KICK-BACK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12825, 21 August 1939, Page 3

KICK-BACK

"THE EVENING STORY —

BY ELIZABETH BUCK

“Perfect crimes,” Dr. Millet earnestly addressed the members of the class in police administration, “have been and will be committed. They are daily occurrences. But the very fact of their being perfect accounts for the fact that so little publicity is given them. Most perfect crimes are never found out at all.”

Inspector Deering smiled to himself as he looked over the scholars, all men right from the ranks of the department. He could easily count the perfect crimes, he had known of during his years with police work. There was always a slip-up, a kickback somewhere.

“There is the possibility that any person,” Dr. Millet continued, •'niignt commit a crime against the law if he was cold-blooded enough to take a purely objective view of the art — to pursue the entire process scientifically. “Just as we can trace a crime back through its various stages by utilising, the tiniest of clues and building logically, a scientific mind can construct a crime wherein every possible clue is eliminated that could involve the criminal. A man like myself, for instance, could' perform a perfect crime, for I would have a perfect premise of knowledge of what to avoid to aid me in my operation.” Deering waited until the officers at the special school filed out before he greeted Millet. His .smile vanished.

“I wonder if you could spare me a few minutes, Doctor?” he pleaded. “You could help me once again, if you’d be so kind.”

"I would look first for a tangible clue.” “Certainly, Inspector.” The scientist picked up his hat and motioned toward the door. “I’ve been puzzling, about that theft of the athletic funds from the treasurer’s office a couple of weeks ago,” Deering opened as they walked along.. "It is certain that the university can’t afford to lose them, and if only as a gesture of thanks to the trustees for subsidising your class for our men, it is up to me to find the thief. I admit I’m on the spot.” , “But we’ve been over the ground several times, Inspector,” Millet smiled ruefully. "I’ve given the subject the best of my scientific care. The thief was undoubtedly a most cleVfer and thoughtful man, judging by apparances.” peering thought ror a few paces before replying, "Your little speech at the end of the class period to-day got me thinking about certain* aspects of the case. It is undoubtedly true that we are looking for a very clever thief. But how would you, if you were in my place, go about finding, a usable clue to his identity?” Doctor Millet shrugged skeptically. Wouldn't the police ever learn to let well enough alone? The job was on© which had been so carefully planned as to be absolutely foolproof and guaranteed against discovery. "I would look first,” the doctor suggested, "for a tangible clue that was traceable, not to anything don© by the conscious mind, but left during a purely reflex action.” Dr. Millet clapped the police official on the back in parting. "Let me know if you turn up anything interesting,” he invited. "I’ll be glad to help you out!” Inspector Deering was back two days later, a more cheerful look upon his countenance as he announced. “I think I’ve hit upon something in that university job. Doctor, and perhaps you can help me out better than else!” “Won’t you sit down?” Millet invited. "Let me know exactly all the facts.” Inspector Deering marshaled his words carefully. "You say you’ve never been in the treasurer’s office. Then I’ll have to explain the setup of the crime ‘to

One item too many in a perfect crime proves the undoing of a criminologist who knew everything.

you. Stop me if I’m not making myself clear to you about anything.” “I’m listening, Inspector.” “The safe containing the funds is situated in a corner of the first floor office, and a small electric light bulb hangs directly over it so that at * night it can easily be seen by the officer on the beat. The doors and windows to the room are, every one without exception, wired with a late model alarm system.” “This alarm failed to function?” “Exactly. The thief evidently had a thorough knowledge of electricity and alarm systems. The window was prised open with some tool like a crowbar, and the intruder entered to begin the delicate Job of finding the combination of the safe by touch.” Millet was intent.

“There were no fingerprints?” “The thief wore gloves, except when he removed one to work the combination. But he carefully smeared any print afterward beyond possible identification. And that was clever, too.” “The man was a competent workman, if nothing else.” “He made one mistake, however. After the commission of the crime and before he had a chance to replace his glove, he was interrupted.”

“Was he seen?” Millet asked. “Can anyone identify him?” “No one saw him, but purely by instinct;, he did something about which I think you can help , us. He reached up and twisted the bulb of the light so that it went out! I discovered that it had been unscrewed when I couldn’t work it by the

switch:” “Come with me to headquarters. Perhaps you will be .able to explain to the commissioner a minor bit of scientific magic,” he grimly invited, “just how the prints on the bulb happen to be yours.”;