; but 1t does
ar;st. and its members go when and where they
choose. and do as they please, with nobody TO
;nto-fsre in their doings There are doubtless
many honest men among them, who do all IN
their power to ferret ont and punish crime; Du'
taken Ms body, we do not believe that the same
broportion of consummate rascals could De iouna
in any other body of men of equal numbers.
The following little paragraph has recently gone
the newspaper rounds:


The New Orleans PedyUne csngratulates its readers
the abolition the detective force. Now says burglars
are regularly captured within few hours after the oense
transpires.


This may read like a newspaper joke, but it is
doubtless the exact truth We have lately seen
a statement in paper, to the effect that it was
believed that the detectives had friendly un-
derstanding with the James and Younger boys,
of Missouri. In the light of facts and cireum-
stances there appears to be some truth IN this
And if the whole business laid open, there is
but little doubt that the detectives would be
found to have a thorough understanding with
the greatest criminals, aud to share the proceeds
of their villainy. Let some poor devil OF an eh-
press agent use money entrusted to his care, anu
fall short in his accounts; let some postmaster
or mail route agent pilfer registered letter. OF
let some worthless scamp commit a murder, ana
how we hear the praises of the detectives sound
ed far and wide, for their energy and ingenuity
in tracing the crime and Arresting the perpetra-
tor. But in gigantic rObberies, involving many
of in murders.
the object of which has been fortune or the ac-
complishnment of some deep purpose, not one in
seven is ever ferreted out. Does the detective
art fail in these cases, do the perpetrators make


it to the interest of detectives to lose the scenti
Who can doubt that it is the latteri The great
object of detectives is to feather their nests, and
they favor the side that can furnish the most
feathers. Take the Charlie Ross abduction, for
example. Time and again it has been reported
that detectives had the clue to his whereabouts,
and would solve the mystery; but he has not
yet been found. The object in stealing him was
evidently money. These alternate hopes and
disappointments are probably held out to induce
the distressed father to increase the reward.


We have an instance nearer home. But re-
Gently, person known as a detective, informed
the Sheriff of this County that he knew exactly
where John Morrisey, the murderer, was, and
what ne was deing. When asked why he did
not arrest him, and thus secure the reward, he
replied that the amount was not sufficient to JUS
tify him in the undertaking; and besides, that
he aRder obligations not to do so! 1t is proba
ble that the fellow lying, in order to get the
reward increased; but he may have been telling
the truth. If one knows just where to lay his
hand on criminal, one thousand dollars will
justify him IN going to almost any part of the
United States to get him. But it is known that
Morrisey had a considerable sum of money. 1t
was very easy to make his peace with an aver
age detective, and place him under obligations by
paying him as much to lie still as he could make
by the trouble and danger he would have to in
cur in making the arrest.


Detectives not only do not detect many crimes,
but they prevent them from being detected. As
long as it is believed that experienced and sharp
detectives are the scent, others are not going
to engage in the search, as they will feel that
they cannot cope with such thorough profession |
ais; and the result is, that nobody is on the |
hunt, but the criminal is actually being protec-
ted by the detective.


When the detective system is abolished, and |
detectives no longer tolerated, but are held |
and treated as other scOundrels, we believe that
there will be q vast decrease in crime, and that
criminals will more frequently be caught and |
punished.