AMERICAN POLICE METHODS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 9 April 1910, Page 3

AMERICAN POLICE METHODS

CONFESSION UNDEIR, TOBfIPUJiB.

J Notwithstanding repeated demands, there sieemsi little chance that the/ ; rocess known, as the "third degree" will disappear in the early future from the methods of the Arnetrican police (writes the Neiw York coa-respondent of the iLondon TeJeigra.ph). The advantages of the 'English system', which treats an arrested person as innocent until proved guilty, are not ignored, but its : ,dvocateis hei'e are clearly in a minority. It is probable) that the^ controversy which hasi arisen lately -will continue fo<r a short period, and ultimately the "third degree, " which isi not officially part of the police routine, but whioa is nervea-theilessi winked at unofficially throughout the States, will be reihab li- ; tated. i

There is ai case in point just cited bj" the police as showing why the secret inquisitions) of prisoners, pending their appearance 1 in court, should be encouraged. Misst Emily a Slatra., a young Finlandei', aaTested in conneictioni with the death of a Mrs Johanseai, of New York, has just collapsed undeir the ordeial of the "third degree," and given inforniatioai which it is believed may terminate in the execution of Jolunsein, the woman's husband, for murder. Missi Sara, underwent the 1 "third <:&■ gree" for eighteen hours, persistenti^ maintaining that she- was. etnti -e-ij ignorant of the circumstances of M v Johansem's deia,th,- or the Avhea-eabo itj of the dead woman's husband. Mrs Sara was placed in a cell, and police in relays have been firing questions a; her, with the object of elucidating \ h * crime 1 , even* since.

It would appear that the woman wa-s never allowed a moment's peace. TII3 "thirdi degree 1 " begaoi at three o'clock one afternoon, aoad continued without 3 pau&e until midnight. Still she would admit nothing. At nine o'clock nexi. morning the inquisition was resumed No breakfast wasi seirved; all that wa.? given to Sarai being a glass of wafer. "Then they took hear to thei morgie" (quotes 1 the writer from the account of the New York Times), "to look at >V body of the murdered woman. Sara ro coiled at the sight, admitted that she recognised the body, but that was all. Them they took heir to the office of he Assistant Public Prosecutor, and lor two hours she waiEJ plied with qxiestions. She 1 was beginning to feel thei effects of the strain and lack of food. Towards three a.m. she broke down completely aaad wept. 'Now lam ready to M' all/ she confessed."

And them, according 1 to the police, shei told of Johan&en having admitted to her that he had murdered his wife, and how she had kept liousei for Joftazi-

sen, under the impression that Mrs Johansem had voluntarily left her r-u o - band and returned to Finland. It is not. disputed that the police, by means of the "third degree," have ifrceived many conf essions, but it is suggested that not a few prisoners, like merei children*, who sometimes confess to crime® of which they are suspected, but which they have.\ no*, committed, have declared their guilt, hoping to benefit by the promise, ol immunicy from punishment.

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