Traps for Criminals.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1914, Page 8

Traps for Criminals.

"There are, of course, no definite rules for crime detection," said an oiticer at the detective head-quar-ters, apropos of the ingenious method used by the police in securing the arrest of the man who sent threatening letters to I^ord Rothschild ; "but in two or three classes a simple method is nearly always infallible. For instance, large contractors and horsekeepers are the victims of a particularly mean theft. Sometimes employes steal the fodder intended for the horses and sell it. One effective method of detection in cases of this kind is to mix finely-peppered paper with the chaff, and if- a person is suspected of buying stolen property an analysis of the fodder in his possession v.ai quickly prove if he is guilty. "Then in tea warehouses, where a large quantity is stolen every year, fine shot is mixed with the tea, and by its presence the thief can he traced. For a more scientific method of detection you can turn to cases of threatening letters. There was one quite recently, and:

jto prove the guilt of the person suspected the oflicer in charge of the case marked certain stamps, with invisible ink.

"These were sold to the suspect i'nthe ordinary way across the postoflßce counter. When the next letter was received the stamp was stripped off and chemicals applied, with the result that the detective's previously invisible writing at once

appeared."