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" Just one,” Nora said. “But this is just a theory, isn’t it?” “Call it any name you like. It’s good enough for me.” “But I thought everybody was supposed to be considered innocent until they were proved guilty and if there was any reasonable doubt, they—” “That’s for juries, not detectives. You find the guy you think did the murder and you slam him in the can and let everybody know you think he’s guilty and put his picture all over newspapers, and the District Attorney builds up the best theory he can on what information you’ve got and meanwhile you pick up additional details here and there, and people who recognize his picture in the paper—as well as people who’d think he was innocent if you hadn’t arrested him—come in and tell you things about him and presently you’ve got him sitting on the electric chair. "

Dashiell Hammett , The Thin Man


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Dashiell Hammett quote : Just one,” Nora said. “But this is just a theory, isn’t it?” “Call it any name you like. It’s good enough for me.” “But I thought everybody was supposed to be considered innocent until they were proved guilty and if there was any reasonable doubt, they—” “That’s for juries, not detectives. You find the guy you think did the murder and you slam him in the can and let everybody know you think he’s guilty and put his picture all over newspapers, and the District Attorney builds up the best theory he can on what information you’ve got and meanwhile you pick up additional details here and there, and people who recognize his picture in the paper—as well as people who’d think he was innocent if you hadn’t arrested him—come in and tell you things about him and presently you’ve got him sitting on the electric chair.