Chapter I: The Detective Profession in Full

The detection of crime, and consequent pursuit and apprehension of the criminal, is one of the most fascinating vocations in which men engage.

At least once in every normal man’s lifetime there comes the desire to engage in unraveling mysterious crimes. At least seventy-five per cent of the American people are inclined to attempt to unravel some mysterious matter at some time. The motives which lead men to become detectives may be a desire for personal glory, to win the rich rewards which are often offered for the arrest and conviction of some criminal, or simply the love of the chase, which is so deeply rooted in every real man’s makeup. While every man may desire to become a detective, but few men are really fitted to succeed in a calling which demands so many qualities, both natural and acquired.

So many young men who are not educated make the mistake of their life by taking a correspondence course in some detective school which furnishes him with a little tin badge, a diploma, a card of introduction and a large quantity of worthless literature. These men I term “badge flashers” and “five-dollar detectives”. In my office in the City of Charleston, West Virginia, you will find a sign over my door which reads as follows:

“NOTICE: ‘Badge Flashers’ and ‘$5.00 Detectives’, who are
trained men, save your time. We cannot use you. (Signed) The
Clendenen Detective System.”

To be a detective, a man need not possess the physical qualifications which would fit him to meet the requirements of a patrolman or police officer. Many of the city detectives are recruited from the ranks of the patrolman and police officers, but there are many others who step directly into the ranks. While physical standards are more elastic than for patrolmen, they are rigid in this regard that extreme types are not wanted. The man who is very tall or very short attracts attention easily.

Any defect such as lameness, facial disfigurement, defect of speech, or eccentricity of manner provide an inseparable bar to success for the would-be detective, especially in police work; in private work these defects are not so material. The physically normal are best fitted to avoid attracting attention. Many absurd notions prevail about the detective makeup, such as the ability to assume numerous disguises and impersonate numerous characters. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The best of all disguises is no disguise at all, but simply the ability to go quietly about one’s business without revealing to onlookers what that business is. “The Old Sleuth”, “Nick Carter”, “Old King Brady”, “Diamond Dick”, “Pluck and Luck”, and all five and ten cent detective story books make interesting reading, but the real detective who would attempt to use such methods would be laughed at as much by the underworld as by his fellow officers. Physical fitness is not the only qualification of the successful detective. He must have stability of moral character which will withstand the severest tests. He must be not only “as honest as the day is long” but also as honest as the night is longer. His word must be as good as his bond. A reputation for absolute honesty is acquired only by the sternest adherence to the principles of a square deal. Temptations to dishonesty are almost daily occurrences in the detective’s life. It is a common practice for detected criminals to offer bribes for immunity from arrest. It is common knowledge in some cities that gambling houses, houses of prostitution, moonshining dens and bootlegging joints set aside a regular per cent of their earnings for the police. The young beginner or an experienced officer who once accepts a bribe for evading his plain duty can no longer lay claim to the title of an honest man. People who commit the above depredations are as thoroughly organized as the officers whose duty is to apprehend them, and when an officer accepts a bribe from any of these clansmen he must thereafter protect them or any of their associates.

Such acts are cumulative in their effects, leading eventually to almost inevitable exposure, arrest, conviction and disgrace. The awful and, in one sense, pitiable example given by Lieutenant Becker of the New York Police Force, should be sufficient to warn the young beginner of falling into these pitfalls or taking his first dishonest step.

A reputation for truthfulness is another essential of a man who wishes to rise in the detective profession. Very often the prosecuting attorney depends almost wholly upon the evidence given by the detective for a conviction, and if the detective’s veracity is questioned it leads invariably to acquittal, where, on the other hand, a conviction could have been had. Judges and juries are quick to detect the shifty, evasive manner of the man who is not telling the truth. Witnesses who are intimidated through fear of retaliation must be convinced of the reliability of the officer who has promised protection.

Even criminals are more apt to yield peacefully to the man who is known as a man of his word. Last, but not least, the man above soon learns upon whom he may rely and keeps that man in mind when there is a vacancy higher up.

A little reflection will convince anyone that sobriety is one of the essentials of success. The temptation to drink, to associate with lewd women and to frequent such dives, to mingle with the boys in a social round of drinks, and to be known as “a good fellow” gives one a strong hand with enemies of the underworld only; but to succeed as an officer of the law, this must be resisted. One need not be a temperance crank, inflicting his views upon others and all comers, but the detective, must of all men be ever on the alert, quick to think and act. He must keep his vision clear and his brain unclouded by all drugs and liquors.

The detective must be a constant student if he intends to rise in his profession. He is often pitted against men who have made crime a study and a profession, and many of the criminal class are men who have occupied high places. The officer must be able to meet all classes and conditions of men upon a common level. It is easy to imitate the man below, but difficult to mingle with the upper class if you are not fitted by education to meet them on a common level. The really dangerous criminal is the one who is educated. Many of them are graduates of colleges and universities. Some of them move in excellent society. The detective in his profession must be able to mingle with the masses and all classes. A knowledge of music, art, literature, the natural sciences and mathematics are of great worth to the aspiring detective. The ordinary officer who plods along in others’ footsteps may be honest, sober and truthful, but he will never rise until he looks upon his profession as a science to be thoroughly studied and understood.

It is very essential to his success that he have an elementary knowledge of toxic chemistry, electricity and surgery. He must have a thorough knowledge of explosives, firearms and the tools peculiar to the profession of burglars. There are numerous qualities for the successful detective, such as unquestioned loyalty, the deference to superiors, obedience, neatness, pride, courtesy to inferior as well as superior, unlimited patience, attention to detail and that elusive quality, manliness. Space forbids a complete discussion of these qualities, therefore, we shall begin the discussion of the more technical assets of the detective profession.

What constitutes a crime? When does a man or woman cross the line and become liable to arrest?

The laws of states and nations vary widely in regard to lesser crimes, but the more important crimes are similar under the laws of all civilized nations. Minor offenses may be illegal in one country and allowed in another. The detective must be conversant with the laws of his state and nation and also have a general knowledge of the laws of all nations.

The major crimes are classified as offenses against the person, such as assault, rape, homicide; offenses against security of peace and property, such as arson, blackmail, extortion, larceny, burglary, robbery; and offenses against the state and public morals, such as anarchy, adultery, bigamy, bribery and perjury.

Arson is one of the most difficult crimes in which to secure a conviction for the reason that the evidence is usually destroyed. Evidence must be secured which will prove that there really was a fire and that it was planned.

Assault may be felonious or simple. Simple assault may be left to the patrolman. Felonious assaults are generally qualified by the words “with intent to kill”, and as such are serious. The weapon with which the assault was committed is an extremely important bit of evidence and should be secured and identified in the presence of witnesses if possible.

Rape is a crime for the police to handle and violations of the “Mann Act” are generally handled by Federal officers of long experience.

Bigamy is a case for the detective, as the gathering of evidence of a former marriage must generally be secured in a different locality from that in which the crime was committed. Evidence consists of proof of a former marriage, proof of identity and proof that there has not been a divorce.

The crime of blackmail is becoming of great importance because of the nation-wide operations of organized gangs. Securing evidence is made more difficult because of the reticence of the victim. Close and clever shadowing of the suspected person is necessary in order to secure evidence. It is in securing evidence against blackmailers that the “Third Degree” is partially justified, as a confession from one of the gang is of prime importance.

Bribery is one of the most common crimes. Evidence consists of marked money used, eye witnesses, dictagraph records and flash photographs of the act itself. Pre-knowledge of the crime is essential or evidence cannot be secured.

Larceny, robbery and burglary are crimes which call for considerable experience in the securing of evidence. Pawn shops and “Fences” must be watched constantly. Safe burglars are the worst of the lot, exceeding in importance even the “Dutch House Men”. They have many tricks never used by house men. The detective must become familiar with the tricks of the regulars and must distinguish the professional from the amateur job at a glance. Burglars generally stick to one phase of burglary and may easily be known by some personal peculiarity of operation. Loft, store, store window, house, flat, bank or office thieves are each a study of themselves and not to be confused. The detective must become familiar with the various tools used by burglars and the manner of their use.

Homicide--“to kill by act, by procurement or by omission”--furnishes one of the most frequent cases for the detective bureau. In homicide cases it is absolutely essential that the identity of the body be established. The “_Corpus Delicti_” must be established. The clothing of the victim is often of prime importance. If a pistol was used, empty shells and the ball or balls are evidence. If possible an ante-mortem statement should be secured. The position of the body, furniture, etc., must be noted that you may be able to paint a verbal picture of the crime. Do not become disheartened if a clue does not prove right when followed. Scotland Yard men succeed often because of their bulldog tenacity, the Swiss because of their patiently minute measurements; the Germans because of their rigid classification of all citizens and strangers; the French because of their brilliancy of deduction, and the American because he uses all of their methods supplemented by native shrewdness and observation.

Evidence may be direct, cumulative, circumstantial or hearsay. The detective should make a careful study of these forms and their importance in order that sufficient evidence to convict may be secured. A careful study of the evidence given at important trials will aid greatly in determining the importance of evidence. The Thaw case, the Leo Frank case, the Marion Lambert case and others of like importance should be carefully studied as they are replete with valuable pointers in the securing of reliable evidence.

In securing evidence it will often be found that witnesses will talk freely under the influence of excitement but become more and more uncommunicative when the excitement wears off. Witnesses at times fear revenge, injury to business or notoriety; it is the detective’s duty to inspire confidence in the timid witness. The officer must be possessed of infinite patience and tact in order to get at the real facts. A brusque, harsh, intimidating manner rarely succeeds in getting witnesses to tell the whole truth. Little things must not be overlooked. Often things unimportant in themselves become of prime importance when they become one link in a chain of evidence. The best way to arrange the evidence is to keep a memorandum book in which is set down the points as discovered, then at your leisure you can arrange your facts and get their relative bearings on the case in point. Under these headings may come facts bearing upon the victim’s life history, family affairs, time of the assault, weapon used, eye witnesses, if there be any, and any suggestive features of the case which have a bearing on the criminal’s identity. Deduction and observation are the twin aids in the unraveling of crime.

What powers of arrest have the detective? A warrant is always sufficient power but a warrant cannot always be procured in time. The detective has the following powers of summary arrest:

1. For a crime committed or attempted in his presence.

2. When the person arrested has committed a felony, although not
in his presence.

3. When a felony has in fact been committed and he has
reasonable cause for believing the person arrested to have
committed it.

4. A non-resident may be arrested for a crime committed out of
the state on receipt of a telegram from the authorities of the
place where the crime was committed.

When the officer’s attention is called to the commission of a crime he must act quickly. It is not possible to consult a reference in regard to the powers of arrest. The detective must know the limitations of his powers and must be careful not to go beyond them. Every person must be informed of the reason for his arrest unless he is arrested in the actual commission of a crime or after a chase immediately following. Whenever the officer is permitted to make an arrest he is permitted to use sufficient force to effect it. Brutal methods, however, are frowned upon by the courts. Fugitives from justice may be arrested for a crime committed in another state if such a crime is punishable in the state where the arrest is made. Detective departments of states and nations are usually glad to co-operate in the apprehension of criminals.

Crimes like homicide, arson, burglary, etc., are as old as the world but new developments of civilization bring with them new crimes and new types of criminals. Piracy is an extremely old crime but train robberies were unheard of until trains began to run.

Civilization has become too complex for such hard riding bandits as the James Boys or the Dalton Gang to flourish, but a newer and more dangerous type has arisen in the automobile bandit. The Apaches of Paris took to the automobile like a duck to water. Bold and daring criminals of the United States were quick to see the advantages of the automobile in committing crime. By its use a safe may be cracked in the country bank and before morning the robbers be secure in some city miles away, leaving no trace behind them. The best trained bloodhound is helpless when put upon the trail of the auto. Here is a chance for the ambitious detective to win name and fame for himself by devising some means for pursuing and identifying the automobile bandit.

Criminals have always kept just a little ahead of the men who make a business of detecting and preventing crime. Safe manufacturers are kept on their mettle to devise a safe which is really burglar-proof. The cracksmen generally laugh at their efforts. The criminal is quick to make use of new inventions. He readily discards his “can opener” and bottle of “soup” for the quieter and more efficient electric machine which eats through the heaviest steel door with neatness and dispatch. The Maxim Silencer and the automatic pistol were quickly adopted by the criminal class. The small fry such as the “dip”, the “moll buzzer” and package thief may be left to the tender mercies of the precinct man but the really efficient detective must equip himself to engage in a battle of wits with criminals who make crimes a profession. He must keep abreast of the times, he must be cognizant of all the newer tricks of the criminal class and must find means to circumvent them. It is not sufficient to be as efficient as the other fellows--he must be more efficient. His work must stand in a class by itself.

He who would engage in the calling of the detective, in any one of its various phases, must be content to begin at the bottom and work his way upward by means of unremitting study and observation. He must possess a multitude of qualifications if he wishes to rise in his profession. He must be able to write reports which are models of neatness, accuracy and brevity. He is expected to know as much law as the lawyer, as much medicine and surgery as the doctor, as much chemistry as the chemist, as much psychology as the psychologist, as much science as the scientist. Above all other special knowledge he must know men. He must be able to best the gambler at his own game. Poker, faro, roulette, crap and stud are easy picking for the trained man. He must be familiar with the back rooms of saloons and the various and somewhat devious methods of the liquor dealers without himself becoming an habitual drinker. He must co-operate with the various city departments in maintaining law and order without becoming mixed in the schemes of the petty politicians who infest those departments. He must be familiar with the location and activities of the houses of prostitution without becoming morally corrupt. He must be stern without becoming brutal, be well read without becoming a book worm, be moral and sober without being a reformer, be good without becoming “good for nothing” by being too good, be athletic without developing muscle at the expense of mind, and be a mixer without becoming a loafer. He must be possessed of the cardinal virtues of honesty, truthfulness, sobriety and patience, and supplement the negative virtues with the positive ones of physical fitness, mental alertness, extraordinary powers of observation, facility in rapid deduction, ability to identify the various types of criminals at a glance and complete familiarity with the various modes of operation of the criminal class.

The history of the detection of crime contains amazingly few names of detectives who have distinguished themselves because of their discoveries or inventions. Of living detectives in the United States, William J. Burns and W. A. Pinkerton are the only ones who have achieved greatness, the former having been recently appointed by President Harding as Chief of the United States Secret Service. Pinkerton achieved greatness more because of his executive ability than because of his ability in apprehending criminals. Burns has not used sensational methods but has reached his present high place because of his ability to read the souls of men.

I have set a high mark, but it should not discourage the man ambitious to succeed. Success is not won in a single day. Success is the result of long years of patient endeavor and is reached more often through strenuous striving than through native ability. The man who is bound to succeed cannot be kept down. He will carve name and fame for himself in spite of the greatest obstacles.