Review: There's Death in the Churchyard
| Published date | 01 July 1935 |
| Date | 01 July 1935 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3500800324 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
380 THE POLICE JOURNAL
LIFE
AND
DEATH
AT
THE
OLD
BAILEY. By R.
THURSTON
HOPKINS.
Illustrated. (Herbert Jenkins, Ltd.)
lOS.
6d.
net.
THE occasion of this volume is the centenary of the Central Criminal Court,
and it sets out to deal with the history of that famous institution.
The
historical chapters are most interesting,
but
the author does not stick too
closely to the central theme of his work, and the result is a book which will
interest the general reader no less than the antiquary. As a matter of fact
the writer is at his best when he lets himself loose on such subjects as the
methods adopted by those gentlemen who like to draw money from a bank
without the troublesome formality of opening an account, or the modern
technique of safe-opening. New light is thrown on the exploits of Jack
Sheppard, Charles Peace, Jack the Ripper, and many others.
The
most
notable occupants of the dock at the Old Bailey all have their place in the
book,
but
the author describes their exploits prior to entering the Old Bailey
more fully than the features of their several trials.
This
is possibly all to
the good,
but
it does have the effect of making the old court play second
fiddle to those who entered it. May we look forward to a similar volume
on the occasion of the Old Bailey's bi-centenary ?
POLICE
ADMINISTRATION
IN
BOSTON. By
LEONARD
V.
HARRISON.
(Oxford University Press.)
lOS.
6d.
net.
THISis the third volume in the Survey of Crime and Criminal Justice series
conducted by the Harvard Law School, and is, as was to be expected, a
veritable mine of information. Although a small part of the book is applic-
able only to Boston, the greater part relates to problems encountered in every
large police organization.
It
is in no sense a handbook on police adminis-
tration,
but
rather a detailed investigation (with the most intriguing diagrams)
into every aspect of police life. After two chapters dealing with the special
characteristics of the Boston Police system, we embark on an inquiry into the
selection of police personnel, training, patrols, station houses, and so on.
At first sight the book looks alarmingly detailed,
but
it will well repay a
close study by all who are interested in the principles and technique of police
administration.
THERE'S
DEATH
IN
THE
CHURCHYARD. By
WILLIAM
GORE.
(Harrap &Co.)
7S.
6d.
net.
DETECTIVE
fiction has assumed such massive proportions that the standard
of technique has been forced to a much higher level than in the happy,
Sherlock Holmes' days, when competition was slight.
The
author of this
type of book has to propound an ingenious crime of an unusual character,
and it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover methods which have not
been used already.
There
seems to be little virgin territory left for the
detective-author to explore.
This
novel has some original features.
The
police do very little, the
private detective is amazingly incompetent, and the amateurs leap at
conclusions with surprising ability.
The
method employed by the murderer
is well up to standard. Where the story is at its weakest is in the description
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