45 
WHO SHOULD DO THE INTERVIEWING. 
The same investigator should ordinarily handle all the 
main issues of a given case. This applies especially to the 
principal interviews. After a case once takes shape, 
success depends so much upon a comprehensive knowledge 
of everything previously developed that important issues 
can not safely be divided. 
INTERVIEWING TRUTHFUL WITNESSES. 
Getting the witness to talk .—Few witnesses are anxious 
to talk to an investigative officer. Getting a man to the 
point where he will talk freely can often be accomplished 
more easily by directing the conversation along lines in 
which he is personally interested, even though at first this 
has no connection with what you want him to talk about. 
If he still does not tell what you believe he knows, it may 
be that he fears you want to mix him up in the crime. 
Such a suspicion should be guarded against, when un¬ 
founded. Antagonism can often be avoided by stating 
to the witness that you have been requested by head¬ 
quarters, or are required by regulations, etc., to get the 
facts in this case, and will greatly appreciate it if he can tell 
you anything about it—thus putting it on the basis of 
routine duty, and dispelling any suspicion that you want 
to implicate him. If the reluctance is due to fear of the 
suspect, or desire to avoid the notoriety or loss of time 
incident to court testimony, and can not be overcome in 
any other way, say to him that, if he will tell you what he 
knows, you will only use it as a clue, without divulging its 
origin; but that, if he will not, he will have to go on the 
stand and tell it in front of the defendant. The use of 
good evidence in whatever way seems best should not 
be hindered by such a promise unless absolutely necessary; 
but information obtained in the way indicated may be 
extremely valuable, and ‘ half a loaf is better than none.” 
Getting the story —There are two considerations—(1) to 
get as complete a statement from the witness as possible— 
be sure nothing essential is omitted, but do not let him 
ramble aimlessly; (2) to be sure he is telling the truth. 
