30 
of this if needed as evidence in court? Collateral support 
or corroboration of evidence may be necessary: a witness 
to its finding is also invaluable. By getting everything 
required at the same time, you will be saved the annoy¬ 
ance of a second trip. In any case the finder must put 
on every object found a private mark, in a hidden or 
inconspicuous place, by which he can himself identify it 
in court as the identical object found. This, together 
with the notebook record of the circumstances of finding, 
in chronological order, is the best safeguard against an 
intimation by a shrewd defense attorney, to the possibly 
serious prejudice of a .jury, that evidence has been 
“planted” by the prosecution. 
All objects which it may be desired to use as evidence 
should be guarded with the utmost care, to avoid possi¬ 
bility of loss, or their purloining by the defendant or his 
sympathizers^. The district ranger, or special investi¬ 
gator, should take personal charge of all such articles, 
unless it be convenient to turn them over to the custody 
of a United States marshal or a sheriff. In the latter case, 
the forest officer so turning them over must, of course, 
take a receipt, and so note them in his notebook record 
that they will not be overlooked in working up his material 
for the case. This care in having such objects under 
continuous and responsible custody is also a safeguard 
against suspicion of “planting. ” 
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. 
The case to be built up must be: 
(1) True. 
(2) Complete. 
(3) Proved by evidence which will stand in court and 
convince a jury. 
(1) The true case starts with a few facts and a tentative 
theory based upon them and upon best surmises. When¬ 
ever new clues or facts are found, ask yourself (a) W T hat 
instructions, if any, are there in respect to a situation like 
this? (6) What does this act mean? (c) On the basis of 
facts to date, if I were the criminal, what would I do next? 
Sit down and smoke a pipe over it, if that will help. 
