Practical Instruction for Detectives: A Complete Course in Secret Service Study

A practical manual for private detectives and investigators outlining hiring and licensing requirements, how to establish and operate an agency, and detailed field techniques. Chapters cover shadowing and surveillance, burglary investigations, identification of criminals, forgery detection, obtaining confessions, murder and arson inquiries, handling grafters, and specialized work for department stores, railroads, and streetcar systems. The text emphasizes observation, patience, common-sense methods, lawful procedures, and case examples drawn from professional experience, and addresses miscellaneous matters such as anonymous letters, testing retail integrity, conspiracies, and investigative strategies for employers and individuals.