The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-13
DETECTIVES.
Curious Incidents.
from the PhiIadelphia Ledger

that egotism, vanity and professional
pride colored the history which he
gave OF a career which included him
among the friendsaswella as the foes ofso-
cietv. And yet 10 those familiar with
the past history OF the Detectives De.
partment OF Philadelphia, few OF the
stories told bv the French policeman
seem exaggerated. Tradition, as well
as the personal recollection OF our own
officers gave long catalogue OF crime
detected, criminals captured and property
recovered 10y means as surprising as
any employed by the famed Nidoeq.
No one Of our detectives has ever put
! into shape these incidents, and what is
now known comes To Us through the
gossip incident to friendly chat with
ex-detective officers.
The stories thus gathered include
lot orhy the successes, I'M a'so the
failures ot tic officers; not un y VIC
tnric-. but also ignominious defeats.
Some of these mistakes were not only
amusing, but at times resulted in pc
cuniary loss 10 the unfortunate officer.
For instance, a heavy robbery was com
mitted some twenty wears ago in Baltl-
more, and our policemen were notified
Of the fact The Baltimore propellers
were. therefore, watched at our wharfs,
until finally & man, notorious in Grim
inal annals a. the robber of the Patent
IOffice, appeared. He was seized, and
had his baggage examined. 4 fine lot
Of burglars tools were thus secured,
hut none Of the stolen property was dis
covered. and Tom had TO be released.
He at once brought suit against the
officer. and obtained verdict for $3.50
damages. 1t Is not always, however,
that well known criminals Improperly
arrested have The etirontery TO 80 into
civil court to obtain compensation
for wounded honor
Even innocent men and men entirely
unknown to the police force hesitate TO
undertake such q task, and most Of
them are content 10 be released. and
thus forever bury from public gaze the
story Of the wrong. \ case or two in
point. Abont fifteen wear ago the Of
fincrS of thi, ciW received information
OF robbery in New York, with the
description OF the supposed thief, "a
German, five feet niue inches, dent in
the left check. and trunk containing
cut cloth ready for manufacture into
clothing. The officers captured at the
depot German answering exactly this
description. including the trunk with
the cut garments And vet the detec-
tivcs had captured the wrong man, the
real thief being arrested in New York
a few DAYS afterwards, his personal ap-
pearance closely resembling the unfor-
tunate victim Of the Philadelphia Of
iiccrs mistake. The German was too
clad to secure Il release to trouble the
officers with q suit for damages.
\ still more unfortunate blunder was
once committed by Especial officer, who
is now dead In company with well
known ex,detective he visited West
Chester in search OF a thief who's PER
sonal appearance included hair ofNhe
true blonde order, cut in a peculiar
-tylc. TN the train home the officer
became convinced that he recognized
in one OF the passengers the object OF
his search His fellow officer more
experienced and more discreet was not
50 positive. and endeavored TO iis>uadc
hs sanguine companion sam. how
ever. WAS positive, and, at one of the
way refreshments, he managed to get
near enough 10 the passenger, and ad-
dressed him tamiliarly. Upon their
return to the train the two engaged in
conversation. the officer inquiring where
his new made friend came from, where
lac was going 70, and whether he had
any hagg re. The stranger. evidently
ANNOYED AT what he believed to he the
impcrtireuce oi his interviewer, gave
ambiguous answers. which tended 10
/ increase the suspicious of the officer.
He stated that he had no baggage. and
We; when the train reached Philadelphia
the officer saw his stranger friend call
carriage and place upon il two very
heavy trunks. Here was confirmation.
and accordingly the officer entered the
vehicle. claimed It's occupant ~ his
prisoner. and brought him to the Cen
trail Station. where il was at once dis
covered that the accused was a respect
able gentleman residing on Arch street.
Being civil engineer, he was returning
from a professional tour, and the
weight OF his trunks was caused 10y the
instruments in them used in his occupa-
ton. OF course there was constcrna-
ton in the office. At this moment
"Gentlemanly George came to the re-
( lief of the bewildered officer, and eN-
planned to the gentleman the nature Of
the business upon which the detectives
/ had been engaged, and recounted TO
him the suspicious born Of his own Pc
culiar and unsatisfactory answers 10
questions in thet train The gentleman
admitted this. explaining that, as he did
not know his interviewer, and believing
him TO have some design upon him or
his property. he had been thus cautious
in his replies. He good-naturedly for
gave the mistake, and left the office for
/ his home.
On another occasion, two officers
started in scach OF q thief One OF the
detectives asserting that he knew his
man well. and merely desired the other
to make the arrest when the party was
found. IN Market street, near
Twentieth, the man was sighted, and
pointed on; 10 the officer who was to
make the capture. This officer follow
ed his man as far As Eighth and Arch
and then addressing him told him he
was his prisoner The man, indignant
refused to 90, and q struggle for tho
mastery ensued between the two, until
finally the detective was victorious
although the encounter resulted in g
torn coat for the prisoner Cpor
reaching the Central Station, imagin,