"I followed him at the time and thought he was hysterical. He was the first serial killer, a new kettle of fish, because we didn't have the detection techniques in those days"

This quote is referring to the first serial killer in history, and how the detection techniques at the time were not advanced enough to capture him. Matthew Bright is saying that he followed the killer at the time and believed he was hysterical, most likely due to the truth that he was able to evade capture for so long. This quote is a reflection on how far detection techniques have come since then, and just how much easier it is to capture wrongdoers now. It likewise functions as a reminder of how tough it was to capture criminals in the past, and just how much of a challenge it was to locate the very first serial killer. This quote is a testimony to the progress that has actually been made in the field of criminal justice, and how far we have been available in regards to detection methods.