The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-17
A Remarkable Detective.

George Henry Bangs, aged 81, the Gen.
eral Superintendent of Pinkerion's Detec
tive Agencies at Chicago, Philadelphia,
and New York, died suddenly at Roselie,
N. j., where he was spending the summer.
fhe career Of NJ. Bangs is one Of the most
remarkable Of American detectives. He
rose from the ranks to the highest position
In Pinkerton's force, and for over quarter
of century he either Planned or personally
worked every important case entrusted to
the Pinkerton agencies.
Among the work done by MIR. Bangs was
the capture of Jules Imhert, the celebrated
French forger. The Frenchman obtained
four drafts, amounting TO $l5, 900, from
august Belmont, and by forgeries secured
over 800, 900 from unsuspeciing New York
bankers, after which he fled the country
He was traced by Mr.. Bangs to Canada,
whittier the young officer started 10 capture
him. With no effort at suhterfuge he &C.
cused the forger directly of his guilt, and
by sheer pluck managed to extort a confes-
sion from him. This once accomplished,
he started for home with his prisoner on
the cars, taking the precsutloA to fasten
the forger's right wrist to his own with
handouts. After travelling a hundred
miles, Imbert apparently fell into dsse,
and Bangs, who was completely tired ouL,
soon followed his example. When he
awakened, he found 10 his intense ohagrln
that the Frencamau had picked the lock of
the handcurt and escaped. The lat sta
ton was FoTds, in New York State. he
fell sure that the prlsorer had left the car
at this point. He had the train stopped,
and retraced the distance on foot. 1t was
late at chit All he went 70 the leading
hotel and ssked for bed, intending to
begin the seaIch in the morning. The host
said the only bed he could have was the
one which was already occupied by re-
cent arrival. Glad to sleep anywhere,
Banks accepted the offer. When he turned
down the coyerist of the bel he saw to his
astonlshment and delight that lis compan-
lou was his recent prisoner. He hastened
to secure him, and in the morning the pair
landed sifely in New York, where Imbert
was convicted and sent to State prison,
where he died eight years later.
Another famous case was the first great
robbery OF the Adams Express Company at
Montgomery, Ala. 1t was in 1858. The
company missed $40, 600 IN bills from one
of Its packages, There were no clues, no
suspicious. The Vice President the late
| K. s. Sanford, set careful watch upon
the office at Montgomery, to ascertain VINO
of the employees could have committed
the crime. as 1t could not have been done
outside. shortly afterwsrd sealed pouch
passed through Montgomery from a Sa-
vanah bank to New York containing $40.
700. When the pouch reached MonLgon-
cry, which was a transfer office, the local
agent, Nathan Msroney, gave receipt Tor
| the money TO the messenger. But when
the pouch reached New York the package
| of money was gone, and a square hole as
clean cut as # made by razor, was in the
side of the bag, concealed fro the public
view by tie outer pocket of the pouch.
At first 1t was supposed that this was the
work OF a messenger. e Ich of a dozen
messengers were examined, questioned and
watched. But 10 no purpose. Finally, Mr..
Bangs went to the Georgia bank aud had
another parcel MADE Of exactly the same
size as the missing one, The nag was
then produced and the package would rot
pass through the hole. 1t must therefore
have been taken from the pouch before il
was sealed at Montgomery, The only man
that mad access TO 1t was Maroney, who,
up to this time had borne an excellent
character, for sobrlety, propriety, and fru-
gality. Nothing was SAID TO him of the
suspicious, but he was watched. A detec-
tive secured employment IN the Office and
female detective entered his house as Q
dressmaker, But IN spite o. all the watch
nothing important was ascertained. 1t was
learned, however, that he had bet heavily
upon horse races, and was part owner il
a race horse; but there was nothing crimi
mating in that. Fortunately, the bank hac
the denomination of neatly all the bills ID
the fortythousand dollarpackage, and Marc.
: ney's expenditures were carefully traced,
, but none of the stolen money was found
Finally, within few months, he left the
employ of the company and began travel
ing, A detective kept close watch Of hii
movements. He spent money freely, bu
none OF the missing wealth could be dis
, covered. In the meanwhile he sent hi
young wife to Jenkinville, Penna, whert
she had relatives. The late Kate Warren
the chief of the female department of th,
agency, was sent TO board at the sam,
house. Finding none of tue stolen money
Bangs became convinced that Maroney ha(
stolen both packages, and was now usinl
robbery, and was saving the $40, 900 TO
future use. After following him for seve
} raj weeks, Mr.. Bangs thought it safe Il
I arrest hiIn on civil action to recover tn
: money which it was alleged had been los
/ through his carelessness. This was don
In New York and he was lodged In tn
Ludlow Street Jail. A month before de
tectlve was also thrown into the prison Oh
Q charge of debt. This officer soon Ingra
{ tated Aimself In Maroney's favor, aud il
a FIVE months succeeded in getting out o
him the statement that he had large sun
of money. On plea of being able TO as
D sist him to fortune through cotton specu
g lations, the detective obtained note fror
s him TO his wife telling her to give him
Y shook" which Marouey had prevlousl
, explained to her meant the package Q
' money, According to the arrangements
: the detective met Mrs. Maroney on lionel
0 country road at night, but the wife ha
] consulted with her uncle who was az
I qualnted with the theft, and refused I
give up the ''Dook." The detective urge
so strongly, however, that she conclude
!, to ask the advice of her female friend
This advice, it s needless 10 add, secure
the money to the officer, Only $500 ha
been taken from the parcel. Maroney VIZ
d subsequently taken 10 Montgomery an
7 convicted. He did not know, however,
j the evidence against him or the recover
: of the money until the officer walked int
the court room and took the witness char
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