Judge — February 18, 1905 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Nervy Nat Outfits the Detectives" This comic strip features "Nervy Nat," a character who appears to be a small con artist or hustler. The narrative involves Nat convincing two detectives (O'Hara and Norseman) that he's located Sherlocks working undercover in their precinct, stealing from them. The satire targets police incompetence and gullibility. Nat exploits the detectives' pride and professional insecurity by suggesting rival "Sherlocks" are operating in their jurisdiction. Through an elaborate scheme, he extracts money and items from them under false pretenses—tricking them into believing they need to catch this fictitious competition. The humor derives from authority figures being outsmarted by a small-time grifter, reflecting broader skepticism about urban police effectiveness and intelligence.