The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17
SHADOWS.
The Detective Business in New York.

bank robberles have Deen discussed; ana
also all the bloody tragedies which have
of late years vexed this city. One of
these is the murder of James Rogers,
one of the proprietors of the Troy
house, who was stabbed while sweeping
his sidewalk Another is the recent
tenement-house murder, whose mystery
now seems beyond all penetration. Bnt
above all there is the Nathan mystery,
whose perplexity is all the more annoy
ing because of the tantalizing reward,
which amount (S45, 5,OOO) has never been
equaled on this continent. One of the
most important features in that depart
ment is the records of the Shadows"
This class is detailed to watch the move
ments of suspected persons, which is
done either to convict them of desperate
crime or TO assist in ripening suspicion
and procuring testimony for future use.
If n man neglects his duties at some
bank or warehouse in which he may
have an important Office, his case may
be put in the hands of shadower. This
fellow will place himself on the track
without exciting suspicion, and this
Wall street fnancier, for instance, takes
a Broadway stage, and the shadower
who has followed him from the bank
Immediately orders a cab and follows
the stage, whose number is taken so as
to avoid mistake. The fnancier halts
at Delmonico's, where few friends are
awaiting him, and the shadOwer dis
charges the cab, out of which he comes
muffled in huge overcoat, and takes
his station on the sidewalk, where he
displays a basket of nice candies for
sale, and now and then finds customer.
He will patiently maintain that candy
trade till the fnancier appears, perhaps
after delay of three or four hours.
The latter has had capital dinner, and
comes out in fine spirits with a group Of
friends. None of them want candy, but
in offering it the shadower had caught a
glimpse of their countenances, which he
will not soon forget. One may be an
other Wall street man, while the others
are we'll known gamblers. A short walk
takes them to Morrissey's gambling hell,
and as the shadower follows, he contrives
to stop at cigar store and leave his bas-
ket. In few moments he strips off his
old coat which he leaves at a corner gro
Gerry, privilege which any one can OBJ
tain. He then appears in citizens dress.
in few minutes rings at the door. The
card which he displays insures admit
tance, and he is soon sngrossed on the
evening paper. When play begins he is
one of the lookers-on, but occasionally
takes a chance on card, and in fact
seems like any newcomer who is not
prepared to strike heavily. In the
meantime nothing escapes his notice.
The amount of chips bought by the
Wall street men and the result of the
play is fixed by pencil marks on a card,
as though merely marking the game.
The whole is subsequently written in a
book kept for the purpose, and the
espionage is repeated as long as may be
desired. Almost all that class of en-
ployees who handle large sums of mon
ey are at different times subjected to
"shadowing," and as this fact is now
we'll known they are obliged to be care
full of their movements. Men are in
the same manner tracked to the haunts
of licentiousness with a precision
of which they little dream, and detec-
tives are thus employed to obtain testi-
mony in divorce cases as well as for 9TH
er purposes. The names of hundreds of
our hest business men are on these
records, and they are occasionally over
whelmed with astonishmet when inform
ed of certain events in their past history
1t pays well to shadow this class, because
they are ready to quiet matters with a
handsome douceur Blackmail is the
very life of the detective. He must get
it from either the burglar, the adulterer,
or the gambler, and between these classes
he generally picks up a good living.
Some men employ shadowers to watch
those whom they wish to expose to pub
lie shame, and at the same time they in
vent some scheme to entrap their victim
Men have been invited to come to GER
tain house on business, induced perhap:
by very pressing letter. Suppose fol
| instance man receives a note from al
old acquaintance reading like this
"Dear friend: Will you do me the favol
to call on me this eveneng? l am under
peculiar circumstances, and wish to SCI
you alone, for have some importan
statesments to make. No time to ex
plain now," etc., etc. The recipient o
such letter, which of course is forged
may find himself inveigled into som,
abode of infamy and danger, and ma,
not get away in an easy manner. In tn
meantime the detective has marked hi
motions, and is ready to appear agains
him whenever this may be required
There is class of so-called detective
who have no connection with the regu
lar force, who make many hits at tn
blackmail line; they watch certain play
of bad repute, follow those who leav
these places until they learn their names
which are used for subsequent extortior
A severe levy is thus made upon down
town clerks. This city is full of mys
terry. Everybody of any Importance
watched, and it may be added that ther
are few who do not need it. The facil
ties of vicious indulgence afforded in
: great city are such that there should b
something to work in counter direC
tion.
The other night n weak-eyed yout
was sitting in Ames' Church, who'll
forgetful of his surroundings, and 10
in beatiic contemplation of a certai
young woman, touching whom he che