New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-16
Conductor and Vice-President.

AT certain period, some six or eight years
ago, the officers Of one of our principal rail-
roads had good reason for believing that some
OF the conductors upon a particular section
of their road were in the habit of rendering
inaccurate returns of their receipts from
"way passengers" and, as they were unable
to fix the dealcation upon the particular in
dividuals, PinkertOn was employed to inves-
tigate the matter and test the accuracy OF
their suspicious. For the execution Of this
delicate service he selected a sufficient num-
Der of his best men to furnish four for every
car in a train, one to be seated at each door
and two in the center Of the car, the latter
facing the front and rear, SO as to see every
person who went in or out. These men were
directed not to recognize each other, but to pay
their fares and otherwise deport themselves
like ordinary travellers. Each one was pro-
vided with pencil and paper, and instructed
to keep an accurate record Of every person
that entered or left the cars, noting the sta
tons to and from which they travelled, ETC., so
that if at the end of the trip their notes were
in accord, it would be good evidence Of accu-
racy. In this manner the major was enabled
in the course of a few days to make detailed
report, which showed conclusively that nearly
every conductor upon the road under survcil-
lance had been guilty of swindng. He also
aSCtltaiutu tndt one oi theSc utHnuucnlS
owned property to a large amount in Phila-
delphia. Whcreupon, as | was informed,
Col. s., the ce-president, sent for the man
and the following dialogue ensued:
:" Mr.. -, how long have you been en-
ployed as conductor on our rOad:'
About seven years, sir"
"What pay have you received during that
time ~
Eight hundred dollars year."
"Do you own the house No., upon -
street?"
81 do, sir.'
"Have you other property in this city,"
81 have"
"What is its value %
"Well, sir, can't tell precisely, but it is
considerable"
"What estimate do you place upon your
entire assets:'
Something less than $40, 900"
We're you the owner of any portion OF
this property when You entered our SER
vice ~
Not a dollars worth, sir"
You have family to support, under
stani::
IL have a wife and three children"
"Will you do me the favor to inform me
how you have been able in seven years to
support your family and accumulate for
tune of forty thousand dollars upon salary
Of eight hundred?'
81 have not the slightest objections to
answer your question, Colonel S, provided
you will suffer me first to PROFOUND a few
pertinent interrogatories to you"
Every well, sir, I've no objections. What
are they?''
"Will you, then, be so kind as to inform
me how long you have been connected with
the-railrOad
'Something like ten years."
"What, allow me to ask, what has been
your salary during that time ~
81 suppose it may have averaged about
$1,000 year"
"You have family to support, if am not
mistaken"
eyes, sir, have a family"
"If it is not an improper question, Colonel
s., will you suffer me to ask what is the
amount of your fortune?"
"Well, sir, l don't know precisely, but it
is something handsome"
"Would you estimate it at half q million
dollars, Colonel?"
Eyes, dare say it is"
THAT being the fact, cir, if you will do
me the favor to disclose to Inc the secret of
the process by which you, in ten years, have
been able to transmute $50, 900 into ten times
that amount, without any visible means out
side your salary, will most cheerfulIy tell
you how l have managed, by turning an hon
est penny now and then, to amass the com
paratively Insignificant amount l have
named.'
THAT is very WE'LL" replied the impeItu-
bable vice president, "but you seem to have
forgotten that there is slight difference be-
tween your status and mine upon the-rail-
road, in that you are responsible to HE for
stealing the compaDy's money, whereas
am not accountable to you for my transac-
tons. In view Of this fact, it now becomes
my duty to inform you that your services are
no longer required upon our road"
The facetious conductor probably antic-
pated this result, and with his characteristic
GOODNESS remarked: "In that event, sir, it
NAV at some future time become necessary
for me to seek employment upon another
road. Would it be asking too much for you
to give me a letter setting forth your estimate
of my ability TO perform the duties Of con-
ductor?"
"If Won desire it, certainly have no OBJ
ject ons to give you a testimonial TO the effect
that look upon you as the most unscrupu-
lous and unblushing knaye that has ever dis
graced the catalogue of our employees, and
that any company having anything to do with
you will be morally certain 10 be robbed" -
From Detective Pinkerton,' by Gen. X. u.
Marcy, in Harpsr's Magazine for October.
AU- So you don't care about donkey-ri-
ding, Missy, and why" "Oh Pre got a
pony and one dnesp,t care ahout dnnksvs