Some antique authors here held offensive opinions, casually. The slurs and superior attitudes on display were not justified; not now — not then. But it would feel dishonest to hide their mistakes.
As you read, you will understand why different groups, throughout history, have had to make a stand for themselves.
- The Gaslight Editor.
WARNING: Let's face facts. There is nothing subtle about Murray
or his police tactics. With his blunt style, he seems not to have received
any pushback about his racism; not from the author to whom Murray
dictated this autobiography, nor from the large publishing house which
printed it.
We can assume that much of the reading public
would have snickered at, rather than been offended by,
some of the heartless, slanderous descriptions we encounter
here. Our point is that Murray made his racism prominent
by putting it into print, but it was the community which he
served who did not correct him.
When this book was reprinted as two volumes in the 1970's,
the editors removed chapters 46 and 75. They recognized the
pain that would be caused by frustrated Canadians if they
felt demeaned by society at large. We are including these
chapters, language intact, with this warning.
MEMOIRS OF A
GREAT DETECTIVE
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF
JOHN WILSON MURRAY
(1840 - 1906)
compiled by
VICTOR SPEER
(1872-1909)
TORONTO
FLEMING H REVELL
(1904, this edition: 1905)
GEORGE CLAXTON