THIRD DEGREE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 778, 30 March 1910, Page 5

THIRD DEGREE.

: . AMERICAN TREATMENT OP .; j' PRISONERS., . EXTORTING CONFESSIONS. Notwithstanding repeated demands, there seems little-chance that the process known, as the "third degree" will disappear in. the eaily, future from - the methods of the American police. The advantages of the , British system, which treatsi an- arrested :person as until proved gnilty, are not .ignored, but its advocates in America. are clearly' in a minority. It is probable (says a New, York correspondent) • that the controversy which has arisen' lately will continue for a short period, and ultimately the "third degree," which is .not officially part of the police ratine, but. which it nevertheless, winked at unofficially throughout the . States, will be rehabilitated. There is a case ,in point, cited by the police, as showing why the secret inquisitions of'nrisoners, pending their appearance in Court,- should be encouraged. -Miss Emilya-Sara, a young Finiander. arrested in connection with the death of a Mrs.- Johausen, of New York, has. just collapsed under the ordeal of the "third degree," and ■ given information which, it is believed, may terminate in the execution of' Johansen. the woman's husband, for murder. Miss Sara underwent the /'third degree" for eighteen' honr6, persistently maintaining that she was entirely ignorant of-the circumstances of Mrs.' Johansen's death, or the whereabouts of the dead, woman's husband. Miss Sara was placed in. a cell, and police in. relays have bSen firing questions at, herewith the object of elucidating the crime, ever since..

It would appear that the woman was never allowed a moment's neace. The "third degree" began at three o'clock on Monday afternoon, and- continued without a-pause until midnight. Still she would admit nothing.' At nine o'clock an Tuesday morning the inquisition was .resinned. No breakfast was served; all that, was given to Sara being a glass of water. / "Then they took her. to the Morgue"— I quote from the account of the "New York Times"—"to'look at the body of the murdered women. Sara recoiled at the sight, admitted that she recognised the body, but that was all. Then they took her to the' office of the Assistant Public Prosecutor, and for.. two hours she was plied with questions. She was beginning to feel the effects of the strain and lack of food. Towards three a.m. she broko down completely and went 'Now I am ready; to tell all,' she confessed." And then, according to the police, she told of Johansen having admitted to her that he had, murdered his wife,' and how she had kept liouso for Johansen, under the impression that Mrs. Johansen had voluntarily left her husband and returned-, to Finland. It is not disputed that the police, by means of the "third degree," have received many confessions, but it is suggested that not a fow prisoners, like more children, who sometimes confess to crimes of which tliey are suspected, but which they'have not committed, havo declared tlieir guilt, hoping to benefit by the promise of immunity from punishment