Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-07-18
THE DEAD DETECTIVE.
The End Of Allen Pinkerton's Strange
nnd Romantic Career.

AllHn finhtrtoH, tne b'e"'eo' "e'eSh'S
Of the United States, who died in Chicago
July lst, was born in Muirhead street,
Ruglen Loan, In the Gorb,ls of the City
Of Glasgow, Scotland, on the 25,h day of
August, 1919. HIS parents were in hum
BILE circumstances, his father, William
Pmkerion, being employed ns Police
Sergeant by the municipality. When AL
Ian was but n small boy his father died
from injuries received at the hands OF
prisoner whom he was arresting. aud the
family were thus deprived OF their means
oi snppnrt.
Before attaining his majority Young
Pinkeron became imb,ied with the senti--
ments Of Independence and reform which
we're advocated by those who put forth
The peoples Charter" in Great Britain,
and lie soon became identified with tile
celebrated Chartist movement Of the DIS
| ftecied people. The Government re-
solved to crush ihis revolutionary move-
ment, aud several of the leaders were ar
rested and transported. Fearful OF his
own enfely, Allan Plnkerton resolved 10
leave the country and seek refuge IN
America. Accordingly in 1912 he WAS
married to Miss Jane Csrfrae, and on the
following day the young couple set sail for
America, landing at Quebec, after peril
Gus voyage, in which their vessel was
wrecked, and the suffering passengers
picked up by'a passing vessel and carried
to that port. From Quebec Pinkerton
and his young wife made their way to
Chicago by the Lakes. The young couple'
owing to their mlsfortunes, were nearly
destitute but with a stout heart he ap.
piled himself to securing employment.
Meeting George Anderson, who was then
engaged in the tobacco business, he enlist
ed the services of that gentleman in his
behalf, and soon succeeded in obtaining
employment at his trade-that OF II cooper.
While employed afterward in his busi
ness as cooper at Dundee, ILL.,, he had
frequent occasion to visit some OF the
! islands in Fox River to procure materials
for his stock, and while on one OF these he
discovered the existence OF gang ol
+ counterfeiters who made the island their
retreat and established their hea,lquar'
ters. Having natural love for adventure
{ and being stranger to fear, he determined
/. to thoroughly investigate the entire oper-
ations of these counterfeIters, which he
r eventually succeeded in doing, efeclually
: breaking up the existence o! the gang, and
{. securing the arrest and conviction o.
D John Craig, the leader and prime mover
a together with the most prominent ant
: dangerous of his associates.
r When Mr.. Boone was elected Mayor o
J, Chicago he appointed Pinkerton as de
: ,ective of the city force. This was th
e first appointment of detective IN Chica'
3, go. In 1852 Pinkerton became impressed
II with the importance Of establishing de
:. tective agency which would he indepen
T.. dent OF political influence, and by who's
Ia efforts the criminal could be pnnishe
If without fear or personal favor. He &C
n, cordingly associated with Inn Mr.. Ed
st ward L. Rucker, an attorney-at-law, an
Sc securing the patronage of several raj
le road companies, then in their infancy
e. they started the "Pinkerion Deteciiv
W Agency" the first institution of its kin
he in the United States. Rucker continue
= with him only about year, when Pink
" erton undertook the entire management
When the agency was first establishe
they employed some four or five mel
M among tile most prominent being Georp
ii, Bangs, nlierward General Snperntend
~ ent, and who renamed with Mr.. Pinker
he ton until his death, which occurred la
.ts year, and Timothy Webster, who,, viii
ed in his employ, was taken M Union sp
h, and executed at Richmond, Va. durir
y. the Rebellion. From that small begI
OF ming the detective fofce under Mr.. Pil
ed kerton's orders increased steadily uni
re- il now numbers nearly 800 men.
~ In prosecuting his business Mr.. Pinke
'" ton made il his infiexible rule never
n operate for rewards or on payments COZ
s. tingent upon success, and would nev'
allow any of his operatives to receive M
reward or gratuity for his success. 7
paid his employees literally, and work,
=. for those who engaged him at n cerla
s' fixed sum per diem, which was all ih
was ever received. Another noticeah
feature OF the nature of his immense bus
he ness, and one Of The siriciest rules Of i
ed institution, was that he never under al
70. circumstances could he induced to ops
), ate in a divorce case, or where fami
u matters were in dispute.
OK He leaves widow and three clildrt
he William A.. the eldest, has charge of I
ne Chicago Office and the Western Divisic
Ike while Robert A. is the General Snperi
i'll tendent and has immediate charge OF I
Eastern Offices. HIS daughter Is the W
ne. of William j. Chalmers, Of The firm
ell Fraser & Chalmers, in Chicago.