Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-10-25
FAMOUS DETECTIVES.
The Sfery OF LiYes Spent In Battling
With Modern Criminals.
Some OF the Most Notable Captures and
Their Results--Meetins Death With
ont Fear.
From the Chicago Times.


side by side. Near by are costly
monuments and mausoleums, bearing
inscriptions extolling the virtues of
wealthy deceased, and in the shadows
of the magnificent erections the beau
tifully plain marble slabs more fully
recall modest worth. The graves are
all alike, as is the dust into which the
dead occupants have. crumbled. Per-
haps there is no similar lot in the
world, or one where every grave in
its confines could tell more interesting
histories. Silent workers in life,
among the mysteries of crime, the
stiffness of the grave IS gloomy eli
max to their earthly labors among the
shadows. Remembering the words,
"We never Sleep" the motto of Pin
kerton's detective agency, how ghast-
ly derisive seems this everlasting sleep
IN death! Each grave conceals the
remains of detective, and the men
who had followed clews together, who
HUNTED CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE,
have themselves been called to ac-
count before tribunal where all rec
ords are known. The lot is one ap-
portioned by Allan Pinkerton for the
burial of the employees of his agency,
and adjoins his family lot. 1t looks
pretty, even now, when the flowers
and leaves have faded and crumbled
away, and artificial flowers decorate
where the natural ones bloomed a lit
tie while ago. The greatest care is
taken of the lot and graves, and of
all those in this city of the dead there
are none evidencing more scrupulous
attention. Each of the silent sleep
ers had done much for society, in the
detection and punishment of crime,
and many villain whom they tracked
on earth is now companion in the
limitless unknown. A visit was paid
to the spot few days ago, in compa-
ny with William A. Pinkerton, and
standing in front of the tombstones
and flowers Mr.. Pinkerten detailed
some of the "reminiscences which
came to him. Near the end of the
lot is the last resting-place of limo
thy Webster, a Pinkerton detective,
assigned during the civil war to act
as spy for the Federal Government.
His body, like that of other Pinker-
ton men that could be recovered, was
brought from Richmond for interment
here.
TIMOTHY WEBSTER
was executed at Richmond, Va, in
1862, as a spy, and by his death the
Pinkertons lost valuable ally, and
the Government shrewd and fearless
servitor. He went into the Pinkerton
Detective Agency about the same
time with Maj. Bangs, and was soon
regarded by his chief as one of the
best men. He was a fine-looking,
handsome man, of a rather comman-
ding appearance, gifted with a high
order of personal magnetism, suave
| and gentlemanly in his department.
His discerning judgment and test,
supplemented with an excellent knowl-
edge of human nature, his intrepidity
and coolness in time of danger, made
him detective capable of the most
difficult and trying undertakings. AT
the outbreak of the war Webster went
South with Allan Pinkerton, when
headquarters of the agency were es'
tablished at Cincinnati. His first
mission in the service of the Govern
ment was to visit the forts held by the
enemy. He went to Tennessee, where
he ingratiated himself into the conf.
dence of prominent Southerners, and
was regarded as hot rebel. Indeed
so thoroughly did he act his part
that he was offered the Colonelcy OF
an Arkansas regiment. This he oi
course declined. In 1861 he had :
dispute in a bar-room in Memphis
with an excitable individual wht
taunted him with his insincerity il
the support of the Confederate cause
accusing him of entertaining unioI
!, ideas. In short, he was dashed
Yankee. Webster recognized the ne
cessity of resenting the imputations
; and as an evidence of his Southern
. principles and sentiments, challenged
his assailant. No duel was fought
but the two men met few days sub
, sequently, and the Federal spy prove'
. to the world that he was regula
fire-eater by slashing his man with tn
: regulation bowie-knife. People afoun'
Memphis were more cautious afte
that how they impugned the patriot
ism of the man with the bowie
: Shortly after the affray, Webste
Joined the army Of the Potomac, un
der Mcclellan, and made several trip
3 through the mountains Of West Vii
7 ginia. He was then instructed t
e proceed to Baltimore and cultivat
r prominent persons identified or syn
D pathizing with the Confederacy, wit
q a view of being sent to Richmon
s and securing government employ. d
: succeeded admirably, and went
: Richmond with the most flatterin
e letters of introduction, lauding b
e gallantry and devotion to the cause
4 secession. It was not long before b
It hopes were fulfilled beyond his mo
Ia