The Technique of the American Detective
Duncan Matheson · The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science · 1929
T HE public usually has a wrong conception of the detective. They assume that he is a mysterious individual with occult and supernatural powers, having a complete knowledge of individuals and events, past, present and future. This assumption is entirely erroneous. A detective, after all, is only a peace officer possessed of sound judgment, with the ability to apply it along sound practical business lines, to the solution of a criminal case. Whatever success I have met with has been accomplished by strict attention to duty and hard work. There is no other formula for success. Much has been said and written about scientific detectives. The unfortunate part of the situation is that they become so scientific that they have to put out their hands to find out if they are in bed. They talk about science and abstract theories, incapable of application only to their own individual selves, with the result that their services are valueless and they are unable to distinguish the difference between a first class crook and a canary bird. However, that does not mean that science has no place in the investigation of crime. Quite the contrary is true. The scientist is called in many cases and renders invaluable service. In plain English, the scientist knows his stuff and the so-called scientific detective is a fool.