Charles Hutchinson Letter Book 1881-2
p 432

January 1882

Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 14 inst in which I am desired to reply to certain questions as to the efficiency or otherwise of the present system of detecting crime and bringing the offenders to justice. The first question relating to the efficiency of the constabulary force in my county can not I regret to say be answered favorably to the character of the force. [...] The force has virtually . . . the constables act independently. Those that are active find work to do, but the majority do very little. [...] I am sorry to say there is reason to fear that in many cases litigation is promoted unnecessarily & people put to trouble & expense by constables who have adopted this detective business as their means of living. I regret still more to say that while a large proportion of the magistracy are men of honor & good repute, there are undoubtedly some who are not as particular as they should be in the discharge of their important duties. [...] Private detectives such as the constables I have referred to will only act promptly & energetically when they know that they will receive payment from the parties requiring their services, [...] Poor persons therefore & indeed many others are thus deterred from instituting criminal proceedings on account of the expense they must necessarily be put to, & many prosecutions are not undertaken, which in the public interest ought to be undertaken, & many crimes thus escape conviction. [...]

Your obedient servant,
Charles Hutchinson, County Crown Atty

J G Scott Esq, QC
Dept Atty Genl, Toronto