The Recollections of a Policeman. By T. W, an Inspector of the London Detective Corps

Front matter

THE OF A BY THOMAS WATERS, An Inspector of the London Detective Corps. NEW YORK: CORNISH, LAMPORT & CO., PUBLISHERS, No. 8, Park Place. Y ef s) c c Some of the tales included in this volume have already appeared in some of our American Magazines, and proved exceedingly popular. It is believed they deserve a more permanent form, — that this collection will gratify those familiar with their merits, and mterest and instruct those whose attention is now for the first time directed to them. The Detective Policeman is in some respects peculiar to England — one of the develop ments 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 "Watch man. In point of fact, he is a preventive as much as a detective.

His occupation is as hon orable as it is dangerous. Its difficulties and danger give it an odor of the romantic. The record of " hair-breadth 'scapes," which follow, is another verification of the old saying, " Truth is stranger than fiction." Stereotyped by Vincest Dill, Jr., No. 21 & 23 Ann Street. 2*H 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 at tention 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 perpetra tors of an artistically-contrived fraud upon an eminent trades man 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 ihe gambler. 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.