CLENDENEN’S
DETECTIVE
MANUAL
How to Become a
Successful Detective
RUFUS H. CLENDENEN
CHARLESTON, W. VA.
Copyright 1922
by Rufus H. Clendenen
LOVETT PRINTING COMPANY PRESS
CHARLESTON, W. VA.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: RUFUS H. CLENDENEN]
INTRODUCTION
Of all the characters that come into the minds of writers, there is
probably none that has been so thoroughly dramatic as the detective,
unless it should be the crook with whom the detective deals.
The deeds of the underworld have a fascination for the most of us, and
the detective who finds his way into them by the golden thread of his
ingeniousness and unravels them, in our mind is the hero of romance
and the guardian of the law abiding public. He reveals the mystery,
apprehends or arrests and assists in the conviction of those who are
regarded as the worst enemies of society.
To my mind, as well as thousands of others, the detection of crime and
the “hunt” for the criminal is one of the most fascinating callings in
which a man can engage. I believe I am safe in saying that every man
has a desire, something within him calling out, to try and unravel some
mysterious crime.
This work is based upon careful study of the highest recognized
authorities on the subject. Its purpose is to present in a clear,
connected and forcible manner the knowledge obtained from twenty-two
years in the detective profession.
It is hoped that this treatise may satisfy the most thoughtful and
experienced officers and that it may be also of special interest and
profit to the new beginner, the more experienced officers and members
of police departments.
The story section deals with actual facts and experiences in the
mountains of West Virginia.
This being a book of facts and recounting some of my experiences in
the detective profession, I sincerely hope that it will meet with the
approval of all officers of the law and have a full reading from that
portion of the public who are interested in perplexing problems dealing
with the underworld of crime.
Respectfully,
RUFUS H. CLENDENEN.
CHAPTER I.
The Detective Profession in Full.
The detection of crime, and consequent pursuit and apprehension of the
criminal, is one of the most fascinating vocations in which men engage.
At least once in every normal man’s lifetime there comes the desire
to engage in unraveling mysterious crimes. At least seventy-five per
cent of the American people are inclined to attempt to unravel some
mysterious matter at some time. The motives which lead men to become
detectives may be a desire for personal glory, to win the rich rewards
which are often offered for the arrest and conviction of some criminal,
or simply the love of the chase, which is so deeply rooted in every
real man’s makeup. While every man may desire to become a detective,
but few men are really fitted to succeed in a calling which demands so
many qualities, both natural and acquired.
So many young men who are not educated make the mistake of their
life by taking a correspondence course in some detective school
which furnishes him with a little tin badge, a diploma, a card of
introduction and a large quantity of worthless literature. These men I
term “badge flashers” and “five-dollar detectives”. In my office in the
City of Charleston, West Virginia, you will find a sign over my door
which reads as follows:
“NOTICE: ‘Badge Flashers’ and ‘$5.00 Detectives’, who are
trained men, save your time. We cannot use you. (Signed) The
Clendenen Detective System.”
To be a detective, a man need not possess the physical qualifications
which would fit him to meet the requirements of a patrolman or police
officer. Many of the city detectives are recruited from the ranks of
the patrolman and police officers, but there are many others who step
directly into the ranks. While physical standards are more elastic than
for patrolmen, they are rigid in this regard that extreme types are
not wanted. The man who is very tall or very short attracts attention
easily.
Any defect such as lameness, facial disfigurement, defect of speech, or
eccentricity of manner provide an inseparable bar to success for the
would-be detective, especially in police work; in private work these
defects are not so material. The physically normal are best fitted
to avoid attracting attention. Many absurd notions prevail about the
detective makeup, such as the ability to assume numerous disguises and
impersonate numerous characters. Nothing could be farther from the
truth. The best of all disguises is no disguise at all, but simply
the ability to go quietly about one’s business without revealing to
onlookers what that business is. “The Old Sleuth”, “Nick Carter”,
“Old King Brady”, “Diamond Dick”, “Pluck and Luck”, and all five and
ten cent detective story books make interesting reading, but the real
detective who would attempt to use such methods would be laughed at
as much by the underworld as by his fellow officers. Physical fitness
is not the only qualification of the successful detective. He must
have stability of moral character which will withstand the severest
tests. He must be not only “as honest as the day is long” but also as
honest as the night is longer. His word must be as good as his bond.
A reputation for absolute honesty is acquired only by the sternest
adherence to the principles of a square deal. Temptations to dishonesty
are almost daily occurrences in the detective’s life. It is a common
practice for detected criminals to offer bribes for immunity from
arrest. It is common knowledge in some cities that gambling houses,
houses of prostitution, moonshining dens and bootlegging joints set
aside a regular per cent of their earnings for the police. The young
beginner or an experienced officer who once accepts a bribe for evading
his plain duty can no longer lay claim to the title of an honest man.
People who commit the above depredations are as thoroughly organized
as the officers whose duty is to apprehend them, and when an officer
accepts a bribe from any of these clansmen he must thereafter protect
them or any of their associates.
Such acts are cumulative in their effects, leading eventually to almost
inevitable exposure, arrest, conviction and disgrace. The awful and,
in one sense, pitiable example given by Lieutenant Becker of the New
York Police Force, should be sufficient to warn the young beginner of
falling into these pitfalls or taking his first dishonest step.
A reputation for truthfulness is another essential of a man who wishes
to rise in the detective profession. Very often the prosecuting
attorney depends almost wholly upon the evidence given by the detective
for a conviction, and if the detective’s veracity is questioned it
leads invariably to acquittal, where, on the other hand, a conviction
could have been had. Judges and juries are quick to detect the shifty,
evasive manner of the man who is not telling the truth. Witnesses who
are intimidated through fear of retaliation must be convinced of the
reliability of the officer who has promised protection.
Even criminals are more apt to yield peacefully to the man who is
known as a man of his word. Last, but not least, the man above soon
learns upon whom he may rely and keeps that man in mind when there is a
vacancy higher up.
A little reflection will convince anyone that sobriety is one of the
essentials of success. The temptation to drink, to associate with lewd
women and to frequent such dives, to mingle with the boys in a social
round of drinks, and to be known as “a good fellow” gives one a strong
hand with enemies of the underworld only; but to succeed as an officer
of the law, this must be resisted. One need not be a temperance crank,
inflicting his views upon others and all comers, but the detective,
must of all men be ever on the alert, quick to think and act. He must
keep his vision clear and his brain unclouded by all drugs and liquors.
The detective must be a constant student if he intends to rise in
his profession. He is often pitted against men who have made crime
a study and a profession, and many of the criminal class are men who
have occupied high places. The officer must be able to meet all classes
and conditions of men upon a common level. It is easy to imitate the
man below, but difficult to mingle with the upper class if you are
not fitted by education to meet them on a common level. The really
dangerous criminal is the one who is educated. Many of them are
graduates of colleges and universities. Some of them move in excellent
society. The detective in his profession must be able to mingle with
the masses and all classes. A knowledge of music, art, literature, the
natural sciences and mathematics are of great worth to the aspiring
detective. The ordinary officer who plods along in others’ footsteps
may be honest, sober and truthful, but he will never rise until he
looks upon his profession as a science to be thoroughly studied and
understood.
It is very essential to his success that he have an elementary
knowledge of toxic chemistry, electricity and surgery. He must have
a thorough knowledge of explosives, firearms and the tools peculiar
to the profession of burglars. There are numerous qualities for the
successful detective, such as unquestioned loyalty, the deference
to superiors, obedience, neatness, pride, courtesy to inferior as
well as superior, unlimited patience, attention to detail and that
elusive quality, manliness. Space forbids a complete discussion of
these qualities, therefore, we shall begin the discussion of the more
technical assets of the detective profession.
What constitutes a crime? When does a man or woman cross the line and
become liable to arrest?
The laws of states and nations vary widely in regard to lesser crimes,
but the more important crimes are similar under the laws of all
civilized nations. Minor offenses may be illegal in one country and
allowed in another. The detective must be conversant with the laws of
his state and nation and also have a general knowledge of the laws of
all nations.
The major crimes are classified as offenses against the person, such
as assault, rape, homicide; offenses against security of peace and
property, such as arson, blackmail, extortion, larceny, burglary,
robbery; and offenses against the state and public morals, such as
anarchy, adultery, bigamy, bribery and perjury.
Arson is one of the most difficult crimes in which to secure a
conviction for the reason that the evidence is usually destroyed.
Evidence must be secured which will prove that there really was a fire
and that it was planned.
Assault may be felonious or simple. Simple assault may be left to the
patrolman. Felonious assaults are generally qualified by the words
“with intent to kill”, and as such are serious. The weapon with which
the assault was committed is an extremely important bit of evidence
and should be secured and identified in the presence of witnesses if
possible.
Rape is a crime for the police to handle and violations of the “Mann
Act” are generally handled by Federal officers of long experience.
Bigamy is a case for the detective, as the gathering of evidence of a
former marriage must generally be secured in a different locality from
that in which the crime was committed. Evidence consists of proof of a
former marriage, proof of identity and proof that there has not been a
divorce.
The crime of blackmail is becoming of great importance because of the
nation-wide operations of organized gangs. Securing evidence is made
more difficult because of the reticence of the victim. Close and clever
shadowing of the suspected person is necessary in order to secure
evidence. It is in securing evidence against blackmailers that the
“Third Degree” is partially justified, as a confession from one of the
gang is of prime importance.
Bribery is one of the most common crimes. Evidence consists of marked
money used, eye witnesses, dictagraph records and flash photographs of
the act itself. Pre-knowledge of the crime is essential or evidence
cannot be secured.
Larceny, robbery and burglary are crimes which call for considerable
experience in the securing of evidence. Pawn shops and “Fences” must be
watched constantly. Safe burglars are the worst of the lot, exceeding
in importance even the “Dutch House Men”. They have many tricks never
used by house men. The detective must become familiar with the tricks
of the regulars and must distinguish the professional from the amateur
job at a glance. Burglars generally stick to one phase of burglary and
may easily be known by some personal peculiarity of operation. Loft,
store, store window, house, flat, bank or office thieves are each a
study of themselves and not to be confused. The detective must become
familiar with the various tools used by burglars and the manner of
their use.
Homicide--“to kill by act, by procurement or by omission”--furnishes
one of the most frequent cases for the detective bureau. In homicide
cases it is absolutely essential that the identity of the body be
established. The “_Corpus Delicti_” must be established. The
clothing of the victim is often of prime importance. If a pistol was
used, empty shells and the ball or balls are evidence. If possible an
ante-mortem statement should be secured. The position of the body,
furniture, etc., must be noted that you may be able to paint a verbal
picture of the crime. Do not become disheartened if a clue does not
prove right when followed. Scotland Yard men succeed often because of
their bulldog tenacity, the Swiss because of their patiently minute
measurements; the Germans because of their rigid classification of
all citizens and strangers; the French because of their brilliancy
of deduction, and the American because he uses all of their methods
supplemented by native shrewdness and observation.
Evidence may be direct, cumulative, circumstantial or hearsay. The
detective should make a careful study of these forms and their
importance in order that sufficient evidence to convict may be secured.
A careful study of the evidence given at important trials will aid
greatly in determining the importance of evidence. The Thaw case, the
Leo Frank case, the Marion Lambert case and others of like importance
should be carefully studied as they are replete with valuable pointers
in the securing of reliable evidence.
In securing evidence it will often be found that witnesses will talk
freely under the influence of excitement but become more and more
uncommunicative when the excitement wears off. Witnesses at times
fear revenge, injury to business or notoriety; it is the detective’s
duty to inspire confidence in the timid witness. The officer must
be possessed of infinite patience and tact in order to get at the
real facts. A brusque, harsh, intimidating manner rarely succeeds in
getting witnesses to tell the whole truth. Little things must not be
overlooked. Often things unimportant in themselves become of prime
importance when they become one link in a chain of evidence. The best
way to arrange the evidence is to keep a memorandum book in which is
set down the points as discovered, then at your leisure you can arrange
your facts and get their relative bearings on the case in point. Under
these headings may come facts bearing upon the victim’s life history,
family affairs, time of the assault, weapon used, eye witnesses, if
there be any, and any suggestive features of the case which have a
bearing on the criminal’s identity. Deduction and observation are the
twin aids in the unraveling of crime.
What powers of arrest have the detective? A warrant is always
sufficient power but a warrant cannot always be procured in time. The
detective has the following powers of summary arrest:
1. For a crime committed or attempted in his presence.
2. When the person arrested has committed a felony, although not
in his presence.
3. When a felony has in fact been committed and he has
reasonable cause for believing the person arrested to have
committed it.
4. A non-resident may be arrested for a crime committed out of
the state on receipt of a telegram from the authorities of the
place where the crime was committed.
When the officer’s attention is called to the commission of a crime he
must act quickly. It is not possible to consult a reference in regard
to the powers of arrest. The detective must know the limitations of his
powers and must be careful not to go beyond them. Every person must
be informed of the reason for his arrest unless he is arrested in the
actual commission of a crime or after a chase immediately following.
Whenever the officer is permitted to make an arrest he is permitted to
use sufficient force to effect it. Brutal methods, however, are frowned
upon by the courts. Fugitives from justice may be arrested for a crime
committed in another state if such a crime is punishable in the state
where the arrest is made. Detective departments of states and nations
are usually glad to co-operate in the apprehension of criminals.
Crimes like homicide, arson, burglary, etc., are as old as the world
but new developments of civilization bring with them new crimes and
new types of criminals. Piracy is an extremely old crime but train
robberies were unheard of until trains began to run.
Civilization has become too complex for such hard riding bandits as
the James Boys or the Dalton Gang to flourish, but a newer and more
dangerous type has arisen in the automobile bandit. The Apaches of
Paris took to the automobile like a duck to water. Bold and daring
criminals of the United States were quick to see the advantages of the
automobile in committing crime. By its use a safe may be cracked in
the country bank and before morning the robbers be secure in some city
miles away, leaving no trace behind them. The best trained bloodhound
is helpless when put upon the trail of the auto. Here is a chance for
the ambitious detective to win name and fame for himself by devising
some means for pursuing and identifying the automobile bandit.
Criminals have always kept just a little ahead of the men who make a
business of detecting and preventing crime. Safe manufacturers are kept
on their mettle to devise a safe which is really burglar-proof. The
cracksmen generally laugh at their efforts. The criminal is quick to
make use of new inventions. He readily discards his “can opener” and
bottle of “soup” for the quieter and more efficient electric machine
which eats through the heaviest steel door with neatness and dispatch.
The Maxim Silencer and the automatic pistol were quickly adopted by
the criminal class. The small fry such as the “dip”, the “moll buzzer”
and package thief may be left to the tender mercies of the precinct
man but the really efficient detective must equip himself to engage in
a battle of wits with criminals who make crimes a profession. He must
keep abreast of the times, he must be cognizant of all the newer tricks
of the criminal class and must find means to circumvent them. It is not
sufficient to be as efficient as the other fellows--he must be more
efficient. His work must stand in a class by itself.
He who would engage in the calling of the detective, in any one of its
various phases, must be content to begin at the bottom and work his way
upward by means of unremitting study and observation. He must possess
a multitude of qualifications if he wishes to rise in his profession.
He must be able to write reports which are models of neatness, accuracy
and brevity. He is expected to know as much law as the lawyer, as
much medicine and surgery as the doctor, as much chemistry as the
chemist, as much psychology as the psychologist, as much science as
the scientist. Above all other special knowledge he must know men.
He must be able to best the gambler at his own game. Poker, faro,
roulette, crap and stud are easy picking for the trained man. He must
be familiar with the back rooms of saloons and the various and somewhat
devious methods of the liquor dealers without himself becoming an
habitual drinker. He must co-operate with the various city departments
in maintaining law and order without becoming mixed in the schemes of
the petty politicians who infest those departments. He must be familiar
with the location and activities of the houses of prostitution without
becoming morally corrupt. He must be stern without becoming brutal,
be well read without becoming a book worm, be moral and sober without
being a reformer, be good without becoming “good for nothing” by being
too good, be athletic without developing muscle at the expense of mind,
and be a mixer without becoming a loafer. He must be possessed of the
cardinal virtues of honesty, truthfulness, sobriety and patience, and
supplement the negative virtues with the positive ones of physical
fitness, mental alertness, extraordinary powers of observation,
facility in rapid deduction, ability to identify the various types of
criminals at a glance and complete familiarity with the various modes
of operation of the criminal class.
The history of the detection of crime contains amazingly few names
of detectives who have distinguished themselves because of their
discoveries or inventions. Of living detectives in the United
States, William J. Burns and W. A. Pinkerton are the only ones who
have achieved greatness, the former having been recently appointed
by President Harding as Chief of the United States Secret Service.
Pinkerton achieved greatness more because of his executive ability than
because of his ability in apprehending criminals. Burns has not used
sensational methods but has reached his present high place because of
his ability to read the souls of men.
I have set a high mark, but it should not discourage the man ambitious
to succeed. Success is not won in a single day. Success is the result
of long years of patient endeavor and is reached more often through
strenuous striving than through native ability. The man who is bound
to succeed cannot be kept down. He will carve name and fame for himself
in spite of the greatest obstacles.
[Illustration]