St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-02
ALLAN PlNKERT0N.
The Great Detective Closes Life's
Agency-A Sketch of His Career.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.


Especial Telegram to the Globe.
CHICAGO, July ALLEN Pinkerton, who
died in this city to-day, was born in
| GLASGOW Scotland, on the 25th of August, 1919.
His parents were in humble circumstances, his
father, William Pnkerton, being employed as a
police sergeant by the municipality, When
Allen was but a small boy his father
| died from the effect of injuries
ceived at the hands of prisoner whom he was
arresting After working for fruit woman,
Allan learned the trade of cooper, but becoming
identified with the celebrated Chartist move
ment he was compelled to flee the country, and
marrying the girl of his heart one
night, the two embarked for
America the next day. After
being shipwrecked the passage they finally
reached Quebec and then Chicago where Allan
went to work at his trade, but soon removed to
Dundee, ILL.,, where he established business of
his own and prospered greatly. While living here
he ran across a gang of counterfeiters who
infested an island in the Fox river, where he
went occasionally for lumber. A spirit Of ad-
venture prompted him to a little amateur detec-
tive work, and he succeeded in breaking up the
gang This gained him considerable renown
and he was appointed deputy sheriff of Kane
county, and then of Cook county,
and finally was appointed by Mayor
Boone as city detective. In 1852 Mr.. Pinkerton
established his celebrated agency, the first of
the kind in the United States. The force which
then was three or four men, has now grown to
800. When the fugitive slave law
was ended his opposition to- this
barbarous measure was aroused, and he
resolved to use his utmost efforts to defeat its
with those old patriots, John Brown, James H.
Collins the Lovejoy Bros. and other prommi-
nent abolitionists and rendered most heroic and
important service in running what
was then called the underground
Railroad When the war of the
rebellion broke out President Lincoln sent for
Mr. Pinkerton to come to Washington, and au-
thorized him to organize the secret service di-
vision of the army, the first government police
force ever organized in this country. This was
done with Mr.. Pinkerton at the head under the
non de plume of E. Allen. In this capacity he
served the country during the war. Since then
and before the names of the celebrated cases he
has been engaged in are legion including the
breaking up of the Molly Maguires. Mr.. P. was
also the author of fifteen volumes of
detective stories which have had a large circula-
tion. Mr.. Pnkerton never undertook a case for
rewards or contingent fees, but always for reg
ular per diem and never undertook divorce work.
He was man of strong physique which enabled
him to rally several times previously when
his physicians despaired of his recovery. He
was ever noted for his iron will and indomitable
perseverance, and was remarkably strong in his
affection and hatreds, On May z, 1869, Mr..
Pinkerton was stricken down with q severe
stroke of paralysis from which he
never fully recovered, and since that
time he has never been actively engaged in his
business, leaving the management of it to his
two sons, VIM. A.. the oldest, in charge of the
Chicago office, and Robert A. general superin-
tendent and manager of the New York office.
Mr.. Pinkerton also leaves wife and daughter,
Mrs. Wm. j. Chalmers, of Chicago.
Mr.. Pinkerton acquired a handsome compe-
tencysleaving an elegant home and much valu-
able real estate in the city, besides one of the
most magnificent farms in the state.