The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-27
ED. RATHBONE.
The Career of This Well-KnOwn Government
Detective.

Detective.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Once in six months, or perhaps in a year,
Cincinnati papers announce that Detective
e. G. Rathbone has arrested gang OF coan-
terfeters. Then follows a speedy trial and
almost invariable conviction, with sentence
to the penitentiary. After this. Rathbone
disappears from view for months when he
again turns up with another batch of coun-
terfeiters, who meet the fate of their prede-
cessors. Very few men know Rathbone, a
fact all the more singular when it is con-
sidered that he has been located here for
nine years past as agent of the United States
Secret Service. To-day his efficiency and
faithfulness acknowledged by promotion, he
goes to Washington to serve the Pension
bureau chief OF special examiners, and will
have under him the services of two hundred
men to aid in uDearthing frauds that are be-
ing practiced on that department. His COM
pensation, formerly S., 100 per annum, will
now be 1000 for the same period.
He a colegan, and graduated with
high honors Disliking sedentary pursuits
and having a fondness for adventure he at
the age of twenty-seven, on his own account
ran down and captured q squad of counter
feiters in Northern New York He sent de-
tailed report of his volunteer work to the
Treasury Department, and was Immediately
engaged for continued service Within the
next six months, so readily did his talents in
this direction develop he was sent to Cincin-
natl and placed in charge of department
comprising Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michi-
gan and West Virginia.
The arrival of this mere boy and the au-
thority given him at first created jealousy,
but the quick and effective way in which he
reorganized the force, and the mastery man
ner in which he planned and executed cap
lures, caused every man TO change his views
and swear by him. Rathbone now, at the age
OF thirty-six, is of good height straight as
an arrow, with Sinews and muscles like hard
ened iron, concealed under skin as fair and
soft as a woman's His face, oval in shape,
is perfect in outline and handsome to a de-
gree. His personal appearance as whole is
that of the tastefully dressed gentleman OF
refinement and intelligence.
With features always at rest his handsome
dark eyes intently watch the person speak
ing, who cannot help realizing under the
gaze that his words are anticipated, and the
first untruth uttered will be discovered He
is little given to conversation, and prefers
that you will do all the talking While hav-
ing but few personal acquaintance in the
city, he knows nearly every man.
Last night he left on the Baltimore & Ohio
for Washington, where he will enter Mt once
on his new duties. Met at the train before
his departure he, as usual with the skill of
a diplomatic, avoided saying anything about
himself or his work save to remark in a gem
eral way that his once fruitful fields for ar
rests had been worked by officers until it had
become barren of counterfeiters. Not once
did he use the personal pronoun 81" but al
ways "the officers" From Frank Buskirk,
an old friend. and who occasionally went on
some OF the Rathbone raids as he would TO a
picnic, few incidents have been cleaned,
one or two of which will be mentioned With
one of his men he Swallowed the celebrated
Miles Ogle from Freeman street to the Little
Miami depot and there, boarding train
with him unoDserved until nearing a
little country town, they swooped down
on him, capturing $4,000 in counterfeit
money and los pieces Of plate. Leaving the
train, they. locked him up in the village Jail,
having selected this particular place as one
free from newspaper correspondents, who
would haze been apt to spoil subsequent