DETECTION OF CRIME

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 8

DETECTION OF CRIME

PEOPLE WHO GIVE ADVICE.

NUMEROUS CLAIRVOYANTS.

Every important crime in New South Wales during recent years has brought to the Criminal Investigation Bureau scores, and sometimes hundreds, of letters from people who wish to give the police information or advice. A surprising number of these letters come from clairvoyants. All communications which refer to crime are carefully examined, no matter how wild they may appear at first sight. Police executives said lately that they had little faith in clairvoyants’ methods, but a recent issue of the New South Wales Police Monthly makes some interesting comments on the subject. “The best brains in the police force do not entirely disregard the possibilities of some clairvoyant throwing useful light upon a crime,” states the journal. “A dreamer may do the same. Clairvoyance, however, is far from being infallible, and it certainly cannot be accepted as evidence in a Court of law. So far it cannot be said that any member of the detective force of this State has been raised to prominence through his own or any outsider’s clairvoyant powers. Our best men are psychologists and able reasoners, but on the whole they owe success to persistency and thoroughness.” The writer suggests that the offer of rewards may have something to do with the many letters the police receive, and points out that rewards offer a temptation to despicable people to attempt to fasten guilt upon some person, partly in revenge and partly to obtain money. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Childs, said that the police received dozens of letters from clairvoyants and spiritualists some of whom made most extravagant claims. So far as he knew, however, none of these communications ever contained anything practical. Executive police officers and detectives with years of experience took a similar view. They pointed out, however, that the police must consider the motives which inspired correspondents, and that sometimes valuable information was given by devious methods. They explained that it was, therefore, not possible to discard without consideration letters which at first sight might seem vague and indefinite.