HUNGARIAN RAPIDITY

The problem of dealing with criminals has always been concerned with speed and accuracy of judgment, and, as might be expected, the latest contribution to both these qualities comes from a foreign country, in this case Hungary, which has just acquired what is probably the most advanced method of securing prima facie evidence. For the Hungarians now use a fleet of automobiles especially equipped with every useful kind of apparatus for the discovery and apprehension of malefactors. From moving picture cameras to portable laboratories, the cars are complete, a decided contrast to the traditional derby and cigar equipment in vogue in America.

Hungary has in this taken a step worthy of emulation. Prompt and scientific action on the part of the detective service can lead only to equally efficient action by the courts, so that the escape of offenders may be expected to become a thing of the past. At a time when American methods and agents are being subjected to intense scrutiny, it might be well, if only to bolster public confidence, to follow the lead of Europe in dealing with and reducing the extraneous part of the population.