Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-05-07
rhc Career at Female detective.


Tho ucrut demise in Chicago, at tie
agy Of thirty,eight. oi Mrs Kate Warn.
who tor thirteen years hid been supcrin.
mt,udtnt Of the female department Of
rmkertons National Police Agucy,
h, alroady ben mentioned in our col.
umus The Philadelphia Press contains
thr >olloWmg ,kptcl, Of her history
Born in the town of Erin, Chcmung
County, y, Y, Of poor parents, she had
ftw opportunities of education But ma.
turc had educated her by giving her
large. active brain, good judgment,
quick perception and resnlute will, Mr.
rmkerton commenced business as a pri-
yatc detective about fifteen years ago.
some two Years Afterwards he was called
upon by Mrs, War,. stranger, who APP
piled Tor position as female detective
Up to that time he had not thought of
employing females, but the novelty and
the utility Of the thing quickly banished
what hc supposed might be the prcjudices
OF society, and, after several interviews
she was taken into service. She soon
proved her competency, and when it be-
came necessary TO add other females Ia
that branch Of the service, Mrs Warn
was chosen as their head. Her force was
thoroughly organized, and the most rigid
rules Of discipline, moral and otherwise,
were hiddown. Her control over all her
-ulorlinatcs was commensurate with her
strong will, her unceasing vigilence, and
! her strict morality. A severe code she
deemed necessary, both for the perversion
and utilization of the force, and TO over
come the scruples that mankind enter
tanned of the propriety of that kind of
service Her own life is a vindioation of
the wisdom Of her creed, for her duty
even led her into associations unpleasant
to dwell on. and brought her constantly
into contact with the worst phases of So
ciety.
Among some of the earlier investiga-
tions submitted 70 her charge was that of
I the robbery of the Adams Express Com
panv. at Montgomery, Alabama. The
. loss was about $4,000. After long and
intricate search, she followed the package
step by step. until she finally recovered
it, except S4s5, at Jenkintown, in this
State, about one wear after it had been
stolen. Al the time OF the passage OF MIR.
Lincoln and suite from Harrisburg to
Washington to be inaugurated, the air
was crowded with rumors of assassination
and well organized plots had been laid in
Baltimore, the details of which no one
sufficiently knew to propose plan of cir
cumyention suddenly an unknown
lady appeared ah arranged the time of
departure, the procuration of sleeping
ear berth, and such other precautionary
steps as her intimate knowledge of the
/ plot and ready Judgment suggested. This
unknown lady VS. Mrs. Warn.
At the breaking out of the rebellion,
Mr. Pinkerton having been assigned to
duty As the head of the secret seavice OF
the army of the United States, Mrs. Warn
took charge of the female department at
Washington and continued at the head Of
it until 1868, when Mr., Pinkerton retired
from service for Il short time. Whilst in
Washington her experience was varied
and startling she having to combat with
the whole army of female spies and secret
agents Of the rebels. Always cool, calm
and collected, She managed her part ad-
mirabiy. and her services We're of infinite
value to the Government Under Mr.,
4
the female department of the secret ser
vice at New Orleans, where her natural
ability and former experience served to
add TO her career OF usefulness. She un-
douhtclly racked as the best female de-
/ tcctivc in the United States. if not in the
world
Though not Il member of any church,
4 he life Vas ornamented with all the Chris
tian .sr4oes. Charity was a marked fea-
ture, and whether siding the hunted CON
traLand, ar catering to the sick or wound
ed in the house she always left the
sufferer iu.ebted to her for a kind word or
act. Quick to perceive and prompt to do,
She proved that females are useful IN the
sphere To which the wants Of society had
long been leath to assign them As she
lived So She died. a strong, pure and de-
voted woman. Her remains lie entomb9d
in the private lot OF Mr.. Pinkerton in
Graccilnd Cemetery.