Of course, he may be first class in spite of these disqualifications, but the presumption in the first instance is that he is no longer alert or effective, and in the second that in one way or another he is not honest.

Agencies recruited from deposed and other ex-policemen usually have all the faults of the police without any of their virtues.

There are many small agencies which do reliable work, and there are a number of private detectives in all the big cities who work single-handed and achieve excellent results.

However, if he expects to accomplish anything by hiring detectives, the layman or lawyer must first make sure of his agency or his man.
One other feature of the detective business should not be overlooked.

In addition to charging for services not actually rendered and expenses not actually incurred, there is in many cases a strong temptation to betray the interests of the employer.