A GREAT DETECTIVE

Evening Star, Issue 19616, 23 July 1927, Page 23

A GREAT DETECTIVE

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES Superiatomlent Carlin, before his retirement, was one of the “Big hour” of Scotland Yard, and one of the reorganisers of the system of criminal investigation which has_ had such satisfactory results. In his retirement ho has written a book, ‘Reminiscences of an Ex-Detective,’ in which ho tells the story of a very eventful life. It is drama'ic and thrilling, but not the least of its, attractions is that it reveals the fact that at heart the great detective was a man of genial and kindly disposition, humane and considerate. The incident we quote from its pages is typical. _ Ho tells of the journey home of a prisoner, “T.,” arrested in America. “A famous opera company was on boiird. returning to England. On the first night out they organised a concert in aid of some sailors’ charity fund, and they were looking for ‘ outside talent ’ and a chairman. At tea time m the saloon one of them came up to me and asked if T would contribute a •lumber ._ “ ‘ And,’ he added. ‘ would this |entloman take the chair?’ turning to

“You sec. I had made it my business to ensure that not a soul on hoard except the captain and the chief •teward knew of the exact position with regard to T. and myself, and I had let it be given out that" he was my uncle. “T. looked in an embarrassed manner at mo when the member of the opera company put the question, but I answered for him; “‘Of course, he will. I’ll sing a song if yon like, and my undo will act as chairman.’ “ And an excellent chairman my prisoner made. He was, of course,_ accustomed to preside over various kinds of meetings in his profession as a solicitor. He made a most telling speech on behalf of the charity, and then went on to announce the turns to givo the audience an interest in each.

“ As I came on to the platform in the saloon to sing my small effort, and ho announced mo. I could not help smiling inwardly at tho unique and almost ironical position of affairs. I wondered what tho effect; would have been on the members of tho opera company and the rest of the passengers had i announced instead of singing: “‘The chairman to-night, ladies and gentlemen, is a prisoner of the Jaw. Ho is going back to England to he tried, and in all probability to receive a long term of imprisonment. And 1 am a Scotland Yard detective who lias him iu custody.’ But 1 sang instead. “ T. became most popular with, our fellow passengers after the concert, and he was constantly in demand to organise deck camcs and arrange tournaments. On each occasion tie was asked lie came quietly to me and inquired if 1 would mind, and I told him Mlertainlv not.’

“ For in every wav he ‘ played crii kot ’ whb me, and I never had the slightest enir-c io regret making the voyage—his lari open-air experience for sever,il years—as congenial as possible ”