A Corrupt Detective Agency

by **Karen** Wed 14 Jul 2010 - 21:50

CORRUPT ENGLISH DETECTIVE AGENCIES.
Henry Slater, Head of the Best Known One, Held For Conspiracy.

HOUNDED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
Induced Husband to Misconduct Himself That Wife Might Secure A Divorce.

London, April 23. - At Bow street police court today Henry Slater, head of the best known private detective agency in England, was held in heavy bail charged with conspiring to prevent the due course of justice. With him in the dock were Albert Osborne, his lawyer, and two private detectives, employed by Slater. They also were put under heavy bail.
The case is the sequel to a sensational divorce suit in which Slater was employed to secure evidence against the husband. A decree was obtained last November, but the authorities became suspicious and after a rehearing this week, the decree was rescinded, the jury adding that the husband was induced through the agency of Slater and Osborne to misconduct himself in order that his wife might obtain a divorce.
The rehearing attracted great public interest. Sir Edward Clarke and the leading lawyers defended Slater, but were unable to refute the scathing accusations of Solicitor General Carson, who revealed the extraordinary methods pursued by the detective agency. Over $15,000 was paid to Slater and Osborne for the evidence on which the decree was originally granted. The solicitor general said that it was deliberately concocted by the lowest type of men and women, who perjured themselves for small sums. Osborne, who is a rather prominent lawyer, startled English legal circles by saying he would pay for evidence if he could not get it in any other manner, and that he had the right to charge as much as a client could give him, regardless of the fixed charges which exist among all solicitors here.
The solicitor generally bitterly denounced such an agency as Slater's, which he declared hounded innocent men and women.
The arrests are expected to produce further sensational matter relating to other cases. The prisoners will come up for further hearing April 30, today's proceedings being merely formal.

Source: Deseret Evening News, Saturday April 23, 1904