The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-09-07
" tFsoA Chambers Joafn,l.l .
DETECTIVES As THEY ARK.

Some who have read the highly spic ed
fotions purporting to be reniiuisce q oes
ofdetectivcs may take It for gran tod
that halo Of romance o'erhangs the
life Of a professional taker Of thieves
and murderers. But in actual expert,
enoe it is not 90. Coutrarywise, the
lite Of such man is rather prosaio than
otherwise; nor, in nature, does tho do,
tective go about in those wonderful dis.
| gsisss the books We have referred to 50
enlarge upon-disguises only to be met
with on the stage and in novels. He ia
truly 80. plain clothes man." and is so
spoken of by thesmembera Of tho force,
just as railroad people always speak OF
coaches aud not "carriages," as the
outer world does. The veteran straight
forward assures me that he has never
adopted what could be legitimately call.
ed "a disguise" on any occasion. "Why,
said he, II should not have got half
| way down the street, or past soul I
know, before one Of the coves would
have twigged me-, ","Hollo % be would
have thought, "what's the Sergeant got
them togs on for 2" Aud then it would
have been oil up with my little game,
for the "office" would at once have been
given, and my bird flown. Not L; I
mover used any disguise. I went out
just as I was-plain clothes, of course.
No; disguise is all bosh. When
wanted my man always knew where
to put my hand on him. In fact I had only
to 60 to his house or call at certain
time, beckon him out, and he would
come With me as quiet as lamb. Did
ever have any cases Of resistance or
assault? Not many. If they were saucy
used to put tho handbolts on them !;
and if Thought they intended blow,
gave them one for themselves 6rst.-
can give you an instance how used
to manage my obstropolous gents"
1 took one, not more than Fifty miles
from here, il place he was we'll known
but not for the thiof he was. order
ed him to carry his box before me to
the station. He refused till told him
If he did not do as I told him would
hire cab, chain him behind, hand
bolted, put the box inside, aud walk
leisurely on the pavement behind him,
giving all his townspeople who asked
questions their full Of answers. He
knew would keep my word, aud he
trotted before me to the terminus with
his box on his head, as quiet as-well,
as lamb,
IL intcrrogate the Sergeant upon the
matter Of burglary, aud he instances
representative case. A message arrives
at the police Office from Mr.. Greene
Jones saying his promises have been
broken into and certain moneys or pro-
perties stolen. The chief sends myself
and another detective to the place
Aftera few moments survey wo glance
at each other in peculiar way, where
upon the proprietor of the stolen pro-
perty looks uneasy and perturbed. 'Well,
officers, what do you make of it? The
marks are plain enough, are they not
My mate-you know Driver, sir?
whistles aud swings from one hand to
the other the polished holly stick he
always carries with him. I kueel down,
Driver having made his inspection first,
aud examine some marks on the window
sill. 'That,' says Mr. Jones, was evident.
ly done with the ohisel found in the
garden"
81 thought it was rather too strong
that he should talk to us who know
what was what like that, but determined
to be even with him bye and bye. So
1 went on asking lot Of tom fool
questions. After bit he said: well,
what'll you take to drink p My mate
said that he thought toothfull Of rum
Driver is partial to rum-wouldn't
poison him, while I gave name to
brandy hot. l remember it quite we'll
He asked US into u little room behind
the shop. His wife was there, nursing
a young child-an infant in fact-aud
she looked, poor thing, awful down in
the mouth. The husband hadn't been
long in business, and we knew that
business had been queer with him for
some time. He had to send out for the
stuff, which he hid by little slatteruly
servant girl. While he was away talk,
ing to the girl my mate was led to pump
the missis but | stopped him, for saw
how the land lay as clear as mud. She
began, howcycr-uncasily [ could see
to talk oft herself, saying it was strange
they had heard no noise, that tho SER
want had always slept at her mothers,
and SO ON. When her husband returo-
cd followed aoon after by the girl, he
had in hot water and mixed the grogs
stiff ones they we're too, though it is
was only about noon. BY tho time we had
ull three finished our second tumblcrs
our man got maudlin, first snivclled over
his losses, and then talked big all 10 u
breath, as the saying is. This was
more than could stomach, though
had had his grvg; SO whom M mate
and / went out, Driver bsing in front
Il suppose said he, you have an idea
| who did this 2
81 can give shrowdish guess" said
cay! l have heard you detectives
are clever chaps aud know u mans
work, as you call it, by the way be goes
about tho job Now who do you sup
| no.o I;1 III, 2p