SCIENCE DEFEATS THE CRIMINAL.

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1913, Page 6

SCIENCE DEFEATS THE CRIMINAL.

GREAT DETECTIVE'S LONDON QUEST.

Engaged in a hunt after many thousands of dollars, and in search-

ing for suspects in the enormous

frauds connected with the United States Hair Company. Mr. Wi'liam J. Burns is in London, and hopes to take back with him some fresh knowledge, perhaps a portion of the loot, and possibly one of the family concerned.

To a representative of the " Daily Chronicle," Mr. Burns talked from the depths of his bed at the Savoy Hotel, where he has a suite of rooms. And while he talked he handled a little ISm by 10in box, which contains his chief aid in the detection of crime, the detectaphone.

Mr. Burns' name is not so well known over here as that of the great Pinkerton firm, but in America he has been one of the chief agents in

cleansing the foul stables of corrupt municipal government, in the arrest of criminals of various types

who were preying on society, and in the capture of the Musica family. Some of the latter had been carrying on the United States Hair Company, which is alleged to have been used for the fleecing of the business and investing public and of great financial corporations of millions of dollars.

" For 30 yeai« past old man Musica had carried on business, and, so far as anyone could tell, was a "perfectly reputable merchant, with a floating cash reserve of anything from £ 40,000 upwards. The stock of the company was regarded as good, and there were agents over here who helped in the manipulation of invoices, bills of lading, and other matters. Indeed, i am here seeking an interview with that gentleman now, but he is shy." And Mr. Burns laughter a great, hearty laugh that told, beyond dispute or doubt, that he revels in his work and loves it.

He explained that -although he had secured the arrest of so many of the alleged principals and the capture of between £60,000 and £80,000 in cash and security, the total plunder alleged to have been taken is much more than that; and as a missing member of the family has been traced as far as Naples he has hopes of finding the remainder in London or on the Continent.

" We had a rare chase after them," he remarked. " They got a start on us, with £ 15,000 in cash upon them, and dodged all over the place to put us off their track. We traced them to Mobile, where they heard we were after them, and took a motor-car to a little wayside station. From there they booked to Orleans.

" When we went on board we found them all travelling under aliases, being booked for Honduras under the names of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Weeks; and Liuisa Martin, P. Martin, and M. Martin, jun. There was the father, the two daughters, and three sons. On the way to the police depot the old man tried to shoot, himself with a revolver, but we were in time to stop him."

As one talks with Mr. Burns it soon becomes clear that his great delight and pride is in the exposure and conviction of political " grafters." " The public conscience," he declared, " has been roused in the United States, and they are determined to have a ' clean-up ' that will eliminate the corrupt political bosses they have had in the past.

" He made it known that it was proposed to build a great concrete broad walk-, which would cost £300,000, and an hotel that would involve the spending of another £400,000. As we anticipated, as soon as he got to work the real estate men gathered round him. They asked him if he had got the permission of the city council. He professed ignorance that this was necessary, but was assured it was so, and the real estate man added, ' I will whisper to the right man for you.' " Our man replied, ' Oh, they will give their permission all right; they will be glad to have the city made beautiful.'

" ' Beautiful city be ! ' was the answer. ' They don't care about a beautiful city, and you have got to do business with them. I will introduce you to the right man.' Then it was suggested that £ 16,000 would be necessary to get the permission, and that was agreed upon. He was to take part for himself, and when we had managed to get him to take it from us direct, and to let us distribute the remainder to the others, we knew we had got him.

" After he had got his sum, as he left the room I met him and took him into a little office close by, where he saw the clerks busy with the detectaphone, and I read off to him all the conversation in which he had taken part when receiving the bribe. I also invited him to hand over the money he had received, and seeing the game was all over he made a sworn confession.

" One by one he summoned all the others, and they owned up and had to go to gaol."