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Detectives Who Detect.
In the preceding chapter the writer discussed at some length the real, as distinguished from the fancied, attributes of detectives in general, and the weaknesses as well as the virtues of the so-called detective "agency." There are in the city of New York at the present time about one hundred and fifty licensed detectives.

Under the detective license laws each of these has been required to file with the State comptroller written evidences of his competency, and integrity, approved by five reputable freeholders of his county, and to give bond in the sum of two thousand dollars.

He also has to pay a license fee of one hundred dollars per annum, but this enables him to employ as many "operators" as he chooses.

In other words, the head of the agency may be of good character and his agents wholly undesirable citizens.