Recollections of a Policeman

The tales included in this volume possess a remarkable degree of literary merit, which renders no apology necessary for their appearance before the public at this time. The Detective Policeman is in some respects peculiar to England--one of the developments of the last twenty-five years. He differs as much from the informer and spy of the continent of Europe as the modern Protective Policeman does from the old-fashioned Watchman. His occupation is of the most exciting and dangerous character, calling into requisition patient endurance and skilful diplomacy. In ferreting out the legitimate objects of justice, his record is full of "hair-breadth 'scapes," which lend a strong odor of the romantic to his life.

We think that the reader, after having perused the following pages, will unite with us in the remark, that the true stories contained therein have never been equalled for thrilling interest by any productions of modern fiction.

CONTENTS.

PAGE THE GAMBLER 5

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY 20

X, Y, Z 42

THE WIDOW 61

THE TWINS 82

THE PURSUIT 95

LEGAL METAMORPHOSES 109

THE REVENGE 127

MARY KINGSFORD 144

FLINT JACKSON 165

MODERN SCIENCE OF THIEF TAKING 189

THE DETECTIVE POLICE PARTY 202

THREE "DETECTIVE" ANECDOTES 227

THE MARTYRS OF CHANCERY 239

LAW AT A LOW PRICE 247

THE LAW 261

THE DUTIES OF WITNESSES AND JURYMEN 265

BANK NOTE FORGERIES 280

DOOM OF ENGLISH WILLS 313

DISAPPEARANCES 349

LOADED DICE 361

Part I.

THE GAMBLER.

A little more than a year after the period when adverse circumstances--chiefly the result of my own reckless follies--compelled me to enter the ranks of the metropolitan police, as the sole means left me of procuring food and raiment, the attention of one of the principal chiefs of the force was attracted towards me by the ingenuity and boldness which I was supposed to have manifested in hitting upon and unraveling a clue which ultimately led to the detection and punishment of the perpetrators of an artistically-contrived fraud upon an eminent tradesman of the west end of London. The chief sent for me; and after a somewhat lengthened conversation, not only expressed approbation of my conduct in the particular matter under discussion, but hinted that he might shortly need my services in other affairs requiring intelligence and resolution.

"I think I have met you before," he remarked with a meaning smile on dismissing me, "when you occupied a different position from your present one? Do not alarm yourself: I have no wish to pry unnecessarily into other men's secrets. Waters is a name common enough in all ranks of society, and I may, you know"--here the cold smile deepened in ironical expression--"be mistaken. At all events, the testimony of the gentleman whose recommendation obtained you admission to the force--I have looked into the matter since I heard of your behavior in the late business--is a sufficient guarantee that nothing more serious than imprudence and folly can be laid to your charge. I have neither right nor inclination to inquire further. To-morrow, in all probability, I shall send for you."

I came to the conclusion, as I walked homewards, that the chief's intimation of having previously met me in a another sphere of life was a random and unfounded one, as I had seldom visited London in my prosperous days, and still more rarely mingled in its society. My wife, however, to whom I of course related the substance of the conversation, reminded me that he had once been at Doncaster during the races; and suggested that he might possibly have seen and noticed me there. This was a sufficiently probable explanation of the hint; but whether the correct one or not, I cannot decide, as he never afterwards alluded to the subject, and I had not the slightest wish to renew it.